Planet J to Open in Macau this Summer

‘LARP Planet J’ will invest more than MOP1 billion in the project

Planet J Macau-bound

Sands China and Hong Kong company Planet J - billed as the 'world's first player-centric live-action-role-play (LARP) theme park' - are planning a pioneering family entertainment concept on Macau's Cotai Strip slated to open in the middle of this year.

“Planet J is a truly new revolutionary model, breaking out from entertainment offered by conventional theme parks," says Jumpin Gym chairman Damon Chan.

Armed with Magic Scroll - a smart phone loaded with Planet J apps and connected to a master computer - participants will adopt fantasy personae to act out a series of customised physical and intellectual challenges to drive away malevolent forces from the mythical Stone Kingdom. Designers with experience on Disney and Universal Studios attractions are creating the indoor, air conditioned, lavishly decorated 100,000 square foot fantasy world, while developers have devised some 200 Stone Kingdom storyboards, each with a large number of variants and possibilities. Repeat visitors will also be able to resume their previous adventure or start afresh.

Macau was a natural choice for the first of what Planet J hopes will be a chain of LAPR parks across the world, said Chan, who believes that the city's visitor numbers plus the government's drive to diversify its tourism menu make it “ideal" to launch the concept in Macau. When it came to choosing a Macau location, Sands Cotai Central's “similar group of target customers" and connection to The Venetian Macao complex made it a “perfect" choice, Chan said. With DreamWorks characters already on the property and available for special breakfasts, Sands Cotai Central has been positioned as a family friendly resort under the umbrella of Sands China.

“We're confident that Planet J will offer children and adults a unique opportunity to have fun while enjoying our ever-expanding retail offering," David Sylvester, senior vice president of retail for Sands China parent company Las Vegas Sands, says. Planet J forecasts it will attract 3 million visitors during its first year of operation.

Gordon Ramsay restaurant opening here soon

Macau casino operator and developer Sands China Ltd. recently announced a partnership with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, whose new restaurant will be located in Sands Cotai Central. Chef Ramsay's businesses include 24 restaurants across the globe, which sport some seven Michelin stars, according to its official website. The Scotsman shot to fame on a series of wildly successful cooking-related reality shows on television, namely 'MasterChef' and 'Hell's Kitchen'.

“It is the distinct privilege of Sands China to have the opportunity to co-operate with one of the world's most celebrated chefs to bring the first Gordon Ramsay establishment to Macau, which will take the international dining experience at Sands Cotai Central to the next level," said Charles Newland, senior VP of F&B and director of Paiza operations. “Sands China is constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to further contribute to the development of Macau as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure."

Chef Ramsay declared that, “We will be working closely with the Sands China team on the ground to tailor one of our current concepts to this unique market and deliver a first-class dining experience," although neither the date of opening nor cuisine style has yet been revealed.

The Gordon Ramsay Group has been expanding in Asia since last year, and will launch its Bread Street Kitchen concept at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore in the coming months. Last year, the British chef opened a restaurant in Hong Kong, his first in Asia.