A senior executive at the Resorts World Manila casino resort in the Philippine capital has told GGRAsia the property’s gaming venue is “getting ready” to increase capacity “from 50 percent to 90 percent”. The property is run by Travellers International Hotel Group Inc.
“All restaurants and hotels within the Resorts World Manila complex are operational and ready to serve [via] latest guidelines,” added Hakan Dagtas, executive vice president and chief gaming and marketing officer, in his Friday comments.
A message on the website of City of Dreams Manila (pictured), run by a unit of Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd, said that with effect from Friday, capacity was “90 percent in the casino,” for those “21 years old and above, regardless of the patrons’ vaccination status”.
The notice added capacity was “60 percent for indoor dining, but only for the fully vaccinated 18 years old and above, and minors regardless of vaccination status”.
Capacity for outdoor dining was 80 percent “regardless of age and vaccination status”; and 60 percent in the “hotel gyms, spas, and hair salon at the Hyatt Regency for the fully vaccinated”.
The information coincided with news on Thursday from the office of the country’s presidential spokesperson, Harry Roque, that Covid-19 countermeasures in the National Capital Region were being downgraded to “Alert Level 2”, from Friday up to November 21.
The National Capital Region includes Metro Manila, encompassing the Entertainment City zone of large-scale casino resorts.
Alert Level 2 allows for increased capacity for dining-in at restaurants, and other close-contact activities such as beauty salons.
Solaire Resort and Casino, run by a unit of Bloomberry Resorts Corp, said on its website: “In compliance with the government guidelines on the general community quarantine Alert Level 2, Solaire is now welcoming guests.”
It added: “Guests of all ages are allowed in the property. As a continued safety measure, our restaurants are only able to accommodate diners 12 years old and above that are fully vaccinated.”
Solaire’s notice did not specify the permitted capacity of the casino, but noted “the casino is open and operating on a limited capacity in compliance with the government’s guidelines on the general community quarantine Alert Level 2.”
Following GGRAsia’s enquiry to the online help desk at Okada Manila, a property run by a unit of Japan’s Universal Entertainment, it stated: “All members and non-members can now get back into all the gaming fun.”
It added that in compliance with the country’s Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, “pregnant women and people with comorbidities are not allowed to enter the resort. For a safe gaming experience, guests are required to wear face mask and face shield at all times.”
In mid-October, some Manila casino resorts had confirmed their casino operations had restarted at 75 percent capacity, amid an easing of the Covid-19 emergency in the capital.
