City of Dreams Manila officially opens

MANILA - Yesterday, City of Dreams Manila officially became a reality. A press conference was held to mark the official grand launch of the integrated gaming and entertainment resort, set to become the "must experience" destination in Manila. City of Dreams Manila has been developed by integrated casino resort developer MCE Leisure (Philippines) Corporation ("MCE Leisure Philippines") in cooperation with SM Group's Belle Corporation and is under the sole management and operation by MCE Leisure Philippines, a subsidiary of Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation (a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange with trading symbol "MCP", which is a subsidiary of Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (SEHK: 6883) (NASDAQ: MPEL), a developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia.

Strategically located at the gateway to Manila's Entertainment City, the over USD 1 billion City of Dreams Manila is now ready to deliver on its stated aim to become the premier leisure and entertainment destination in the Philippines and within the region.

In confirming the fulfillment of the minimum investment requirement and the commencement of the formal application process for a permanent casino license, Mr. Jorge Sarmiento, President and Chief Operating Officer of PAGCOR said: "Melco Crown Philippines and MCE Leisure have exceeded our high expectations with the completion and opening of this stellar destination resort."

"Indeed, Melco Crown Entertainment's experience and reputation in delivering world-class integrated resorts is fully recognized and we are confident that City of Dreams Manila will play a key role in the future development of destination tourism to Entertainment City and Manila."

The integrated gaming and entertainment complex combines electrifying world-class entertainment, an amazing array of accommodation, and regional and international culinary offerings, together with designer brand shopping and a spacious and contemporary casino. City of Dreams Manila is now set to redefine the entertainment resort landscape of the region, and represents a key catalyst in the further diversification of the tourism economy of Manila and the Philippines.

The press conference was hosted by the visionaries behind the City of Dreams brand – Mr. Lawrence Ho, Co-Chairman and CEO of Melco Crown Entertainment and Co-Chairman, Mr. James Packer.

During the media presentation, Mr. Lawrence Ho commented: "Today it is my great pleasure to deliver on our promise to bring the highly successful City of Dreams brand experience to the Philippines. Today's grand launch is an important milestone for Melco Crown Entertainment as we expand our presence and the City of Dreams brand in the region."

"Our ability to bring together and work with leading names in the entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle sectors was key to realizing City of Dreams Manila, which will now set the benchmark for entertainment-inspired leisure destinations globally."

"It is a further step in realizing our overall vision of delivering diverse, world-class entertainment and lifestyle resorts in Asia, to meet the needs of leisure-seekers across the region."

"I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and PAGCOR for their continuous support in helping us realize this stunning gaming, leisure and entertainment complex here at Entertainment City."

"City of Dreams Manila heralds a new and very exciting chapter in the continued development of Manila and the Philippines as a leading Asian leisure and tourism destination in Asia. We look forward to working closely with the government and our co-developers to bring even more unique, world-class entertainment to the city and to elevate its tourism sector to the next level."

Mr. James Packer added: "This is a key development in our overall vision of providing a comprehensive portfolio of leisure and entertainment resort experiences in Asia that meet the rapidly evolving demands of Asian and international leisure customers. The Philippines is a dynamic and fast-growing market and City of Dreams Manila has been specifically developed to cater both to domestic demand and destination visitors across Asia and internationally."

Outstanding entertainment is at the core of the City of Dreams Manila. This is no better demonstrated than by the Hollywood glamour it has already brought to the city. The property features in a special TV promotional film, specially commissioned by Melco Crown Entertainment and starring Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film has been produced by Brett Ratner, the celebrated director of movie blockbusters such as "Red Dragon", ''X-Men: The Last Stand", "Hercules" and the "Rush Hour" film franchise.

Mr. Brett Ratner commented: "We have scenes set within City of Dreams Manila, and as Martin himself says about the resort in the film storyline: 'What I want you to see, is where we are in Manila. This place is incredible, it's fantastic…' and believe me -- this place really is fantastic!"

City of Dreams Manila - Leisure destination offerings
As Manila's first world-class integrated leisure destination, the new resort complex brings together a diverse collection of contemporary international entertainment, leisure and lifestyle brands, including Crown, Nobu, Hyatt, DreamWorks and the Ault Group. As such, an exceptional experience awaits all types of travelers and visitors from around the region and the world.

The diverse and unique experiences that City of Dreams Manila brings to Manila include:
Gaming: With an array of gaming tables and slot machines, City of Dreams Manila offers an exciting and dynamic gaming experience on the main gaming floor.

Entertainment: CenterPlay, Manila's first contemporary entertainment bar on a gaming floor, features prime live performances from top local and international artists.

Accommodation: City of Dreams Manila will cater to the accommodation needs of a wide spectrum of visitors: from families, to businesspeople, to luxury travelers. Guests will be able to experience the luxurious Crown Towers; Asia's first celebrity-inspired Nobu Hotel; and the acclaimed Hyatt City of Dreams Manila.

Dining: An eclectic range of world-class restaurants and eateries can be found at City of Dreams Manila, featuring the very best in contemporary fine dining. Specialty restaurants include Nobu Restaurant at the Nobu Hotel, which will feature menus inspired by Chef Nobu's unique style of fusion artistry, alongside his world-renowned signature dishes. The Tasting Room offers lavish European haute cuisine and a stellar wine collection. The Crystal Dragon, meanwhile, delivers a delectable menu of premium Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties in a modern Oriental setting. A wide array of cafe, lounge and casual eating offerings and a diverse selection of bars complete the F&B experience.

Nightlife: City of Dreams Manila is the location of Pangaea and Chaos, two premium nightclubs developed by the group led by the distinguished nightclub operator and "International King of Clubs," Michael Van Cleef Ault. Both clubs are situated inside the City of Dreams Manila's iconic "Fortune Egg", an architecturally-unique structure accented with a creative exterior lighting design, and anticipated to become a landmark of the Manila Bay area.

Shopping: City of Dreams Manila will also be home to some of the world's most sought-after brands. Guests can enjoy a superlative retail experience at The Shops at the Boulevard, with an eclectic range of international-brand outlets including Assembly; Canali; Cesare Paciotti; Hugo Boss; Montblanc; Paul & Shark; Rolex and Roberto Cavalli among many others.

DreamPlay by DreamWorks, the world's first DreamWorks-inspired education-based interactive playspace is set to open later this quarter.

sourced:traveldailynew.asia