Macau’s recently sold THE 13 Hotel has publicly advertised 46 job openings online, indicating the property has entered a critical phase of reopening preparations.
The long-struggling hotel announced in June that a new buyer had acquired the property. The acquisition price was HK$600 million (US$76 million), with real estate broker JLL provided details, stating, “The buyer has extensive experience in international real estate investment and plans to redesign and renovate the project to create a new tourist landmark.”
After nearly five months, THE 13 is currently undergoing renovation and remodeling. The new management team recently advertised up to 46 positions through multiple local recruitment agencies, preparing for the hotel’s reopening.
The job openings span a wide range of roles, including personnel and finance department staff, laundry attendants, drivers, receptionists, private butlers, gardeners, cleaning personnel, engineering technicians and supervisors, as well as food and beverage service positions. These roles cover nearly all core departments of hotel and restaurant operations.
JLL’s Macau Director, Value and Risk Advisory Services, Mark Wong, previously noted that THE 13’s renovation will include introducing renowned restaurants from around the world, giving the property a fresh new look and attracting visitors.
“This transaction reflects the ongoing recovery of Macau’s tourism industry and the new buyer’s strong confidence in Macau and commitment to driving industrial diversification,” Wong told IAG in June. “Hotel occupancy rates have also improved, indicating the continued recovery of Macau’s tourism industry and attracting investor interest.”
THE 13 was first publicly offered for sale in March 2024 with an asking price of HK$2.4 billion (US$309 million). Although reports indicated up to 24 parties expressed interest at the time, no deal was ultimately concluded. After over a year of negotiations, the property finally sold in June 2025 for HK$600 million – a 75% discount from the initial asking price.
According to information obtained by IAG in July, the new buyer may be linked to Rio Hotel chairman Loi Keong Kuong. The property owner is a company called Chang Fu Investment Limited, which was established in October 2020. It is currently owned by two people surnamed Loi, who are family members of Loi Keong Kuong.
THE 13’s renewed recruitment drive appears to signal a turnaround in its operational prospects. This long-struggling hotel, now receiving capital injection from its new owner, is poised to re-enter the market.
THE 13 was the brainchild of long-departed Chairman Stephen Hung and had been envisioned as an uber-luxury hotel with space for 66 VIP gaming tables aimed at capitalizing on Macau’s booming VIP segment of the early 2010s. Instead, a series of funding and construction delays saw the property open in September 2018 with no gaming and with a number of rooms unfinished – all at a cost of US$1.6 billion.
It reopened last July, though not all 199 rooms were operational. Renovations were also underway in areas that remained unfinished when the hotel closed.
The hotel obtained a new 12-month hotel license in January of this year.
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