A new life in Macau, in the People's Republic of China, beckons for the Queen Elizabeth 2. Macau-based event management and tradeshow company Universal Event Management (UEM) has issued a press release stating it has "received the rights to represent the QE2 in a number of locations". The statement names two of the locations as Macau (a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China) and Atlantic City, in New Jersey in the United States.
This follows news reports in January suggesting the QE2's owners, Istithmar World, are considering marketing the QE2 as an exclusive Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, or MICE, venue. Charles Greco, President and CEO of UEM, states "we are thrilled that UEM has an opportunity to bring this 'Legend of the Seas' to Macau as a 926 room hotel and convention facility".
The economy of Macau is built on tourism, with gambling - which has been legal in Macau for over 150 years - accounting for half of Macau's gross domestic product (GDP). Macau is home to 33 casinos, where revenues from gambling eclipse those in Las Vegas. More recently Macau has made efforts to broaden its appeal outside of gambling, with an emphasis on MICE events.
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