MACAU. DFS Group and casino developer Melco Crown Entertainment have unveiled a major retail expansion at the retailer’s City of Dreams store under the T Galleria by DFS brand.
As we reported last month, the expansion of City of Dreams is being developed in stages between June and September, with retail space increasing to three times that of the previous store.
DFS said that the new shopping precinct “represents a strategically designed, exclusive and eye-opening lifestyle luxury shopping experience in the heart of Macau”.
City of Dreams’ T Galleria by DFS will carry the largest collection of luxury brands in Cotai, noted the retailer. In addition to beauty and fragrances, fashion and accessories, and watches and jewellery brands, the expanded retail space will introduce the first-ever shoe salon (to be opened in the third quarter) as well as a multi-brand lifestyle shopping area dedicated to men’s fashion and grooming (see below).
The department-store style concept was designed using elements of glass, marble and steel combined with accents of wood.
DFS said that the setting is intended to be “both dramatic and intimate”, with the expanded retail space linking dining areas, casinos, retail stores, entertainment attractions and hotels.
Melco Crown Entertainment Limited Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho said: “City of Dreams has always been at the forefront of shaping Macau into a world centre of avant-garde entertainment, delivering world-class leisure and entertainment offerings to the region.
“Today, we are pleased to announce the expansion plan of the retail precinct of City of Dreams, which will bring to our flagship property many firsts in town. Through our partnership with DFS Group, City of Dreams features the largest collection of luxury brands in Cotai and creates an exciting luxury shopping scene for all aspirational, sophisticated and cosmopolitan leisure seekers in the region.”
DFS Group Chairman and CEO Philippe Schaus said: “Since entering the market in 2008, Macau has and continues to be an incredibly important destination for our customers and for DFS, which is why we are thrilled to unveil a retail concept here that is a first for DFS in terms of its scale, audacity and innovation.
“It is also a first for Macau in terms of providing a curated and modern product selection across the major luxury categories, targeting new and experienced travellers alike.
“T Galleria by DFS, City of Dreams will combine the breadth of a luxury shopping mall with the personalized service of a high-end department store. Only DFS could deliver this unparalleled shopping adventure at the core of City of Dreams, complementing a concentration of some of the best restaurants, world-renowned hotels and world-class entertainment offerings with a fresh and luxurious shopping experience in the heart of Macau.”
Schaus added: “City of Dreams is the ideal location for DFS to launch our first dedicated shoe collection. Customers in Macau are both discerning and adventurous, and our shoe salon will enable them to indulge their taste for the latest fashion styles as well as find something unique.”
Offering over 50 men’s and women’s shoe brands across two floors, and featuring exclusive-to-Macau brands such as Aquazzura and Rupert Sanderson, the new shoe hall will be the largest shoe salon in Hong Kong and Macau.
The expanded beauty and fragrance section opens this month. When fully expanded, the 23,000sq ft of space will comprise two wings and feature nearly 70 beauty and fragrance brands, making it the largest beauty hall in Southern China. Highlights include popular Korean brands Sulwhasoo, Laneige and HERA.
In luxury, 31 new fashion and accessories brands open this month, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, Miu Miu and Fendi. Catering to male customers for the first time at any T Galleria by DFS store, there will be a dedicated multi-branded, lifestyle area that mixes ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes, watches and grooming in one space.
By the end of this year, the phased opening will feature a significantly wider jewellery offering, bringing brands Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels to City of Dreams as well as new watches boutiques from Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin.
In addition, dining outlets for high tea and social gatherings will be integrated into the environment.
