Operator News
Vietnam – Launch of Hoiana delayed until 2021 due to coronavirus
By Phil - 30 March 2020
Suncity, Chow Tai Fook and VinaCapital Group have jointly announced that they will be delaying the launch of Hoiana located in Hoi An South in Vietnam’s Quang Nam province until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will though host an ‘exclusive preview’ later this year of the $1bn Phase 1 of the project, which would include a casino with 140 gaming tables and 1,000 slot machine, restaurants, an 18-hole golf course and more than 1,000 hotel rooms.
Suncity Group Chairman Alvin Chau said: “The highly anticipated grand opening of Hoiana is now scheduled to happen in 2021, with an exclusive preview of Hoiana in summer 2020 as a consequence of the uncertainties brought by coronavirus. Suncity’s investment in Vietnam is intended to be for a very long time. Now, there may be flight and visa disruptions to Vietnam; however, our long-term confidence towards the Vietnam market remains positive.
“We are working hard to ensure that Hoiana will be ready to welcome our first guests in the preview in summer. All of these set the stage for 2020 and beyond to become transformative years ahead for Suncity. The coronavirus pandemic brought the world into an uncharted territory, where lots of businesses were disrupted. I am aware of the persistent impacts that the pandemic brought to the global economy. Markets have been extremely volatile as a result of the virus, consumer confidence dwindles, visas temporarily stopped and quarantine measures were put in place across borders.”
While Hoiana has been delayed, Mr. Chau confirmed it would be pressing ahead with a ground-breaking ceremony for its Westside City Resorts World project in Manila, which will offer 400 gaming tables and 1,200 slot machines with 400 five-star hotel rooms.
“I am also thrilled to be conducting the ground-breaking ceremony of the Westside City Project in Manila soon, marking a new chapter for Suncity’s presence in Asia. With a few years down the line, I envision Suncity’s integrated resort portfolio to be extended all over the key Asian jurisdictions, rivalling peers ahead of us today. This year, we will also be completing the upgrade works of Tigre de Cristal Phase 1 in Vladivostok, Russia, where a Suncity branded VIP room will be introduced in the Russia Federation for the first time ever.”
