RSS
Manila, Philippines
A concessionaire of the Philippines' version of the Las Vegas Strip has completed construction of its hotel in portion of the 300-acre gaming site that it will develop into an integrated resort complex over the next few years.
Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels (BRH) announced on Tuesday the topping out of the Solaire Manila at the Entertainment City Manila located in the Paranaque City side of a reclaimed land in Manila Bay.
"Solaire Manila will be the first resort to be built and operational here in Entertainment City. Once open, I have high hopes that Solaire will immediately contribute to furthering tourism in the country, and the economy in general," said Enrique K. Razon Jr., BRH chairman and CEO, in his welcome message during the topping out ceremony.
The hotel is part of the first phase of the BRH's integrated resort complex covering nearly two million square feet of floor area and is estimated to cost $650 million to $1.2 billion. The phase includes three levels of podium that has the ballroom/convention facilities, gaming areas, restaurants, retail shops, and health and wellness facilities. There is also a 10-storey parking building.
The head of the state-owned gaming corporation PAGCOR, the proponent of the $20 billion Entertainment City Manila, welcomed the completion of Solaire Manila. In his speech at the ceremony, PAGCOR chairman and CEO Cristino L. Naguiat said he sees the business success of BRH as the tourism sector is experiencing double-digit growth rates.
Aside from attracting local and foreign visitors, the complex is expected to generate more than 4,600 jobs and boost the country's ancillary service sectors, according to BRH. A 5,000-strong labor force is working 24/7 to complete the firm's integrated resort complex.
Ceremony guest Juan Ponce Enrile, president of the Philippine Senate, praised Razon and Teresita Sy-Coson, Banco De Oro Unibank chair, for their vision to put up the complex. Banco De Oro is financing the project.
When completed, the Entertainment City Manila will have 3,200 hotel rooms, which will have an annual capacity of one million tourists. It will drive the government's goal of achieving 10 million tourist arrivals by 2016.
Aside from tourist arrivals, it will generate more than 20,000 jobs andl challenge Las Vegas' dominance in casino gaming.
Twitter: @ihavenet
- Asia Is Up in Arms
- Inching Toward Progress on the North Korean Nuke Problem
- Kim Jong-il and the Normalization of Japan-North Korea Relations
- Japan and Mongolia: Geographic Challenges to Free Trade
- How Myanmar Liberates Asia
- Reassessing International Access in Myanmar
- The Kachin's Role in Myanmar - Chinese Relations
- Afghanistan and the Long War
- Death and Public Relations
- Indonesia: Facing the Stigma of Leprosy
- Learning from Japan's Tsunami
- North Korea's Pivot
- Divided Over North Korean Refugees
- Japan and India: Making Up for Lost Time
- Assessing China's Strategy
- Chinese Computer Games
- Beating China, Corporate Style
- The Future of U.S. - Chinese Relations
- How to Mend U.S. - China Ties
- Afghanistan: War Downsized
- A Look at Central Asia's Drug War
- Pakistan: No Road Home for Sindh Flood Victims
- Maoist Ex-Combatants Threaten to Step Up Protests
- Nepal Celebrates Less-Rowdy Festival of Colors
- Isolation and Poverty Loom for Asia's Aging Population
- Piracy, not China, the Real Issue in Indian Ocean
- Chinese Benefits from Investing in Rason
- China's Looming Pension Crisis
- Don't Expect India to Come to the Rescue
- Burma: After 50 Years of Military Rule Signs Of Real Hope
- Afghanistan: Moving Toward a Distant Endgame
- Drug Problem Adding to Challenge in Afghanistan
- Philippines Weighs Increased U.S. Military Presence
- Philippine Airstrike Targets Militant Network
- Indonesia's Fuel Subsidy Problem
- Australia Rises Up
- Japan's Energy Vulnerability After the Nuclear Disaster
- Henoko and U.S. Military: History of Dependence and Resistance
- Indonesia: No Rice, No Way
- Philippines: Mapping 'Blind' Fault Lines
Copyright © 2012 AHN - All Rights Reserved
