CH.11 Gaming Entertainment - Research more about the successful strategies of operating gaming entertainment

There are some successful strategies in gaming entertainment that can attract more people:

Free boat tickets mailed by The Sands Macao

Free accommodation and transportation- In order to attract people to the gaming site, casinos may try to provide free accommodation or transportation.  For example, most of the casinos in Macau provide shuttle bus service that drive customers to the casinos from the dock.  Moreover, casinos may target some VIP customers and give them something more than the shuttle bus service such as free boat ticket between Hong Kong and Macau, or one night free accommodation in casino's hotel.  These free services initiate customers' interests to move toward the casino.

Gondola Rides in The Vnetian Macao

Marvelous shows and view- Apart from the slots, machines, casinos can attract people by nice view or shows.  For example, The Venetian Macao has built a simulation of Venetian gondola where a place with marvelous view.  Also, some famous shows such as "The House of Dancing Water" which said to be amazing can drive people to Macau and hence casinos are able to grasp those people.  Casino may hold some competitions that can attract many people, for example, there will be a fight on 24-Nov that claimed to be the biggest fight ever in Asia.

The Clash in Cotai held by The Venetian Macao

References
http://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=14836027&extra=page%3D1&page=1
http://www.venetianmacao.com/

CH.11 Gaming Entertainment - Explore the up-to-date trends and new development of gaming entertainment industry

High Quality Properties

Domestic Expansion

Casino seeks expansion by providing more high quality properties like hotels, theme parks and museums. Meanwhile, it will also focus on F&B and new games development.

Financial Support

As gaming facilities generate high profit margin, more facilities have been financed with real estate oriented structures like REITs and CMBS.

Besides, major investment banks demonstrate a greater interest in gaming which will spur a wider variety of deals, including mergers and acquisitions at a variety of levels.

Online Gambling

Merging

Gaming entertainment operators expand their business and market share by merged with other companies. It aims to generate sustainable revenue from the global market rather than the local market. For example, Galaxy Macau casino merged Phuket in Thailand to enter the new developing market in Thailand. Besides, European online operators and suppliers aggressively pursue US commercial partners in anticipating online gaming.

Online Gambling 2

Online Gambling

Online gambling becomes a new trend for the gaming entertainment industry. Online gambling is one of the most popular online game businesses which mean gambling via the internet. As technology improvement, online gambling can satisfy people who want to gamble everywhere. On the other hand, mobile gambling is another new gambling channel which is also famous. It means gambling by using mobile devices such as tablet, pad and smart phone with a wireless internet connection. Convergence of mobile Internet and social networking trends will present new opportunities for casinos to expand the gaming product variety and enhance the marketing efforts. Therefore, casinos not only have physical channels but also have online channels to expand their business. However, social gaming and online gambling will create new competitors in gaming and put pressure on regulators to monitor the marketing and implementation of social gaming.

Multi-player Electronic Games

Technology Improvement

Casino operators continuously implement automated technologies and improve operating efficiency.  This will lead a reduction of employment and payroll levels for casino operators.  Besides, multi-player electronic games and skill-based slot games will continue to develop which attract social attention without the high costs of traditional live table games.

Skill-based Slot Games

Regulation Change

Regulators increase their scrutiny of licensees operating in international jurisdictions where money-laundering and currency law violations are common.   Meanwhile, regulators and lawmakers throughout the world are developing new regulatory structures to identify, discourage and combat the use of casinos for money-laundering because of a worrisome trend for law-enforcement professionals.  On the other hand, because of a growing interest, regulators become friendlier with gaming.  They serve as partners and protectors in an effort to protect gaming revenue.  Governments will tend to increasingly authorize commercial gaming as a huge part of tax revenues. Gaming operators have less pressure in lower tax rates which can better compete against neighboring countries.

Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort

The success of Singapore’s two integrated resorts, which encourages gaming operators and national governments to expand legalize gaming throughout the region such as Southeast Asia and Japan.

Reference

-http://www.spectrumgaming.com/trends/

CH.11 Gaming Entertainment - Gaming entertainment converges with the hospitality industry in terms of its economical and social impact.

