Back by Popular Demand: Sands Shopping Carnival Returning This Summer

Family-friendly carnival July 23-25 at Cotai Expo provides free business platform for local SMEs and retailers in support of Macao gov economic revival initiative

(Macao, May 11, 2021) – After a highly successful event last year, Sands China Ltd. is bringing back the Sands Shopping Carnival July 23-25 at The Venetian^® Macao's Cotai Expo.

The largest sale event in Macao at over 560 booths, the three-day 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival provides a free business platform for local SMEs and Sands retailers amid the pandemic period, while providing a fun weekend destination and summer hotspot for local residents and tourists.

The 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival is organised by Sands China Ltd. and co-organised by the Macao Chamber of Commerce, with the full support of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, the Macao Government Tourism Office, and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. It supports the Macao SAR government's Consume for the Economy initiative and the e-consumption voucher scheme.

"After last year's event garnered positive feedback from all sectors of society, the company is very pleased to support the economic revival initiative of the Macao SAR government again this year with the 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival," said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd. "Sands China remains dedicated to nurturing the development of local SMEs. This free platform provides more business opportunities, and with the combination of local and international brands, creates an effective synergy that benefits all. We are excited to bring it back in 2021 as a way to promote the domestic economic cycle of Macao, and are grateful to the Macao SAR government for continuing to keep the city safe for residents and tourists despite the pandemic."

Sands China made the announcement at a press conference Tuesday at The Venetian Macao, after which it launched its online exhibitor registration portal. Exhibitors can register for a free booth until May 24 at https://en.sandsresortsmacao.com/shopping/sands-shopping-carnival-2021.html. For exhibitor enquiries, please call +853 2855 5000 or email info@macexpo.com.mo.

As the largest shopping event of its kind in Macao, the carnival not only offers a retail experience with some of the best deals in town, but a fun-filled event that allows families to stay all day to enjoy different activities together, including an expanded international-cuisine food court area with additional choices this year, shows, lucky draws, and activities and exciting games for children.

More information about the carnival and its attractions – including sneak peeks of activities like a karaoke competition open to the public and a little master chef workshop – will be announced in due course.

Chui Yuk Lum, vice president of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are delighted to be working with Sands China again on the 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival – an event that embodies Sands China's business philosophy of supporting the growth of local SMEs. Last year, we saw many local SMEs achieve remarkable sales at the inaugural carnival and expand their customer base via this helpful business platform. The Macao Chamber of Commerce remains committed to supporting local SMEs, and we look forward to the positive impact the event will once again have on the city during this challenging time of the pandemic."

In order to safeguard public health at the carnival and put attendees' and exhibitors' minds at ease, Sands China is once again implementing a series of strict sanitisation and safety measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. These include, among others: temperature checks upon entry; monitoring of crowd size to ensure a safe number of participants via headcounts at venue entrances; mandatory wearing of face masks; regular sanitisation and cleaning of public areas and kids' facilities to ensure public hygiene; and disinfectants and hand sanitisers at all booths and at all carnival entry and exit points.

Guests of honour at Monday's press conference were: Zuo Xianghua, deputy director general of the economic affairs department of the Central People's Government Liaison Office in the Macao SAR; Ricky Hoi, acting director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Chan Hon Sang, deputy director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau; Sam C.S. Lei, executive director of IPIM; Chan Ioc Sut, head of the research and investigation department (DEI) of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ); Chui Yuk Lum, vice president of the Macao Chamber of Commerce; Chan Hio Peng, deputy general manager of Bank of China Macau Branch; Huang Xianjun, deputy chief executive officer of ICBC (Macau); Carlos Cid Alvares, chief executive officer of BNU Macau; Xia Ying, vice president of Bank of Communications; Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd.; Dave Sun, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Sands China Ltd.; and Sean McCreery, senior vice president of resort operations of Sands China Ltd.

Sands China believes in prioritising local procurement and actively supports the development of local SMEs. The company's support to local SMEs has remained consistent since the launch of its Local Supplier Support Programme with the Macao Chamber of Commerce in July 2015, and has carried on throughout the pandemic period. The programme is in line with the Macao SAR government's initiative to "buy local" and demonstrates Sands China's commitment to supporting local enterprises as part of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts.

Photo caption: Sands China Ltd. President Dr. Wilfred Wong speaks Tuesday at a press conference at The Venetian Macao, announcing the 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival. The free family-friendly shopping and entertainment event takes place July 23-25 at Cotai Expo.

Photo caption: Guests of honour attend a press conference at The Venetian Macao Tuesday to announce the 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival.

Photo caption: William Chan, director of procurement and supply chain for Venetian Macau Limited, shares details about the upcoming 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival to attendees of a press conference Tuesday at The Venetian Macao.

Photo caption: Free exhibitor booth registration for the 2021 Sands Shopping Carnival is now available online until May 24.