Solaire casino opens in QC in 2022

MANILA, Philippines — Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the owner and operator of the Solaire Resort & Casino and Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino in Korea, plans to open its Quezon City casino by early 2022.

In his report during the company’s annual stockholders meeting yesterday, Bloomberry chairman and chief executive officer Enrique Razon said the construction of the Quezon City casino would commence by mid-2019, while the masterplan is targeted for completion by January next year.

“This is part of our strategy to capture the base mass segment in the north,” he said.

The Quezon City casino resort would carry the same Solaire brand but would be taller because the lot area in Vertis North is smaller compared to the one in Parañaque.

“It’s a smaller property so it will be high rise. The gaming space will probably be the same, but not the same layout,” Razon also said.

He does not expect the Quezon City resort to take away the market from the Solaire Resort in Parañaque, saying the market will continue to grow.

Razon  sees the casino business growing stronger and sees a banner year because of the steady influx of tourists and junket players to the country as well as the rise in middle-class income.

“We foresee that tourism will continue to play a significant role in the growth of Philippine integrated resorts. Growth will likewise be boosted by the rise in middle-class incomes and increasing connectivity across the region,” Razon said

Razon said that apart from the growing tourism industry, other factors added to the resort’s accessibility, including improved access provided by the NAIAX Skyway, more available flights from China with the current 32 daily flights, and the easing of certain visa requirements.

The business activities at the 100-hectare Entertainment City in Parañaque are also steadily growing, he said.

“In Entertainment City, infrastructure and real estate projects are being constructed at a rapid rate, and this should drive increased foot traffic into Solaire,” Razon said.

Bloomberry reported a first quarter net income growth of 71 percent to P3.7 billion as gross revenue  increased to P11.5 billion from P8.6 billion a year ago.