“The city has been asked by Beijing to diversify its offerings and rethink its positioning as a world centre of tourism and leisure. It’s no longer just a gaming destination," says Pansy Ho. "We approached the opening of MGM COTAI with that perspective in mind. We looked at creating a destination—somewhere you don’t come to just once, but time and time again. But also a place for local residents to come and see top-production performances and museum-worthy art pieces.”

Five years in the making, the HK$27 billion (RM13.29 billion) development is a sight to behold. With four million square feet of floor space, it accommodates 300,000sqft of casino facilities, 1,390 guest rooms, and a pillar-free grand ballroom able to entertain 1,000 people. But the development, which opened in February, is so much more than its technical specifications.

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Art for all

Pansy has invested massively in MGM Cotai's cultural outreach, a first for a venture of this kind. Her initiatives include establishing an extensive permanent art collection for display throughout the resort’s public spaces and guest rooms, and incorporating “Asia’s first dynamic theatre,” a multipurpose venue that boasts Hollywood-worthy entertainment technology, including the world’s largest indoor permanent LED backdrop, moveable screens and resident shows.