Gana: resort consistently at 90 percent occupancy
Belle Corp. President Manuel Gana says it’s time for City of Dreams Manila to grow.
According to the Philippine Inquirer, Gana says the 6.2-hectare (15.3-acre) Manila resort with more than 900 hotel rooms is operating at close to full capacity with an occupancy rate of more than 90 percent. Growth of 8 percent at City of Dreams Manila helped to increase Belle Corp.’s net income in the first quarter by 10 percent to P857million (US$16.5 million). Belle Corp. owns City of Dreams via its 78.7 percent-owned subsidiary, Premium Leisure Corp.
“We need more hotel rooms in City of Dreams,” Gana said. “It is almost filled to capacity every time. We are waiting to hear back from Melco with respect to their plans and designs. The ball is in Melco’s court.”
According to the Philippine Star, asked if Belle Corp. is seeking another casino project in another location, Gana said the company would need another license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“If it’s possible to get another license or to have another site or extension of our current license, that is something we will be very interested in having, but again it’s not totally our call. We need PAGCOR to grant us another license,” Gana said. “If PAGCOR were ever to privatize its operations, we might be interested in bidding for some of its locations, probably not in Metro Manila and Cebu.” He said Laoag and Davao would be optimal resort locations.
Last year Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered PAGCOR to divest of its casino operations, citing a conflict of interest.
