Published on: April 25, 2026, at 02:29h.
Updated on: April 24, 2026, at 02:31h.
- The 13 Macau has received a stunning exterior makeover
- The 13 Macau is set to reopen its doors south of the Cotai Strip in Cologne
Investment ventures in China’s Macau have often been challenging for real estate developers over the past twenty years. A notable exception is The 13, featuring a hefty price tag of $1.4 billion, situated in the Cologne district south of the Cotai Strip; it faced losses even prior to its grand opening.
However, The 13’s narrative is far from concluded. Last June, creditors sold the property for HK$600 million (approximately US$76.6 million).
The acquisition was made by Loi Keong Kuong, a well-known real estate tycoon in Asia and Australia, recognized for founding the Rio Hotel Macau. This mid-range establishment operates in the heart of the Macau Peninsula and previously hosted a casino in collaboration with Galaxy Entertainment, one of the six licensed casino operators in the region.
Recently, The 13 has undergone a significant transformation, with its exterior shifting from red to gold.
The 13 Macau Reopening?
Accompanying the new exterior, The 13 Macau has also launched a revised operational website. The hotel’s new landing page now promotes, “Striving for Perfection, Where Service Meets Artistry.”
All indications suggest that The 13 is gearing up for a grand reopening, welcoming guests for the first time since its closure in mid-February 2020. The website includes a form for reservation inquiries, indicating that the hotel will reach out to interested patrons “as soon as possible” regarding bookings.
The 13 is an all-villa luxury property comprising 199 accommodations. The villa sizes vary, with the smallest, known as The Earl’s Residences, starting at 2,000 square feet. Marquis Residents expand to 3,300 square feet, while Duke’s Residences begin at 5,000 square feet. The opulent penthouses, referred to as the Crown Prince’s Palaces, average around 10,000 square feet.
Every villa is extravagantly furnished, featuring marble flooring and detailed ceiling designs. Bedrooms come with plush velvet canopies, bathrooms include luxurious marble oval bathtubs, elegant crystal chandeliers hang in dining spaces, and original artwork is beautifully showcased throughout.
The visionary behind The 13, billionaire Stephen Hung, spared no expense in his ambition to build the most luxurious hotel. He even engaged a direct descendant of King Louis XIII to infuse his baroque-inspired aesthetic into the property.
The luxury didn’t stop there.
Hung made headlines by placing the largest single order in Rolls-Royce history, acquiring 30 bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantoms painted in vibrant red with gold accents for $20 million. These vehicles were intended as shuttles for guests but were eventually sold at a significant loss before the hotel opened, fetching roughly $3.76 million.
Can The 13 Stay Relevant?
When Hung presented The 13 concept in 2013, Macau had just experienced its most profitable year in gaming, with casino revenues exceeding $45 billion. At that time, the region was a hotspot for the wealthiest businessmen and influential figures from mainland China.
However, the landscape has dramatically shifted. During the pandemic, Beijing mandated the Macau government to phase out VIP junkets, travel agencies that catered to affluent patrons and operated exclusive high roller rooms within casinos.
Currently, Macau’s casinos are pivoting towards the premium and mass market. A boutique casino at The 13, located over a mile south of the southern end of the Cotai Strip, may prove challenging. Additionally, with only 199 accommodations, marketing to the dwindling number of VIPs capable of supporting such lavish offerings poses a significant hurdle for The 13’s future.