Casino

Gaming Entertainment

Las Vegas

Gaming Entertainment is becoming more and more famous in recent years. The representative cities are Las Vegas and Macau. Because of its gaming entertainment business, it generates lots of impact in both economic and social. However, these impacts also can be divided into positive and negative for each one.

Economical Impact

Positive Impact

Taxes Income and Related Revenue

For those gaming entertainment businesses, most of the government will collect certain amount of gambling taxes based on the company revenue. These taxes will be the increase the city’s economic.  Besides, the derivative business because of gaming entertainment likes hotel and other retail businesses are also can boost their sales. 

Job Opportunities

The direct impact on the level of economic activity in gaming entertainment such as casino hotel and Cruise is job opportunities created.  These are required great number of employees to provide services. 

Negative Impact

High Risk --- unhealthy economic growth 

For some cities, its mainly economy income is relying on gaming entertainment such as Las Vegas and Macau.  Although it attract many tourists visit it because of its gaming entertainment business, this is risky and unhealthy economic grow up which only focus on one business.  If the gaming entertainment business collapses, the city will be turn into dangerous situation in financial.

Social Impact

Positive Impact

Attract more tourists

Sentosa, Singapore

To be a famous city must visit for tourists all over the world.  Without, there is attractive point for customer to visit the city who promotes its gaming entertainment business.  For examples, Sentosa which is a newest casino resort in Singapore.  The Singapore government emphasis in promote this attraction in order to attract more tourists to visit. Singapore can increase its world position gradually.

Negative Impact

Increased Crime

With no doubt, gambling is a high risk gaming entertainment.  Although it may lead to win a lot, it also can make you lose within 5 seconds.  Therefore, if a people lost a lot, he/she may borrow money from the illegal creditors.  At the end, he/she may steal if they cannot return the money with unreasonable high tax. 

References

www.oyster.com
http://www.venetianmacao.com/
http://joekaibz.wordpress.com/

CH.10 Recreation Theme Parks and Clubs - Choose one taught topic you’re interested and do further research

Commercial Recreation

Commercial recreation refer to the recreation for a profit, and on a fee-for-service basis. It provides residents and visitors with access to an area's spectacular wilderness through a variety of guided outdoor activities. For instance, theme parks, attractions, and clubs.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

As the theme park which aims to maximize its profit, they are usually owned by a private company; Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, a famous theme park in Hong Kong, is owned by a joint venture company, Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited, with shareholders, the Hong Kong Government and The Walt Disney Company, however.  What's more surprise, As of the end of fiscal 2012, the Hong Kong Government holds 52 per cent of shares in the company, while The Walt Disney Company only holds 48 per cent.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort brings the magic of a world-class entertainment experience to people of all ages.  Hong Kong is home to the fifth Disney Resort in the world.  The city's landscape and vibrant, diverse culture have inspired the Imagineers to create a variety of entertainment that is unique to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. 

Fantasyland

In addition to Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, three new themed areas, Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch and Mystic Point, were opened in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.  

Toy Story Land

Merry-Go-Round in Fantasyland

More than 30 new attractions, as well as immersive and entertainment experiences were added, bringing the total number of attractions and experiences at Hong Kong Disneyland to more than 100.  The park's physical footprint has increased by nearly 25 per cent.  To date, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has welcomed millions of Guests, both local and international, making it one of the top destinations in the region. 

Dominant Theme

Every guest is the friend of the Disney Characters

The mission of the theme parks in Walt Disney is to be "The Happiest land on earth", and the guests there become part of exciting Disney adventures. For this reason, Walt Disney created some "Disney Characters" as the attraction to be the dominant theme, instead of the historical or cultural theme.  In the park, every guest is the friend of the Disney Characters, and they can escape from the reality when staying there.

Parade in Disneyland

Parade in Disneyland

Halloween in Hong Kong Disneyland

In order to make guests into the park joy, Hong Kong Disneyland not only provides rides and Characters, but also hold some special events in different festivals, and parade everyday to bring joy to every guest, also prepare for the journey afterward.

Trends

Environmental Initiatives - Waste Minimization

Hong Kong Disneyland operates under the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle philosophy to actively divert waste from landfill disposal. 

