Bloomberry set to unveil retail expansion for Solaire

MANILA, Philippines - Integrated resort operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. is set to unveil next year the retail expansion for Solaire Resort and Casino in Entertainment City.

In an interview over the weekend during Sky Tower’s launch, Bloomberry president and chief operating officer Thomas Arasi said the retail expansion will open in stages by next year.

“We don’t have a firm date. But we are in discussion with really good tenants so it will take a while to do all of that. But we expect by the end of 2015 there will be quite a few good shops open,” Arasi said.

The retail area is part of the $500-million phase 1A expansion of Solaire. The integrated resort operator has allocated some 100,000 additional square meters for retail area.

Bloomberry already opened during the weekend Sky Tower which is also covered by the phase 1A expansion.

Sky Tower is a leisure complex composed of 312-all suite hotel, additional VIP gaming areas, an exclusive Chinese restaurant and whisky and cigar bar for VIP gamers, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, and a 1,760-seat lyrical theater.

As for its planned phase 2 expansion, Arasi said the company has not made any firm decision at this point.

“Well we are doing some very early design. And we’re doing that design because we want to be ready if and when we decide to go ahead with phase 2. Fortunately we already have the land and we have the license and we have an on-going operation here so of course you know we think eventually we will do but there is no firm corporate decision,” Arasi said.

Arasi said the company’s focus at the moment would be on its existing area and its recently completed Sky Tower.

“We have a lot to learn about Solaire as we absorb SkyTower section. So we’re gonna smart it out. We’re gonna learn first we’re going to balance the two sections,” he said.