All systems go for Manila Bay Resorts opening

MANILA, Philippines – It’s all systems go for the opening of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc.’s Manila Bay Resorts, the casino resort of Japanese gaming mogul Kazuo Okada and the latest addition to the 110-hectare Entertainment City in Parañaque.

In an interview with The STAR, Tiger Resort chief operating officer Steve Wolstenholme said the company would open the casino resort in December this year as scheduled and may consider doing a public listing after, depending on the need as well as market opportunities.

“The opening of phase one is on track before the end of the year. There will be a hotel, casino, food and beverage and there will be a number of retail outlets, amenities, beach club and night club. It will be very broad. We will continuously surprise people,” he said.

Asked about financing for the project, Wolstenholme said this is a continuing process but noted the company is comfortable there would be enough to finance the entire project as well as through the additional phases.

“All options are on the table including listing. Our primary focus right now is ensuring that we open, employ those 8,000-plus people that we are training appropriately. After this, we can look at structure in our next phase, which may result in a public offering but this time our focus ideally is on our opening,” he said.

Tiger Resort had announced a $2-billion investment for the first phase of the project, which officials said could eventually increase to $4 billion, depending on the expansion.

Tiger’s casino and resort complex  is envisioned to be a world-class Las Vegas-style development with luxurious hotels, classy restaurants, commercial facilities, hotels, residences and state of the art pool with real sand beach covered by a huge glass dome.

It will have two towers connected by a sky bridge with each tower having 15 floors, 500 rooms and an amazing view of Manila Bay and of the iconic dancing water fountain and light display within the property that will rival the fountains in Dubai.