Okada Manila to employ 8,000 workers

MANILA, Philippines – Okada Manila, the soon-to-open casino resort of Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada in the 100-hectare Entertainment City in Parañaque City, is targeting to employ some 8,000 workers.

The jobs will cover positions in casino gaming, casino marketing, club operations, security and surveillance, facilities management, hotel operations, food and beverage and cage operations, said Okada Manila president Steve Wolstenholme.

Okada Manila, which will open in November, is a partnership between Okada and Filipino businessman Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco.  It is the third integrated casino resort that will open in Pagcor’s Entertainment City after port tycoon Enrique Razon’s Solaire and Casino and Melco Crown’s City of Dreams.

Wolstenholme said the integrated resort’s recruitment campaign is in full swing and that the company is also open to hiring Filipinos abroad who want to return to the Philippines.

“Since the announcement of the new property name and the official soft opening date, our recruitment team has been bullish on hiring quality talents from the local labor market to fill up positions in both our casino and hotel operations and we are very happy to have attracted exactly 10,139 Filipinos which had to go through a rigid selection process,” said Wolstenholme.

The company recently concluded its first job fair at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, attracting more than 10,000 jobseekers.

The 44-hectare casino project is expected to introduce a seamless integration of authentic and high quality Japanese service and world-renowned Filipino hospitality that will help bring to life Okada Manila’s impressive integrated resort amenities and facilities.

It will have two Y-shaped hotel towers with a total of 993 rooms, a majestic 37,464 square-meter dancing fountain, a huge casino floor with 500 table games and 3,000 electronic gaming machines, 90,000 square-feet night club and beach club entertainment complex, an 8,409 square-meter retail promenade, a world-class spa and 21 self-operated restaurants for casual, buffet, and international dining.

Officials said the company is committed to be one of the key drivers in boosting the country’s tourism industry, a move welcomed by Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

It also puts a premium on its talent acquisition in recognition of its employees’ significant contribution to the success of the $2.4-billion project.

“Our vision is to employ highly skilled Filipinos and equip them with the necessary tools in providing extraordinary and high quality service that will thrill, delight and charm guests from the Philippines, the rest of Asia and the world,” said Okada Manila chief operating officer Takahiro Usui.