Macau – Monday July 13, 2009 – City of Dreams proudly presented the exclusive launch of Hennessy X.O Iridescence Exclusive Collection in Macau on July 9, 2009. To mark the special occasion, Mr. Maurice-Richard Hennessy, the 8th generation of the prestigious Hennessy family, visited City of Dreams to share with VIP connoisseurs the secrets of his sophisticated Cognac. City of Dreams is an integrated entertainment resort that is set to become the “must experience” destination in Macau and developed by Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, an entertainment company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ: MPEL).
An 8th generation descendent of the founder of Hennessy Cognac, Mr. Maurice-Richard Hennessy from the House of Hennessy in Cognac, France is the International Brand Ambassador of the world-renown cognac brand that embodies the ultimate in refined taste and sophistication.
As an arbiter of superior taste and ultimate quality, Mr. Hennessy was invited to become an honorary City of Dreams Ambassador – representing luxury and lifestyle.
At a special launch event held at Horizons at Crown Towers, City of Dreams, Mr. Hennessy presented Mr. Michael French, Senior Vice President of Operations, City of Dreams with the Hennessy X.O Iridescence Exclusive Collection, complete with the autograph of Mr. Hennessy, which will be showcased at Horizons, the hotel’s signature restaurant.
“On behalf of City of Dreams, I am delighted to receive this magnificent connoisseur collection which we are proud to display for the enjoyment of our visitors,” said Mr. French. “I am also thrilled that Mr, Hennessy has accepted our invitation to become an honorary City of Dreams Ambassador and we very much appreciate his representation and personal expertise in the luxury lifestyle sector.”
“Connoisseurs of fine cognac, and indeed, cigars and good wine are usually refined people who follow fashion, prefer good perfume, appreciate quality and enjoy social events. City of Dreams embodies all these qualities of a refined aesthetic and quality of life within the leisure and entertainment sector,” said Mr. Hennessy.
“I am delighted to be associated with this incredible property, which is a stunning realization of Mr. Lawrence Ho’s vision for the future of Asia’s leisure destination industry.”
The Hennessy X.O Iridescence Exclusive Collection, is the classic Hennessy X.O and is adorned with iconic grape bunches decorated by eighty-two Swarovski crystals. In 1870, X.O was created by Hennessy for the personal use of then Hennessy patriarch Mr. Maurice Hennessy, his family and friends. Over a century later, this blend of more than one hundred very old ‘Eaux-de-Vie’ from Cognac’s finest growing regions, carefully nurtured in cellars which contain the world’s largest reserves of old Cognac represents the ultimate in refined drinking.
City of Dreams honorary ambassadors are selected for their outstanding personal contribution to their respective careers or fields of expertise in areas including lifestyle, arts, fashion, sports, humanitarian and charitable work.
The opening of City of Dreams on June 1, 2009 will be followed by the opening of Grand Hyatt Macau later this year, offering approximately 800 additional guest rooms. The much-anticipated Dragone inspired theater show will open in its own purpose-built Theater of Dreams early next year. The third and final planned phase of development at City of Dreams will feature a luxury apartment hotel consisting of approximately 800 units.
About Moët Hennessy Diageo Hong Kong
Moët Hennessy Diageo (MHD) Hong Kong is the joint venture marketing and distribution company of Moët Hennessy and Diageo in Hong Kong.
Moët Hennessy is the wines and spirits subsidiary of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), the world’s leading French luxury products group, which markets regionally a comprehensive portfolio of premium quality cognac, champagnes and wines.
The company represents 7 of the top 10 spirits brands in Hong Kong. From Moët Hennessy, the brands MHD Hong Kong represents include the Hennessy and F.O.V. range of cognacs, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Perignon, and Krug champagnes, premium wines such as Cloudy Bay, Cape Mentelle, Green Point and Terrazas, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg single-malt whisky, Belvedere and Chopin vodka, as well as Grand Marnier liqueur. From Diageo, the brands MHD Hong Kong represents include the Johnnie Walker and White Horse range of Scotch whiskies, Gordon’s and Tanqueray gins, Baileys Irish Cream, Pimm’s and Smirnoff Vodka.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements.