Disney Hotel

A variety of waste minimization initiatives were implemented to reduce the generation of disposable waste at source. Examples include fast action hand dryers in restrooms in lieu of paper towels; reusable table ware instead of disposables for most of our fast service restaurants; and adopting Green Workspace guidelines to minimize paper waste in offices and work areas.  Since 2011, Hong Kong Disneyland has replaced all disposable dining containers with reusable ones in all quick service cafes.

Mickey Maze in Disney Hotel

One - Stop Service

Nowadays people would like to enjoy a one-stop service, thus, Hong Kong Disneyland does not only provide entertainment for its guests, but also accommodation and food and beverage in order to satisfy its customer needs comprehensively.

Entertaining facilities in Disney Hotel 

Besides, Hotels in Hong Kong Disneyland also own some entertaining facilities, dining places, and souvenir shops.  For example, Enchanted Garden Restaurant, Sea Breeze Bar, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Mickey Maze, and so on. Hence, guests in there can enjoy convenience all the time. 

Furthermore, Hong Kong Disneyland provides different packages for Fairy Tale Weddings of its guests.  For instance, banquets, ceremony, photography, etc.  These services would bring a memorable experience to its guests, and to fulfill its mission.

References

http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/eventPlanning/weddings/overview?name=WeddingsOverviewPage

http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/hotels/listing?name=HongKongDisneylandHotelRecreationPage

http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/hotels/latestOverview?name=HotelDiningPage#overview

http://hkcorporate.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdlcorp/en_US/environmentality/overview?name=EnvironmentalAwarenessPage

http://hkcorporate.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdlcorp/en_US/aboutOurCompany/overview?name=CorporateInformationPage

CH.10 Recreation Theme Parks and Clubs - Recent trends and new development in recreation and leisure

One of the powerful and newly emerging trends in recreation in Hong Kong, fueled by a growing concern of people about health and healthy lifestyles, is cycling.

bicycle

Its health benefits stem from two main aspects: first, that’s a very good physical exercise, second, it’s a naturally and environmentally friendly way of getting around.  Due to the traffic and the cityscapes of Hong Kong, very few people can afford riding a bicycle on a daily basis as a substitute to public transport or cars, unlike in Europe, but that means that more and more people are interested to try it out as a form of recreational activity.  This can be organized in several ways.  First, people just have their own bicycles and get together with friends for a ride.  Next, there are bike shops that can accommodate you with good quality bicycle at a reasonable price.  Third, there are organized cycling trips, which mainly pop up as initiatives of young people who care about environment and in such a way promote their philosophy and activities to the general public.  

bicycle

Mainly, it is students who participate in such tours. Cycling is also a very great and rewarding way to enjoy Hong Kong landscapes and challenge yourself with mountain cycling.  The government highly supports this initiatives, thus it started constructing a 60-km cycling track to link Ma On Shan and Tuen Mun. There also many other tracks in New Territories, in the city areas, and in the mountains.

peddling

water sports

Another recreational activity that’s received growing interest recently in Hong Kong is watersports.  This is actively supported by the government through various training programs.  In the 5 officially established water sports centers, there are regular activities, such as training and fun days, going on regularly. They might vary from package to tailor-made programs.

Chinese drama

The last interesting development that is taking place in Hong Kong and is connected with the growing number of tourists and their interest to Hong Kong culture is free classes organized on different topics that anyone can visit. They are an amazing way for visitors to get to know Chinese side of Hong Kong culture better and spend quality time in Hong Kong doing a more non-conventional activity. 

Chinese Tea

Currently, these activities include: ‘The Hong Kong Story’ Exhibition Guided Tour, Cantonese Opera Appreciation Class, Chinese Cake – Making Class, Chinese Medicine Class, Chinese Tea Appreciation Class, Feng Shui Class, Tai Chi Class and some others, with hopefully, more to come!

