The Grand Emperor hotel in Macau has ripped up its iconic lobby floor to sell off the gold bricks embedded in it – pocketing almost $13million (£9.6m) amid a surge in the metal’s value.
The hotel, which opened in 2006, has built a reputation for its ultra-luxurious design, including a ‘golden pathway’ at its entrance made from dozens of gold bars.
But its owner Emperor Entertainment Hotel Ltd, based in Hong Kong, said in a stock exchange filing this week that changing market conditions made it an ideal time to sell.
While the gold helped create a ‘sumptuous and resplendent atmosphere’, the company said it recognised a ‘good opportunity’ to remove and dispose of the bullion.
In total, the hotel sold 79kg of gold bricks to a Hong Kong refiner for $12.8million (£9.4m), adding that the sale would bolster its finances and give it more flexibility to invest elsewhere.
Macau, a former Portuguese colony returned to China in 1999, is one of the country’s two special administrative regions, and the only place where casino gambling is legal.
The territory, stretching 13 square miles, was the world’s biggest gambling market by revenue in 2025 – and has been dubbed the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’ for this reason.
However, recently, casinos have been pulling back from gambling due to pressure from Beijing to diversity its economy.
The Grand Emperor hotel (pictured), based in Macau, has ripped up its gold-lined lobby floor to sell the metal for almost $13million (£9.6m)
The hotel is known for its opulent design, including a gold-lined floor made from dozens of gold bars
Amid a surge in the metal’s value, the company said it recognised a ‘good opportunity’ to remove and dispose of the bullion (pictured)
In October, the Grand Emperor closed its casino, and the group said it is now planning a new entertainment and leisure uses for the site, with the once gold-lined lobby already set for redevelopment.
With renovations scheduled, the company said the precious metals, that were once a standout feature of the hotel’s opulent design, are ‘no longer relevant to the future theme’ of the property, as reported by the Guardian.
The timing appears to have worked in the hotel’s favour, as gold prices have climbed sharply over the past year as investors seek safe havens amid geopolitical tensions, unpredictable trade policies, and shifting tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump.
Macau has been declared the five-star hotel capital of the world three years running in the Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Rating Awards.
In the most recent ranking, the Chinese city was recognised as having 24 five-star hotels overall, with the list including Epic Tower at Studio City Macau and Raffles at Galaxy Macau.
Along with Macau, Asia saw hotels in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Vietnam, and Singapore awarded five stars by Forbes, plus the Rosewood Guangzhou in China.
It joined Madrid’s newly-awarded Rosewood Villa Magna and Rosewood London on a 14-strong list of five-star Rosewood hotels throughout the world.
London had 20 five-star hotels in the ranking, with The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel; and Raffles London at The OWO new additions for 2025.
Macau, which stretches 13 square miles, was the world’s biggest gambling market by revenue in 2025
The hotel closed its famous casino in October and is currently planning an entertainment and leisure site, with the gold-lined lobby (pictured) already scheduled for redevelopment
Europe also had a strong showing outside the UK, gaining five-star hotels in Baku, Azerbaijan; Costa Navarino, Greece; Cannes, Florence and Madrid.
Meanwhile, the U.S gained four new five-star hotels – The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort, in Scottsdale, Arizona; The Maybourne Beverly Hills, in Los Angeles, and two in Montana – RiverView Ranch and Spa Montage Big Sky.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi also got a new five-star hotel each (One&Only Royal Mirage – The Residence in the former and The St. Regis Abu Dhabi in the latter), while top marks were awarded to the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, too.
Forbes’ list included more than 2,100 properties across 90 countries and features 336 five-star hotels, 645 four-star hotels, plus 567 recommended ones.
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