Resorts World Genting – Malaysia’s only legal casino resort – opened last week the first of two club outlets under the Zouk brand.
The 5,000-square-feet (465-sq-metre) venue – called “Empire by Zouk” – is dedicated to hip hop music, according to a press release.
Resorts World Genting is operated by Genting Malaysia Bhd. The latter and Genting Hong Kong Ltd are both controlled by Malaysian conglomerate Genting Bhd. Genting Hong Kong – an operator of casino cruise ships in the Asia Pacific region and a partner in a major Philippines casino resort – acquired the Zouk Club venture in 2015.
The partnership between Resorts World Genting and Zouk was first announced in December 2017. Genting Hong Kong said at the time it had a three-year agreement with Genting Malaysia regarding the management and branding of a new Zouk Club at Resorts World Genting.
“With the rising popularity and appreciation of hip-hop culture, we thought it’d be an opportune moment to introduce a brand new hip-hop angled concept,” the chief executive of Zouk Group, Andrew Li, said in prepared comments included in the press release, referring to Empire by Zouk.
He added: “Resorts World Genting was a natural fit since it is the pioneer integrated resort of our parent company… With the introduction of Zouk, it is our hope to expand its market segment, enhance and diversify the lifestyle experiences in the resort.”
Empire by Zouk is part of Zouk Atrium at Resorts World Genting. The 40,000-sq feet atrium will also include a main club under the Zouk brand.
Zouk Club is a prominent Singapore nightclub. It is regularly ranked by trade publications as one of the top dance music clubs in Asia. Its festival-organising arm, ZoukOut – originally based in Singapore – has had a presence in Japan, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Resorts World Genting casino resort – also known as Genting Highlands – is currently undergoing an extensive revamp. The project – dubbed the Genting Integrated Tourism Plan (GITP) – was launched in December 2013. It is a multi-phase initiative described as a 10-year, MYR10-billion (US$2.39-billion) master plan. The Malaysian property has already opened several new facilities and attractions.
One of the new main attractions under the GITP is a 20th Century Fox World Theme Park, yet to open. Genting Malaysia filed on Monday a US$1-billion-plus lawsuit against Fox Entertainment Group LLC and The Walt Disney Co – currently suitor to many of the Fox brand’s entertainment assets –, following receiving a termination notice on a 2013 deal for use of Fox branding in the new theme park.