These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions.
The parent company of City of Dreams, Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (“Melco Crown Entertainment”) may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties.
Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations of Melco Crown Entertainment, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
A number of factors affecting Melco Crown Entertainment could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: growth of the gaming market and visitation in Macau; finalization of credit facilities to finance construction of projects; the completion of the construction of hotel casino resort projects; the acquisition and development of the Macau Peninsula site; increased competition and other planned casino hotel and resort projects in Macau and elsewhere in Asia; the completion of infrastructure projects in Macau; government regulation of the casino industry; the ability to raise additional financing; obtaining approval from the Macau government for an increase in the developable gross floor area of the City of Dreams site; the formal grant of an occupancy permit for Phase 2 of City of Dreams; anticipated growth strategies; and future business development, results of operations and financial condition.
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Melco Crown Entertainment’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on March 31, 2009 and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Melco Crown Entertainment does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this release, and Melco Crown Entertainment undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
About Melco Crown Entertainment Limited
Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (“Melco Crown Entertainment”), an entertainment company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ: MPEL), is a developer, owner and through a Macau subsidiary which holds a gaming sub-concession, an operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities.
Melco Crown Entertainment’s first property, Altira Macau (http://www.altiramacau.com/) (formerly Crown Macau), opened on May 12, 2007 and Phase 1 of its second property, City of Dreams (http://www.cityofdreamsmacau.com/), an integrated urban casino resort located in Cotai, Macau opened on June 1, 2009.
Melco Crown Entertainment’s business also includes the Mocha Clubs (http://www.mochaclubs.com/), which feature a total of approximately 1,300 gaming machines in eight locations and comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. Melco Crown Entertainment has entered into an agreement, subject to certain conditions, to acquire a third development site on the Macau Peninsula. For more information about Melco Crown Entertainment, please visit http://www.melco-crown.com/.
Melco Crown Entertainment has strong support from both of its major shareholders, Melco International Development Limited (“Melco”) and Crown Limited (“Crown”). Melco is a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is Co-Chairman, a Director and the CEO of Melco Crown Entertainment. Crown is a top-100 company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and led by Executive Chairman Mr. James Packer, who is also Co-Chairman and a Director of Melco Crown Entertainment.
About City of Dreams
City of Dreams is developed by Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, an entertainment company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ: MPEL), and is an integrated entertainment resort that is set to become the “must experience” destination in Macau. Located in the heart of Cotai in Macau, it combines electrifying entertainment, a diverse array of accommodation, regional and international dining, designer brand shopping and a spacious and contemporary casino.
The resort brings together a dream team of world-renowned brands such as Crown, Grand Hyatt, Hard Rock and Dragone to create an exceptional entertainment experience that appeals to the broadest spectrum of visitors from around Asia and the world.
The initial opening of City of Dreams features a 420,000-square-foot casino with approximately 520 gaming tables and approximately 1,350 gaming machines; over 20 restaurants and bars; an impressive array of some of the world’s most sought-after retail brands; and The Bubble, an iconic and spectacular audio visual multimedia experience; Crown Towers offering approximately 300 guest rooms and Hard Rock Hotel offering approximately 300 guest rooms. Grand Hyatt Macau, offering approximately 800 guest rooms, will be completed in the third quarter of 2009 and a Dragone inspired theater production will open in the purpose-built Theater of Dreams in early 2010. The third and final planned phase of development at City of Dreams will feature an apartment hotel consisting of approximately 800 units.
For more information please visit: http://www.cityofdreamsmacau.com/
For media information please visit the City of Dreams Media Portal: http://www.cityofdreamsmedia.com/.
