A new integrated resort planned for Quezon City in the Philippines is on track to begin construction this summer.
Enrique Razon, chairman and CEO of Bloomberry Resorts, made the announcement, saying, “As soon as the site is clear we’ll have the groundbreaking. Our target is June or July.”
Bloomberry is the developer of the original Solaire Resort & Casino, which opened in Manila’s Entertainment City casino zone in March 2013. GGRAsia described it as “the first large-scale, private-sector casino resort in Entertainment City,” which is also home to Genting’s Resorts World Manila, Melco’s City of Dreams Manila, and Tiger Resort’s Okada Manila.
Razon dismissed questions about Quezon City’s plan to establish an entry fee for locals; the country’s gaming regulator is clear that local lawmakers do not have that authority. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. “has something to say about that,” Razon told the Philippine Business World. “We won’t involve ourselves in the issue. We are moving forward with the project.”
Solaire North will be built on a 1.5-hectare (3.7-acre) plot at Vertis North in Quezon City and feature a 40-story tower. It’s scheduled to open in 2022.
Razon added that Bloomberry will start construction of its US$308 million cruise ship port near the original Solaire by the third quarter of 2019. “We hope to complete Phase I by 2021,” he said. Described by Asia Gaming Brief as a “Philippine-centric” development, it will include a shipping terminal, homeport and port-of-call operations, retail and dining options, maritime recreation and public boulevards and plazas.
