Just two months after its grand opening, Morpheus Hotel at Macau's legendary City of Dreams resort has been hailed as one of the "World's Greatest Places 2018" by TIME magazine, as the only Macau entry on the list. This sought-after accolade is part of a new annual list culled from nominations by TIME editors and experts around the world to recognize 100 new and emerging destinations and locations that are breaking new ground, leading industry trends and offering guests an experience that is truly unique.
To create the list, TIME solicited nominations across a variety of categories -- including museums, parks, bars, restaurants, theme parks, cruises, and hotels -- from TIME editors and correspondents around the world, as well as dozens of industry experts.
TIME evaluated each one based on several key factors, including quality, originality, innovation, sustainability, and influence. The result is a list as diverse as the world it reflects, with entries spanning six continents and 48 countries.
A revolutionary architectural masterpiece designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Dame Zaha Hadid DBE, Morpheus has been described as "The Icon of the New Macau" and is the first hotel brand to be wholly developed and created by Melco Resorts & Entertainment. Since opening with a star-studded gala on June 15, 2018, the hotel has set a new benchmark for ultra-luxury hospitality in Macau, and features a spectacular collection of "world firsts". This includes being the world's first free-form exoskeleton high-rise architectural structure; the first spa concept in the world to feature a Snow Garden with real snow; and the world's first hotel to feature an entire floor dedicated to legendary chef Alain Ducasse, with two Ducasse restaurants and a bar.
The hotel, which offers 770 guestrooms, suites and villas, including six duplex villas and a lavish 510-square-meter pool villa, features an unparalleled range of unique attractions and world-exclusives. Gastronomic highlights include The Universe of Pierre Hermé, the first partnership between Maison Pierre Hermé Paris and a hotel property in Greater China, bringing the unique combination of tastes, sensations and pleasures created by the "Picasso of Pastry" and 2016 World's Best Pastry Chef, Pierre Hermé, to Macau; Yà at the Sky Bridge, which offers a one-of-a-k ind blend of regional Chinese cuisines served in a 'non-menu' style that is a first in Asia.
Guests at Morpheus can also enjoy an innovative 12,000 sq ft retail destination housing sought-after luxury brands like Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne, and Repossi; a stunning collection of specially commissioned installations by acclaimed artists such as Charles Pétillon, Shinji Ohmaki, and KAWS; the Morpheus Spa, which features a range of globally acclaimed brands and cutting-edge treatment programs, as well as the signature in-house Spa Butler concept; and the awe-inspiring Sky Pool located at a dizzying 130 meters above the ground.
"We are thrilled to receive such a prestigious accolade from TIME magazine so soon after opening," said Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman, and CEO at Melco Resorts & Entertainment. "At Melco, we continually strive to provide our guests with one-of-a-kind experiences that raise the bar in terms of luxury and design and Morpheus is the perfect expression of that vision. With Morpheus, we have solidified our position as a pioneer and innovator in premium travel, leisure, and entertainment, and we are proud to help drive Macau's reputation as the World Center of Tourism and Leisure."
The accolade for Morpheus from TIME magazine follows other recognition from international media. CNN placed Morpheus on its "Asia's Hot List" of 22 luxurious new hotels opening in 2018, and also named one of the hotel's signature restaurants, Voyages by Alain Ducasse, among its "14 hot new global restaurants for 2018".
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