PRESIDENT AND CEO
Travellers International Hotel Group
POWER SCORE: 637
POSITION LAST YEAR: 44
CLAIMS TO FAME
• Heads Resorts World Manila, the Philippines’ first integrated resort
• Completing US$650 million Grand Wing expansion
• Delisted the Alliance Global Group-Genting Hong Kong joint venture from Philippine Stock Exchange
It’s been 10 years since Resorts World Manila (RWM) opened as the first integrated resort in the Philippines, and Kingson Sian has been there from the beginning. He’s Alliance Global Group founder Andrew Tan’s man in the joint venture with Genting Group that became Travellers International Hotel Group, listed and, as of 21 October 2019, delisted from the Philippine Stock Exchange.
Sian saw RWM through the June 2017 attack nightmare, accelerating its US$650 million third phase expansion. The so-called Grand Wing adds 14,000 square meters (151,000 square feet) of gaming space and three luxury hotels brands, bringing the IR to 3,500 rooms under five brands.
Sheraton Manila and Hilton Manila are open and Okura Manila will fully open by early next year. Gaming revenue for the first half of this year jumped 50% to Php13.5 billion (US$261 million), led by a 67% rise in VIP volume, while non-gaming revenue increased 48% to Php3 billion.
RWM’s geographic advantage – it’s a climate controlled walkway stroll from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in the midst of Metro Manila – has been eroded by the toll road to Entertainment City, now Manila’s center of gaming gravity. Travellers holds the fourth license there and has broken ground for Westside City Resorts World, unmentioned in last company reports.
For the full list of 2019 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
