MJC group opens 20-story deluxe hotel in Manila

Manila Jockey Club group has debuted in Manila’s hospitality industry with the soft opening on Wednesday of a 128-room deluxe hotel, Winford Hotel, at the San Lazaro Tourism and Business Park in Sta. Cruz.

Winford Hotel seeks to serve the need for quality hotels near Binondo and the cultural center of Manila.

MJC Investments Corp. (MIC) held the ceremonial opening of Winford Hotel with a lion dance, a lion-eye dotting (awakening of the dragon) ceremony and ribbon-cutting led by the company’s top officers, based on a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

The 20-story Winford Hotel is an internationally designed deluxe hotel with a three-level entertainment and gaming area, ballroom, swimming pool, gym and spa, coffee shop and dining area, retail outlets and a seven-level parking structure.

Based on its annual report, the cost of the hotel and entertainment complex being developed by MIC in San Lazaro was estimated at P8 billion.

The San Lazaro complex is home to a high-end residential condominium project jointly developed by Ayala Land and MJC, and SM San Lazaro.

The Manila Jockey group sees various investments in tourism projects eventually changing its business mix in favor of property development. However, horse racing and gaming are seen remaining a substantial component of MJC’s business.

A Hong Kong-based investor earlier acquired a controlling stake in MIC by infusing funds to support the tourism-oriented project at the San Lazaro Business and Tourism Park.