Macau hotel and residential operator YOHO Group has pledged to invest no less than MOP30 million (US$3.71 million) to develop a food court as part of the overhaul of the long-shuttered New Century Hotel in Taipa.
The former New Century Hotel, most recently known as the Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel, has been undergoing refurbishment since last year under YOHO’s lead and has been rebranded as the YOHO Gold Coast Hotel. The company has yet to disclose the total investment for the wider renovation.
According to the latest information from the operator, the rebranded property is slated to begin trial operations in the third quarter. The integrated development will comprise two hotels, offering about 700 five-star rooms and a further 240 rooms.
Local media reported last month that YOHO had filed two separate hotel licensing applications for the site, one for five-star hotel and another for two-star accommodation.
Beyond hotel rooms, the project is set to include a shopping centre branded “YOHO Mall The Gold Coast Shoppes” and a food court, which YOHO is positioning as a Macau-speciality dining hub and an incubator for local entrepreneurship.
“This site was once a landmark in Macau’s illustrious history of gaming and tourism,” the company said in a statement.
“Continuing its legacy with renewed significance for the modern era, YOHO Group is not only committed to providing high-quality accommodation but also determined, through this project, to create for Macau not just a ‘dining’ venue, but a ‘social hub’ that fosters creativity and community bonds,” it added.
A long-idled landmark
The hillside property, once home to the now-defunct Greek Mythology casino, spans 14,918 square metres next to the former campus of the University of Macau in Taipa. When it opened in 1992 as the five-star New Century Hotel, it offered around 500 rooms.
It was rebranded as the Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel in 2013, before ceasing operations three years later amid a protracted ownership dispute between Empresa Hoteleira and Victory Success. Empresa Hoteleira is reportedly controlled by former junket promoter Ng Man Sun, while Victory Success was previously reported to be linked to Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, the former head of junket operator Suncity Group, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in early 2023 for leading a criminal syndicate and operating illegal gambling businesses.
The current ownership of the property has not been publicly disclosed. YOHO has, however, begun renovating the site since last year. The company—which is behind various local projects including YOHO Treasure Island Hotel and YOHO Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, as well as high-end residential developments such as YOHO Twins, COTAI Marina Bay and Oscar Crescent—is reportedly linked to Macau businesswoman Ao Mio Leong and Mike Lam Hin Wai, brother of former Transport Bureau director Lam Hin San.
Food court competition
Pledging an investment of “no less than MOP30 million” for the food court, YOHO said it is slated to begin trial operations as early as August, and will comprise 17 food-and-beverage stalls, nearly 260 indoor seats and about 50 outdoor seats.
The 17 stalls will be allocated via a public competition for business proposals, open to Macau residents, with an emphasis on first-time entrepreneurs, as well as local small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the group said.
Under the competition guidelines, YOHO will provide design and fit-out subsidies covering 25 percent to 100 percent of the value for contest winners, alongside one year of rent-free tenancy.
“We know that many talented entrepreneurs in Macau are discouraged by steep start-up costs and complex construction and licensing procedures,” YOHO said, adding that the food court could serve as an incubator for new ventures among local residents.
“We’re offering start-up subsidies at varying levels, rent-free concessions, and free training and promotional programmes led by industry experts,” the company added. “This is not just a commercial project, but a social experiment in heritage and innovation.”
More details are due to be announced at a briefing session this Friday, when applications will open and run until the end of the month.
