Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming January 2015 20 Cover Story Sky Tower Lifts Solaire The first casino in Manila’s Entertainment City rises with an elegant extension, as it aims to shine globally By Muhammad Cohen very top tier of world-class integrated resorts, and is a tremendous game changer in providing best-in-class guest experience,” Solaire President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Arasi says. After joining Solaire in October 2013, Mr Arasi reportedly ordered key changes to Sky Tower as part of revamping the resort’s strategy and positioning. Despite that, Sky Tower arrived “on track and on spec,” parent company Bloomberry Chairman and Chief Executive Enrique Razon Jr said just ahead of the new wing’s 21st November ribbon cutting. Solaire opened as the first property in Pagcor’s Entertainment City integrated resort district with a 488-room hotel tower and 18,500 square-meter (200,000 square foot) gaming area, plus a grand ballroom and about a half-dozen food and beverage options. Sky Tower advances Solaire toward becoming a full-fledged integrated resort with additional rooms, VIP gaming, F&B options, meeting rooms, and a theater, all packaged around a spectacular lobby. The $1.2 billion property, currently averaging 14,000 daily visitors, will roll out more non-gaming attractions throughout this year. Non-gaming revenue accounted for about 3.5% of Solaire’s third quarter overall revenue of 22.3 billion Philippine pesos (US$531 million). “The non-gaming side has performed well, noting, however, that much of our non-gaming is pretty much being sopped up and consumed by the gaming side. … So it’s really been supporting the gaming business,” Mr Arasi says. “Once we build out everything in the Sky Tower, we’ll be able to solidly grow our non-gaming business.” W hen Solaire Resort & Casino opened its first phase in March 2013, observers proclaimed it set a new standard for the Philippine market. With its Phase 1A Sky Tower that opened in late November, “Solaire raised the bar again. They definitely outdid Phase I with Phase 1A,” says Francis Hernando, vice president for Licensing and Development of the country’s gaming regulator, Pagcor. “The Sky Tower elevates Solaire yet another step higher into the