MGM Macau—one of the gaming industry’s more expensive pieces of casino-hotel real estate with a US$1.25 billion price tag—has been displaying one of the world’s most luxurious Christmas hampers this festive season.
The hamper valued at HK$1,388,888 (US$ 178,424) includes a bottle of 1858 Croizet Cuvée Léonie—described as the world’s most expensive Cognac—on sale exclusively at MGM Macau. Also packed in there is The Macallan 1824 Decanter—a limited edition release of only 1,824 decanters of the famous single malt Scotch; with the crystal decorated by a Scottish silversmith. Aside from these rare alcoholic delights, there’s also a package of Cordyceps—a genus of fungi considered very important and efficacious by Chinese medicine practitioners. This year a kilo of wild Cordyceps was priced at a cool US$10,000. Such is the demand for the stuff that the Chinese government has now banned its citizens from hunting for it because of the environmental damage they can cause. Also in the hamper is 15 heads of Yoshihama Abalone—a variety of the edible sea snail also much-coveted in China that can cost US$3,000 per two-head case. Last but not the least among the headline ingredients are Italian white truffles. A record price paid for a single white truffle was set in December 2007, when rival Macau casino owner Stanley Ho paid US$330,000 for a specimen weighing 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb), discovered by Luciano Savini and his dog Rocco near Pisa in Italy.
MGM’s Winter Wonderland events held at the Grande Praça—a glazed, domed area near the property’s hotel reception—also include skating and singing shows until 25th December. Two 20-minute performances start at 6pm and 8pm from Mondays to Fridays, and 3pm and 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
