With Enrique Razon’s Solaire Manila expected to open in the coming months, the race is on for three of the other luxury casino resorts in Pagcor’s Entertainment City to stage their own opening. Manila Bay Resorts, the $1 billion resort and casino joint venture between Tiger Resort Leisure and Robinson’s Land Corporation, has moved up its scheduled opening from early 2015 to late 2014, making it the third of the four casinos in the launch in Entertainment City. Whereas Solarie will be the first to open its lights, Belle Corp and Melco Crown’s Belle Grand is set to open in the first half of 2014 while Resorts World Bayshore isn’t expected to open until 2016.
When it opens, Manila Bay Resorts is set to become one of the biggest integrated entertainment and gaming complexes in the Philippines, comprising of three hotels (two luxury and one budget) that will accommodate a total of 2,000 rooms. On top of that, a slew if retail, dining, and entertainment facilities will also open as will gaming options that will include 3,000 slot machines and over 500 gaming tables. All told, Manila Bay Resorts is expected to create more than 5,000 employment opportunities.
Travellers signs deal with Hilton to give birth to Hilton Manila
Travellers Hotel International Group Inc, the same company that brought Resorts World Manila to the country, has signed a management agreement with Hilton Worldwide.
Known for being a leading global hospitality company, Hilton Worldwide, through its Hilton Hotels & Resorts subsidiary, is set to bring its world-renowned brand to the Philippines with the soon-to-rise 350-room Hilton Manila, which will be built in Newport City, the same hub where Resorts World Manila is. The deal also marks the third phase of Resorts World Manila’s expected expansion, which also includes expansions for two of the existing hotels in Newport – the Marriott and Maxims – that would add another 234 rooms to the former and 200 more rooms to the latter.
In a statement announcing the agreement between the two hotel giants, THIGI president Kingson Sian openly welcomed their new partner to the burgeoning Philippine market. “Resorts World Manila welcomes the addition of Hilton Manila to our integrated leisure and lifestyle complex, as we remain faithful to the class of offerings and attractions we are most known for,” he said.
“We envision RWM as the prime tourism destination in Asia which offers the best there is to the world. Hilton Worldwide has definitely made the right decision to choose Resorts World Manila as the future home for its 350-room property.”
THIGI’s deal with Hilton is the latest in a massive expansion being undertaken by the company as it seeks to increase its overall portfolio in the country. The company also projects with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide that would eventually see the opening of two more hotels in the country, the 350-room Sheraton Hotel in Resorts World Manila and the 600-room Westin hotel that will be part of the company’s Resorts World Manila Bayshore complex in Entertainment City.
