Resorts World Manila raises the stakes

This article first appeared in the Sep/Oct 2011 issue of World Gaming magazine.

What our team loves best about Resorts World Manila
	Pai Yao “I love Maxims hotel because I don’t like staying in second rate, flea-ridden pits. I like six star luxury and Maxims is not only the best hotel in Manila it is as good as any I have stayed anywhere in the world.”
	The Dragon “I love that they take great care of their high rollers, the staff will cater to your every need. I also love the Genting Club which is still a high rolling space but it’s complete with a sports bar and a place where I can chill out, relax and mingle with other players.”
	The Panda “It’s a hard decision to pick only one dining establishment from such a wide choice. I must say I love the all-you-can-eat dim sum at Passion which at 750 pesos is great value.”
	The Tiger “I love the state-of-the-art virtual horse racing game. It has four big screens, commentary and lots of betting options in one big arena with dozens of terminals. Plenty of seating, huge jackpots – it doesn’t get any better than this.”
	The Stallion “Republiq is the hottest ‘red carpet’ nightclub in Manila. All the A-list parties go on here. There are plenty of places to relax and have a quiet drink but if you want to party then head straight for Republiq.”
	The Eagle “I love that there are plenty of gaming areas and I can always find a good table even on busy nights. There are plenty of people to create an atmosphere but I don’t have to push people out of the way to get a seat.”
	The Butterfly “I keep busy all day with three levels of shopping housing boutique brands and specialty shops and I can get a good coffee and a piece of cake. Top that off with a wonderful spa where I can have a relaxing massage at the end of the day and life can’t get any better!”
	The Phoenix “RWM is located very close to Manila airport, just a stone’s throw from terminal three. That means no long car rides to get to my hotel room.”

The Philippines has had a vibrant gaming scene for many years. PAGCOR was always the main operator in the market and coupled with its role as the gaming industry regulator it is the giant of the Filipino gaming scene. However Travellers International Hotel Group (a joint venture between Filipino real estate and food conglomerate Alliance Global Group and long established gaming company Genting Hong Kong) secured a license from PAGCOR to open the country’s first integrated megaresort, Resorts World Manila (RWM). After a soft opening in 2009, the new resort had its grand opening in 2010 and has changed the landscape of casinos in the Philippines forever. The bar has been raised and the four new casinos at PAGCOR city are going to have to be good to knock RWM from its deserved status as the best casino in the country.

The Philippines and her 7,101 islands are one of the world’s last great secrets. Wonderful people, great service and everything the modern day traveler or tourist could ever want. Metro Manila is a huge conglomerate of 16 contiguous cities sprawled into one enormous metropolis of over 20 million people. With its combined Spanish and American heritage it resembles cities like Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City, but with an Asian twist.

Manila is a great city to do business in and there is much for city lovers to explore and enjoy. However most tourists make their way to one of the thousands of islands offering the very best in white sand, sun and resorts. It can be a long haul to get to these islands so most people take a few nights to relax in Manila near the airport, or the business and nightlife district of Makati before continuing on to their island paradise of choice. Resorts World Manila (RWM) offers visitors the best gateway to the islands in the country with a mega casino resort that can compete with the very best in Macau and Las Vegas.

The Genting group is no stranger to gaming, having operated Resorts World Genting (formerly Genting Highlands) in Malaysia for decades, being a major player in UK gaming and now operating Resorts World Sentosa, one of the two new Singapore integrated resorts.

When Genting faced the challenge of creating the first mega resort casino in Manila, they knew that international visitors would need to be confident the property was safe and stable. Their response was a decision that the property should be completely self-reliant. RWM has an extensive security team and even its own fire fighting squad! There really is no reason for gaming tourists not to come to the Philippines and enjoy Manila as an alternative gaming location to Macau, Korea or Singapore.

Gaming

RWM has a huge gaming area spread over three levels. 15 of your favourite casino games are offered with baccarat, sic bo, craps, pai gao (with both tiles and cards), roulette and blackjack leading the way. With over 300 tables and 1,500 electronic gaming machines there is no shortage of places to play.

No matter what limit you play, you’ll be well looked after here. For the smaller table game players you will find plenty of tables on the main floor. This is a huge area with the perfectly named Bar 360 in the middle. You’ll find all the table games on one side of the bar and on the other an enormous electronic games area featuring all the latest slots, e-table games and an incredible virtual horse racing game that is state-of-the-art and very exciting to play.

