Resorts World braces for stiff competition

Resorts World Manila (RWM) is preparing for stiffer competition five years after rising as the country’s first privately operated integrated gaming resort.

RWM developer and operator Travellers International Hotel Group—a partnership between the group of tycoon Andrew Tan and Malaysia’s Genting group—is spending around $650 million to double the gaming and hotel room capacity of this pioneering hub in Newport City across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 by 2017.

Stephen Reilly, RWM chief operating officer, said in an interview on Tuesday that the entry of new competitors—like Bloomberry Resort Corp.’s Solaire Manila which opened last year, and the upcoming City of Dreams Manila of the SM-Melco Crown tandem—would be beneficial for the overall gaming industry and Philippine tourism.

At present, about 18,000 patrons flock to RWM on an average day but foot traffic shoots up to as high as 32,000 to 34,000 during busy days, Reilly said.

“We’re the first integrated resorts and even during the [US-epicentered] financial crisis at that time, you saw new investment coming into the country. We saw the potential here and others followed,” Reilly said in an interview at the launch of RWM’s anniversary program called “Give Me 5.”

Reilly said the advent of Solaire and City of Dreams following suit later in the year were welcome developments.

“For us it’s healthy. It’s also competition but it’s also spotlighting the Philippines as well,” Reilly said, noting that RWM used to do bulk of the promotion works along with the Department of Tourism for the country’s integrated gaming industry.

The entry of new players who “can also beat the drum” can send a louder message to the rest of the world that a lot more is happening in Metro Manila, he said.

To celebrate its five-year milestone, a free anniversary show will be held on Aug. 28 called “Rockin 5” at RWM’s Newport Mall. From Sept. 11 to 18, the New Performing Arts Theater will host a re-telling of national hero Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere: The Opera.” RWM will also mount the second Chocolate Festival from Sept. 19 to 21. Doris C. Dumlao