Inside Asian Gaming

JULY 2018 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 21 COVER STORY For our existing facilities, we made changes to the infrastructure to accommodate the recommendations of our security consultants – we want to send a clear message that we view security as a top priority. This is not just about palliative or superficial solutions. MC: Overall, how close is Resorts World Manila to being back to where it was in business terms? SR: It’s quite telling that by September of 2017, our weekend foot traffic was at 26,000 per day – very near the 28,000 count of the same period in 2016. It was a clear sign that we were well on our way to business recovery just three months after the incident. The daily occupancy rate for all our hotels averages at around 80%. This is remarkable for the industry, considering we currently have four hotel brands and nearly 2,000 keys. MC: What are the next steps to grow business? SR: Right now we are focused on seeing the completion of the Grand Wing expansion. Its gaming area was recently opened to the public, the transition of our old Remington Hotel brand to the country’s first Holiday Inn Express is now complete, Hilton Manila and Sheraton Hotel Manila will both be making their official Philippine comebacks within the year and we will also see the first- ever Hotel Okura open in RWM soon after. There is even more to look forward to in RWM’s next expansion phase – I am pleased to confirm that the Ritz-Carlton brand will be making its Philippine debut with Resorts World Manila. We broke ground on our Entertainment City project a few years ago and construction activities are in full swing. As the last integrated resort to be given a license to operate there, we are dedicated to making it truly grand and worthy of the Resorts World brand’s legacy as the industry pioneer. MC: How does the growth of Entertainment City influence Travellers’ view of the future of Resorts World Manila? Is this location viable in the long run? SR: Our location has always been our distinct advantage – we are directly across from a major terminal and are relatively easily accessible to business districts and major Metro Manila cities. We believe that RWM will always have a firm place in the Philippine integrated resort industry and it’s just a matter of anticipating and meeting the challenges of a changing business landscape. MC: How does Travellers see Resorts World Manila and its Entertainment City property complementing each other? SR: It is absolutely integral for us, as the country’s integrated resort pioneer, to have a presence in Entertainment City. The gaming market in the country and the region is showing continued growth and we can see both developments thriving in such a market. Having two properties also allows us to take a more strategic approach to catering to different market segments. The elevated, climate-controlled footbridge linking RWM with Ninoy Aquino International Airport