Melco’s City of Dreams sets soft opening

MANILA, Philippines - Macau-based casino giant Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. is set to start bringing its City of Dreams Manila to life next month with an initial soft launch eyed for the $1.3 billion integrated entertainment resort along Manila Bay.

Melco Crown chairman Lawrence Ho said City of Dreams Manila, the second of four resort-casinos in Entertainment City, would have a soft opening next month and a grand launch before the Chinese New Year next year.

“We are excited about the imminent opening of City of Dreams Manila. We are planning on opening the doors to customers in December for a sneak peak of what the property has to offer before a grand opening prior to Chinese New Year in 2015,” Ho said.

“The Philippines gaming market continues to grow strongly and we believe the introduction of City of Dreams to Manila, with its collection of world-class brands and attraction, will significantly strengthen Manila’s appeal to local and international customers who are seeking an exciting leisure and entertainment experience,” he added.

Ho said initial clamor for rooms and gaming tables in City of Dreams Manila has been high, with demand already exceeding supply.

“We have more demand than available rooms and tables for junket partners in the Philippines,” he said.

City of Dreams Manila would mark the formal entry of Melco Crown Entertainment into the fast-growing and dynamic tourism industry in the Philippines.

The new integrated casino resort at Entertainment City along Manila Bay is being developed and would be operated by Melco Crown Philippines in partnership with Sy-led Belle Corp. and Premium Leisure and Amusement Inc.

City of Dreams Manila would offer 365 gaming tables, 1,680 slot machines and 1,680 electronic table games, along with 981 hotel rooms and a flurry of retail stores and restaurants.

“Philippines is going to be the fastest growing gaming market in the world this year by default, so we are encouraged about it,” Ho said.

As the second integrated casino to open in Pagcor’s Entertainment City, City of Dreams Manila would join Solaire Resort & Casino project of Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

The two other development that would complete Entertainment City is Manila Bay Resorts of Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada and Bayshore City Resorts World of property tycoon Andrew Tan and Malaysia’s Genting Group.