Ahead of the 86,000 sq. ft. DFS (Duty Free Shoppers) store at the new Four Seasons in Cotai, Charles David, Managing Director of DFS Hong Kong urged the audience at the Asia/Pacific Travel Partnership Symposium to work together to promote Macau with one collective voice.

The challenges for Macau are in working out a promotional strategy, extending average lengths of stay and manpower, he said.

“Do we promote ourselves individually, or do we work on a collaborative approach where we go out and promote with one common voice? Perhaps we can work together with the MGTO and see how best to use the 200 million pataca budget for the benefit of Macau,” he suggested.

He emphasized that simplicity was the key when communicating promotional messages to customers, and that with the arrival of all these new elements to Macau, this would encourage people to stay longer than the current 1.2 days.

“Recruitment is also a key issue. An estimated 100,000 people will be needed in Cotai. Where will they come from? We need skilled workers and it won’t be easy. This is a challenge now,” David said.

“Our next venture is through the Venetian on Cotai,” David said. “We are opening three areas to this DFS: boutique, beauty and luxury. The boutique area will feature Hermes, Dior, Cartier, Fendi, Bvlgari and more. The beauty area will be luxury-focused with a laboratory for new and upcoming brands, while the luxury area will feature jewelry and watches.”

The DFS will be on the ground floor of the Four Seasons connecting to Cotai, the Four Seasons serviced apartments and the Venetian casino, he said.

This will not be the first venture for DFS in Macau. Seven years ago, they were at the Macau International Airport, and they are discussing the possibility of returning, but now have their eyes set on opening another store on the Macau peninsula, David told Destination Macau.

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