Move upstairs to the second floor and you’ll find yet more tables and e-games and RWM’s poker room, home of all Asian Poker Tour events held in Manila. The 24-hour poker room is excellent and even in the early hours you can get a game. Limits start from very low buy-ins, right up to a regular 100,000 peso (HK$18,000) minimum buy-in game which gets up quite often, especially at weekends.

Signing up to become a RWM member is very quick and easy. Within a few minutes you’ll have your membership card and be earning gaming points, which are redeemable in all RWM outlets, all hotels (including the Marriott), and most outlets in the Newport mall.

For international travelers looking to take a gaming trip, your gaming dollar goes further in Manila than it does in Macau. Take HK$100,000 on a gaming trip to Macau and depending on the casino you frequent you may be little better than an average player off the street, but the same amount in Manila could see you treated like a genuine high roller.

Tournaments are an RWM specialty and there are about six baccarat tournaments a year, which are invitational events for bigger players. Prize pools for the tourneys range from about HK$3 million to about HK$10 million. RWM also regularly holds slot tournaments worth one million pesos apiece.

The Genting Club

The bigger players will be able to make their way up one more floor to the prestigious Genting Club on the level three. The Genting Club is the premier lifestyle club in Metro Manila. An exclusive members-only club where you will rub shoulders with Manila’s elite, it is a playground for those with discerning taste searching for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. An oasis for business leaders and prominent names in society, the Genting Club is home to those seeking luxurious premier entertainment and to relax in an exclusive environment.

The club offers a wide selection of VIP gaming rooms and areas and members can also enjoy the Paqman Sportsbar, Rat Pack (the gold standard for whiskey lovers), the 007 Martini Bar, George’s Cigar & Malt Cellar, live music and entertainment, fusball tables, pool tables or even indulge in a luxurious massage at M Spa. The best in decadent dining is also available with restaurants Mujou (Japanese), Kimchi (Korean), and Happy 9 (Chinese).

Club membership costs 500,000 pesos (around HK$93,000) annually but each member will receive this amount in consumable spending over each year of membership, so it is more like an annual minimum spend than a membership fee. And of course like every major casino RWM has a complimentary system based on play for its premium players.

Surrounded by quality company, the Genting Club is where you can find the best of what the world can offer.

Hotels

Maxims

Maxims is RWM’s very own brand of six star service. Be warned it is hard to reserve one of its 172 suites, particularly on weekends, so booking well ahead is advised. Stunning art hangs from the walls, your own personal butler will look after your every need and you are a lift ride away from a plethora of gaming and dining options.

On the fifth floor you’ll find a beautiful pool area with an overflow pool and sundeck. Nearby are three private villas, each with their own overflow pools and individual massage and treatment rooms. The fifth floor is also home to eight deluxe and eight signature suites. Move up to floors 6 to 9 and you’ll find Maxim’s ‘standard’ suites, but ‘standard’ here still means the very best accommodation in Manila.

Marriot

The Marriot brand is one of the best in the industry. They pride themselves on keeping a fresh crisp image and their property in Manila is just that. They have great security, excellent staff and a prime location. You don’t even need to leave the building to find yourself surrounded by gaming, entertainment and dining. It is more price-friendly than Maxims but don’t be fooled by this. This property is one of the best in the city with 342 luxurious rooms and also the sensational Quan spa. Throw in a great gym and pool deck and we promise you won’t be disappointed.

Remington

This affordable three star property with 721 rooms is scheduled to have its first stage open in September and should be complete by the end of this year. It will complete the range of accommodation options from three to six star, and should mean there will never be a problem getting a hotel room at RWM.

Entertainment

Republiq

This club is white hot, and often quoted as the top club in the country. The first thing you notice is the throng of people clambering to join one of the many lines to get in. If you are an international visitor then jumping the lines should not be too difficult, just speak to your hotel concierge in advance. This is the bar everyone wants to been seen at as all the beautiful people party here. At 3,000 square feet Republiq is large enough to create a wild party atmosphere with as many as 1,000 people, but there is still an intimate touch that makes one feel important and exclusive. The surroundings are superb, and the sound system and visual technology is everything you would expect of a club of this calibre.

