Retail Revival at Galaxy and Sands Malls as Chinese Consumer Sentiment Improves

Shopping activity at both Galaxy Macau and Sands China’s retail malls is showing a marked rebound as Chinese consumer confidence improves. Foot traffic and spending have risen steadily through late 2024 and 2025, supported by a recovery in mainland discretionary consumption and stronger willingness among travellers to splurge on luxury goods. Independent reports from Macau Daily Times and Macao News similarly note that retail operators across Cotai are experiencing higher conversion rates, especially among visitors from Guangdong and major Tier-1 cities.

Industry analysts emphasise that this retail uptick mirrors broader economic sentiment trends in China. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows improved consumer mood driven by stabilising employment conditions, easing property-market worries, and increased outbound travel frequency. Luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Chanel have reported stronger sales momentum in Macau compared to Hong Kong, where competition remains intense and price gaps have narrowed. This shift has helped Macau malls regain their pre-pandemic reputation as key luxury-shopping destinations.

Galaxy Macau and Sands China have also been actively refreshing their retail offerings to attract higher-spending visitors. Galaxy’s continued rollout of experiential retail zones, premium boutiques, and pop-up collaborations, while Sands is leveraging The Venetian and The Londoner to host celebrity-led campaigns and social-media-driven activations. According to retail analysts at CBRE, these strategies are aligned with younger mainland travellers who value novelty and hybrid shopping–entertainment experiences, helping sustain repeat visitation.

Overall, the resurgence in shopping points to a healthier balance across Macau’s non-gaming revenue streams. Both operators have stated in recent earnings calls—covered by Reuters and Bloomberg—that retail is becoming an increasingly important stabiliser alongside hotels, F&B, and entertainment. With Chinese consumer sentiment continuing to improve, analysts forecast further retail growth through 2026, reinforcing Macau’s diversification push and strengthening the long-term competitiveness of major Cotai resorts.