From now onwards - customers calling from Macau are answered at worldwide reservations centres, located in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, where bookings can be made for any of Shangri-La's 50 properties.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, recently introduced a new toll-free telephone number – 0800 880 -- for customers calling to make reservations from Macau.

"We have introduced this service since outbound travel from Macau is on the increase and it is already a major hub for several airlines which operate flights to many destinations at which our hotels are located," said Martin F. Waechter, Shangri-La chief marketing officer. "We also recognize that outbound traffic can only increase as Macau continues its headlong pace to becoming ‘Asia's Las Vegas.'"

The 600-room Shangri-La Hotel, Macau and 1,200-room Traders Hotel, Macau, both opening in 2008, will occupy a 39-floor tower on the Cotai Strip. A full range of facilities and services will cater to both convention and leisure travellers to the city. The tower will include a casino, performance hall and large retail shopping mall, none of which will be operated by Shangri-La.

The properties are being built by Las Vegas Sands Corp. Cotai, dubbed "Asia's Las Vegas," is a master planned development of hotel properties, casinos, entertainment attractions, retail, and meetings and conventions facilities, projected to become the world's largest gaming and entertainment centre.