Manila’s Solaire Resort and Casino had 40 bookings cancelled in the wake of the attack on Resorts World Manila last week, according to Bloomberry Resorts Chairman Enrique Razon Jr.
Speaking to reporters about the impact of the attack on Manila’s other integrated resorts – which include Bloomberry’s Solaire as well as City of Dreams Manila and the recently opened Okada – Mr Razon said his Entertainment City property had experienced some blowback but is adamant any ongoing panic will “die down soon.”
“We had a total of 40 bookings from individuals and junket (operators who cancelled),” the Philippines Inquirer reported Mr Razon as saying.
However, “The [gaming industry] is going stronger this year, so far. In the first quarter, we had clear growth of 48%. You have to be happy with that,” he added.
Asked about security measures at Solaire, which opened in 2013, Mr Razon said the company had invested heavily in ensuring the safety and security of its guests with its security personnel numbering 400 both inside the property and along the perimeter.
“Our security measures are quite stringent already,” he said. “We started beefing up our security measures after the Davao bombing last year. We increased the security level when the Marawi incident started. We’re already very tight.
“We probably are much more concerned with security on a normal basis. We have K9 units, surveillance systems and control rooms. We even have security watching the security.”
Mr Razon said it was vital that guests feel safe when visiting a property such as Solaire.
“[The issue of safety] is extremely sensitive, because it’s a hospitality business,” he said. “You have a hotel and you have food and beverage outlets, so people have to feel safe. We have to make sure people feel safe when they’re on the property, or in the country for that matter.”