Our resident party animal The Stallion reviewed this fantastic nightclub in the May/Jun issue of World Gaming so for more details check out his review online at wgm8.com.

Bar 360

This circular bar and performing area is home to Filipino and foreign artists from around 11am to around 2am every day. It’s a focal point of the main floor of the casino splitting the gaming between tables and electronic games. It’s a great meeting place that everyone knows.

Newport Performing Arts Theatre

RWM is home to an international standard performing arts theatre with a capacity of 1,500 seats. Top artists and shows regularly perform here, and for eight weeks from 15 October to mid December it will be the home of a production of the classic musical “The Sound of Music”.

Cinema

Sometimes on holiday a quiet movie is just what the doctor ordered. The Newport mall is home to a state-of-the-art cinema complex that shows all the latest blockbuster films from around the world. This is Manila’s only cinema open 24 hours on weekends, and includes Gold Class with butler service including bottomless drinks and popcorn. You’ll also find a 3D cinema here.

Shopping

The plush Newport mall attached to RWM offers a thoughtful selection of brand name stores and food and beverage outlets over three levels to cater to your every need.

Whether you are a serious shopper or simply happy to browse, you will not be disappointed. Retail outlets offering the latest clothing, shoes, bags and accessories will delight the on-trend shopper. Those in transit to a beach resort can snap up eyewear and beachwear prior to arriving at their destination. Visitors keen to keep active can update their sporting apparel at selected retailers and the nearby Villamor golf course necessitates a specialist golf store. If you are looking for something very special, such as a classic timepiece or exquisite piece of jewelry, you are spoilt for choice and will undoubtedly find an item to treasure for a lifetime.

No shopper can resist a bargain and RWM members are offered a range of exclusive retail offers and promotions all year round.

Restaurants

There is an extensive range of restaurants offering Asian and international cuisine in the RWM complex itself, and you’ll also find a wide range of noodle bars, pizza shops and other eateries in the Newport mall.

Opus, which is brought to you by the same people that established Republiq, offers stunning à la carte cuisine and the word on the street is World Gaming’s very own food critic, the Panda, will be writing about Opus in an upcoming issue. The Marriot buffet is excellent and their mango crepes at breakfast are too good to pass up. The Marriott also offers Cru steakhouse, which is an excellent option for the carnivorous.

Passion Cantonese restaurant located just off the second floor gaming area is known for being one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants in Manila. It is always packed to the rafters and does an excellent all-you-can-eat dim sum lunch, which at 750 pesos for all you can eat is amazing value. You must also try their excellent Peking duck.

Impressions restaurant is on the third floor of Maxim’s tower, right by the entrance to the Genting Club. It is hard to miss, as one entire wall is comprised of glass wine chillers creating a dramatic ‘wall of wine’ effect. Avid World Gaming readers will remember that in our Jan/Feb issue this year the Panda reviewed Manila celebrity chef Cyrille Soenen’s Cicou restaurant. We don’t know if it was our glowing review but RWM has snapped up Chef Cyrille and he is now heading up Impressions. We haven’t had a chance to sample the fare at Impressions yet but if it is anything like that of Cicou, it will be magnificent.

Other things to see and do

As we’ve mentioned, Manila is the gateway to the rest of the Philippines. In another feature article in this issue of WGM you’ll find all you need to know about Boracay, an island universally considered to have one of the best beaches in the world.

Many of the hotel rooms at RWM overlook the nearby Villamor golf course. It is a great little course owned by the Philippine military. It is open to the public and your concierge will be able to organize a round for you quite easily.

If you want to try shopping outside of Newport Mall you can take a very inexpensive taxi for the 3 km trip to the Mall of Asia, which is one of the largest shopping havens in the world. Another option is the business district of Makati (also about 3km away in a different direction) where a huge variety of shopping and dining options also awaits.

Don’t forget there is great nightlife around Manila and Makati, so you’re sure to find a great range of bars, clubs and restaurants.

WGM recommends the Philippines as one of the best holiday destinations in Asia. RWM is the perfect stopover on your way to the sun and the sea.

For more information on Resorts World Manila visit their website www.rwmanila.com or call +63 2 908 8888.