Analysts Predict Higher Demand for Macau Gaming Next 10 years, Leading to Las Vegas Sands' Macau Hotel Operations Growth

There are different factors than can lead to the significant growth of Las Vegas Sands' Macau Hotel Operations, including the higher demand for gaming in the next 10 years. 

According to Forbes Las Vegas Sands' Macau hotel operations earned a lot due to the higher gaming demand before, which resulted to better occupancy levels in its properties for the last years. Casino operators should sustain occupancy to increase the demand for casinos, which prompts them to sometimes compromise the average daily rates (ADRs). For the past few years, Las Vegas Sands occupancy rate has increased. It gives the casino an upside potential, which will come into reality as Macau gaming rebounds.

Trefis Team reports in Forbes suggesting Las Vegas Sands to focus on the rising ADR faster. ADR may go on a downward slope this year, but it will increase beyond pre-recession levels in the next 10 years. Increased capacity and more demand for gaming will power this growth, which can give additional incremental revenues for the company of $500 million. This could lead to a 5% spike to the stock.

Macau hotel business accounts for 10 percent of Las Vegas Sands' stock value according to Trefis. The hotels' main income comes from ADR and occupancy levels. But its ADR went down to $232 in 2014, from 2008's $270. One major reason for the drop is the opening of new properties, like Cotai Central. Every hotel has a different ADR, which means an additional property that has lower rates will bring down the overall average rates.

For the past few years, Las Vegas Sands had a consistent 85% occupancy level for the last few years. The diversified portfolio of properties is one of the driving factors of this level of occupancy, which gives Macau a $333 ADR, a number higher than Las Vegas Sands' $232. There is also a drastic growth in number of visitors in Macau to 31 million in 2014 from 2010's 25 million. This boosted the demand for more rooms in the region, prompting Las Vegas Sands to consider building a non-casino hotel in Macao.

Except for 2014-2015, Macau's gaming demand has grown to massive proportions. Analysts believe it will lead to higher occupancy in the coming years, as well as a rise in ADR for hotel properties.