Macau’s The 13 Hotel back on the market for sale following failed tender
The 13 Hotel, once envisioned as the most lavish hotel in the world, has been listed for sale again after a failed tender in 2024. Real estate consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has announced that the 22-storey property in Coloane, Macau, has been reintroduced to the market with the deadline set for 19 May.
While the current valuation of the property remains undisclosed, the hotel was priced at HKD2.4 billion ($309 million) during the previous tender. The renewed effort comes as tourism in Macau shows continued signs of recovery, potentially increasing investor interest.
Originally conceived by Hong Kong businessman Stephen Hung, The 13 Hotel was intended to be a hyper-luxury casino resort catering to Macau’s VIP gaming market. The vision included 66 gaming tables and extravagant interiors designed to outshine any competition on the Cotai Strip. However, delays in construction, alongside a restructured gaming landscape in Macau, prevented the casino component from coming to life. The hotel eventually opened in 2018 without any gaming facilities.
Despite its opulent offerings, including 196 guest rooms ranging from 1,800 to 5,000 square feet and three 10,000-square-foot villa-style suites, the hotel suspended operations in 2020. It reopened in 2024 after obtaining a renewed five-star deluxe hotel licence from the Macau Government Tourism Office, valid until the end of 2025.
Investor interest and transport connectivity
“The five-star hotel for sale has garnered significant attention due to its luxurious design and opulence,” Mark Wong, senior director at JLL in Macau said. “Currently managed by JLL, The 13 Hotel has reinstated parts of the property to its former condition.”
“With excellent transport links, including a nearby railway station just three minutes away, the property’s potential for appreciation is further enhanced. The opportunity to acquire the entire hotel is expected to be highly sought after by investors,” Wong added.
Changing hands after bankruptcy
According to a South China Morning Post report, the hotel was previously owned by South Shore Holdings Limited, which declared bankruptcy in 2021. The 13 Hotel Management Ltd filed for bankruptcy in Macau in 2023. Control of the project site has since shifted to the Bank of Communications Macau Branch, the main creditor, making this the second attempt to divest the asset under new ownership.
Tourism recovery and economic diversification
Tourist arrivals to Macau reached approximately 35 million in 2024, a 24 percent increase from the previous year, with Chinese mainland visitors comprising 70 percent of the total. Hotel occupancy climbed to 86.4 percent, suggesting increased demand for accommodation. According to JLL, these trends may provide a favourable backdrop for the hotel’s sales.
“We remain optimistic about Macau’s tourism market,” Wong noted. “The government is also working hard to achieve Macau’s economic diversification.”