References:

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/watersport/en/index.php

http://static.hk.groupon-content.net/71/53/1336124565371.jpg

http://i.cdn.travel.cnn.com/sites/default/files/styles/inline_image_240x240/public/2010/08/11/1_INLINE_kayaking-to-basalt-island-photo-supplied-by-Paul-Etherington-of-Kayak-and-Hike.jpg?itok=xA_KmKZe

http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/culture/recreation/activities/cycling.htm

http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/cycling/cyclist_woman.png

http://www.treklocations.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Biken-Ladys-low.jpg

http://www.bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/NEILPRYDE-above-HONG-KONG.jpg

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/see-do/tours-walks/self-guided-walks/cultural-kaleidoscope-programme/index.jsp

CH.10 Recreation Theme Parks and Clubs - Explore different types of clubs. Briefly described their functions

Recreation Theme Parks and Clubs

Clubs are the places where members gather for social, recreational, and professional reasons

Country Club

Country Clubs

• Located in rural area
• Provide members a good service experience through a spectrum of social, dining and recreational opportunities.  They provide many recreational facilities usually include golf court, tennis court, and swimming pool, etc.
• Provide different dining options with good service qualities and private space, which can only be booked by members.
• Members will feel they are the owner of the club
• 2 or more types of membership
• Full membership
  >> Use all the facilities all the time
• Social membership
  >> Only can use the social facilities

City Club

City Clubs

• Predominantly business oriented
• Vary in size, location, type of facility, and service offered
• Reflects and embraces the life, love and spirit of the city
• Good location for business meeting
• Provide network with local professionals
• Provide places for having a business lunch, cocktails with friends or just meeting other people during happy hour
• Places for business and fun
• Supplement the curriculum through informal meetings and professional mentoring

University Clubs

• Activities, which provided by students outside the classroom
• Students’ chapter of professional society
• Help you to put your knowledge, which learnt in book in the community

Athletic Club

Athletic Clubs

• Provide health, wellness, and fitness services
• Provide better course and coaches to athletes
• Provide facilities and support to athletes
• Provide competition opportunities in different levels
• Exchange sports information and knowledge with members
• Rise the standard of the participant

Professional Club

Professional Clubs

• Partly social and partly professional in nature
• Provide professionals opportunities with advanced education
• Provide relevant information on trends affecting the membership club industry
• Meet related professional network
• Provide opportunities in cooperation through activities
• Share experiences and young talents can learn more
• Represent members to express opinions
• Protect their own interest, which related to their professions

Social Club

Social Club

• A group of people is formed around a common interest, occupation of activities
• Organize the related activities regularly for the members
• Places for members to meet people who have common interest
• Provide information and trend of the related activities
• Represent the group of people who has same interest to express their opinions
• Fight for the same interest

References:
https://www.countryclub.hk/contents.cfm?sid=116
http://englandathletics.org/page.asp?section=763&sectionTitle=Clubs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club#Buying_club
http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/City-Club-Los-Angeles

CH.8 Managed Services - The unique features of services

Challenge to Please Guest & Client

This student is not happy
with this healthy meal.

Different from other service industries, the managed services of food services operation providers are providing an integrated food service to other organization, which usually do not have their own food service.  As the result, they need to serve both guests and clients.  Providing school meal is the classic example here. 

US Student Restaurant

For service providers’ views, they have to deal with both students (guests) and their parents (clients), which could be really changeling since they demand differently.  Students usually want some delicious food with less nutritional value, such as French fries.  Parents, however, hope the providers to offer more vegetables. 

Guests are “Captive clientele”

China Student Restaurants

Customers who do not have realistic alternatives to buying power from the local utility are called “captive client. Students, especially those studied in primary and secondary schools, do not have alternative choices for eating lunch in other restaurants, but student canteens. Patients usually can only have their meals in hospital.

Food Service is not the Primary Business

Food service could never be considered as major service for those organizations we mentioned above, such as secondary schools and hospitals. However, these food services do not operate in isolation but requires the co-operation and integration of several disciplines to provide the ultimate experience.

Produce Food in Large Quantity

Managed services providers usually prepare large quantity of food for a fixed period to serve organizations. All of students in secondary school will have lunch in the same fixed period, so called lunch break, and it is almost more than a hundred peoples that the managed services providers need to serve. 

Batch Cooking Techniques

The really important technique for this feature is "batch cooking" , which is making a lot of a specific food all at once, then stores it in portions for later use.  Most of the time, food made in batches is frozen, but it can also be refrigerated or kept in airtight containers for short periods of time depending on how it is meant to be used. 

Volume of Business is Consistent

With pre-order information, fixed period, and predictable demand, the food operation in managed services is much more consistent, comparing with commercial restaurants.  It would be an advantage since they can easily to plan, organize, and serve to maximize profits with consistent information.

References:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-batch-cooking.htm#slideshow