Despite higher box office sales Cirque du Soleil show ‘Zaia’ is still recording losses, Sands China president Edward Tracy revealed yesterday. But the executive assured that the gaming operator is willing to continue to shoulder the burden.

‘Zaia’ opened in 2008 and had a rough start due to low audience numbers. But "ticket sales have gone up" with the addition of new Chinese-style elements such as a lion dance performance and a flying dragon, Tracy said.

Nonetheless, the Venetian Macau show remains "the only business sector that doesn’t make a profit," he added. Criticism from Sands China chairman Sheldon Adelson led to rumours that the 10-year contract of ‘Zaia’ would be terminated earlier.
But Edward Tracy rejected this possibility. “We are prepared to take a loss to provide that kind of entertainment," he stressed.
The non-gaming business is thriving, the executive said, with retail sales set to exceed USD 1.3 billion (MOP 10.4 billion) this year. "Retail is immensely profitable for us as the landlord."

Cotai Arena is also posting a profit thanks to a transition "from maybe too-much Western entertainment to more Asian entertainment," Tracy said