MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In a fanfare of 'Dreams-inspired' pyrotechnics and flashing strobe-lights that lit the skies of Manila Bay, the doors officially opened today on Manila's most electrifying, innovative and diverse entertainment destination. The City of Dreams Manila official grand launch ceremony ushered in a new era of entertainment-inspired leisure in the Philippines.
Melco Crown Entertainment's Co-Chairman and CEO Mr. Lawrence Ho and Mrs. Sharen Ho with Co-Chairman Mr. James Packer, were joined by Mr. Cristino Naguiat Jr, Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR and Mr. Henry Sy Jr, Chairman of SM Prime Holdings, to turn ceremonial keys to open the 'Fortune Egg' of City of Dreams Manila and cascade a 'Dream Cloud' of mechanical butterflies, officially marking the launch of the integrated resort.
Melco Crown Entertainment's Co-Chairman and CEO Mr. Lawrence Ho and Mrs. Sharen Ho with Co-Chairman Mr. James Packer, were joined by Mr. Cristino Naguiat Jr, Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR and Mr. Henry Sy Jr, Chairman of SM Prime Holdings, to turn ceremonial keys to open the 'Fortune Egg' of City of Dreams Manila and cascade a 'Dream Cloud' of mechanical butterflies, officially marking the launch of the integrated resort.
Mr. Lawrence Ho, Co-Chairman and CEO of Melco Crown Entertainment, accompanied by Mrs. Sharen Ho, and Mr. James Packer, Co-Chairman of Melco Crown Entertainment, arrived at the red carpet to officiate the grand launch ceremony of the new integrated gaming and entertainment resort, City of Dreams Manila.
International R&B heartthrob Ne-Yo graced the red carpet at the official grand launch ceremony of City of Dreams Manila on Monday. Ne-Yo then took to the stage as headline act of a concert that preceded the grand launch ceremony of this new destination resort in Manila.
Monday night at the official grand launch ceremony of City of Dreams Manila and the glamorous red carpet entrance of celebrities and socialites, preceded a prestigious gala dinner event attended by government officials, business partners and VIP guests. R&B-princess Kyla arrived in a stunning blue dress before performing at the pre-opening concert.
International R&B heartthrob Ne-Yo performed songs from his new album, Non-Fiction, at a concert to celebrate the grand launch of City of Dreams Manila. “I'm honored to be a part of the City of Dreams Manila grand opening. It's been fantastic to share the stage with incredible local and international talent. Cannot wait to return!”
Kelly Rowland, the Grammy-award winning singer, who was formerly part of one of the most successful female groups of all time, Destiny's Child, performed at a special opening concert to celebrate the grand launch of City of Dreams Manila.
In a fanfare of 'Dreams-inspired' pyrotechnics and flashing strobe-lights that lit the skies of Manila Bay, the doors officially opened today on Manila's most electrifying, innovative and diverse entertainment destination, City of Dreams Manila.
Thousands of excited visitors witnessed Melco Crown Entertainment's Co-Chairman and CEO Mr. Lawrence Ho and Mrs. Sharen Ho; Co-Chairman Mr. James Packer; and Mr. Clarence Chung, Chairman & President of Melco Crown Philippines as they were joined Mr. Cristino Naguiat Jr, Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR, Mr. Henry Sy Jr, Chairman of SM Prime Holdings, turned the ceremonial keys -- opening the 'Fortune Egg' of City of Dreams Manila and cascading a 'Dream Cloud' of mechanical butterflies -- to officially mark the launch of the integrated resort.
Hundreds of international and regional media joined the assembled ranks of the Philippines media corps to witness the launch of City of Dreams Manila, set to become the "must experience" destination in the Philippine capital.
Celebrations of Manila's newest world-class gaming and entertainment destination included a thrilling 'Concert of Dreams', watched by an excited crowd of some 5,000 movers and shakers, starring headliners Ne-Yo, international R&B heartthrob, and Kelly Rowland, the Grammy-award winning singer, who was formerly part of one of the most successful female groups of all time, Destiny's Child.
They were supported by a host of top Philippines stars who are all the pride of the Philippines, including one of PEOPLE ASIA'S 'People of the Year', Gary Valenciano; divine diva Zsa Zsa Padilla; R&B-princess Kyla; and the Aliw Awards 2014 Entertainer of the Year, Jed Madela.
A glamorous red carpet entrance by leading Manila socialites Tessa Prieto-Valdes; Mia Borromeo; Marco and Jackie Antonio; and Manoling and Sandie Poblador preceded a prestigious gala dinner event attended by government officials, business partners and VIP guests.
Melco Crown Entertainment's Co-Chairman and CEO Mr. Lawrence Ho, said: "Today marks the beginning of a new era of world-class entertainment and leisure in Manila. This amazing integrated resort heralds an exciting new chapter in both the city and the Philippines' ongoing development and diversification as one of Asia's leading leisure and tourism destinations.
"On behalf of Melco Crown Entertainment, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and to PAGCOR for their continuous support in helping us realize our 'Dream' resort."
Said Co-Chairman of Melco Crown Entertainment Mr. James Packer: "The Philippines is an exciting and dynamic market. This entertainment complex has been developed to meet the specific needs of both the local domestic visitor and the large, rapidly growing, and increasingly diverse audience of sophisticated leisure and entertainment seekers from across Asia and around the world."
The grand launch of City of Dreams Manila marks a major milestone for Melco Crown Entertainment as it expands its "City of Dreams" brand presence from Macau and out into the wider Asian market for the first time.
As Manila's first world-class integrated leisure destination, the new resort complex brings together a diverse collection of contemporary international entertainment, leisure and lifestyle brands, including Crown, Nobu, Hyatt, DreamWorks and the Ault Group. As such, an exceptional experience awaits all types of travelers and visitors from around the region and the world.
City of Dreams Manila has been developed by integrated casino resort developer MCE Leisure (Philippines) Corporation ("MCE Leisure Philippines") in cooperation with SM Group's Belle Corporation, and is under the sole management and operation by MCE Leisure Philippines, a subsidiary of Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation (a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange with trading symbol "MCP", which is a subsidiary of Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, (SEHK: 6883) (NASDAQ: MPEL), a developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia.
This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) growth of the gaming market and visitation in Macau and the Philippines, (ii) capital and credit market volatility, (iii) local and global economic conditions, (iv) our anticipated growth strategies, and (v) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "target", "aim", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "potential", "continue", "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this release is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
About City of Dreams Manila
City of Dreams Manila opened its doors to the public in December 2014 and marked the formal entry of Melco Crown Entertainment into the fast-growing and dynamic tourism industry in the Philippines. The new integrated casino resort at Entertainment City, Manila Bay, Manila, is solely operated and managed by MCE Leisure.
The dynamic and innovative resort complex, located on an approximately 6.2-hectare site at the gateway to Entertainment City, includes the ultimate in entertainment, hotel, retail and dining and lifestyle experiences with aggregated gaming space, including VIP and mass-market gaming facilities with up to approximately 380 gaming tables, 1,700 slot machines and 1,700 electronic table games.
The integrated resort features three distinctive entertainment venues, including Manila's first branded Family Entertainment Center DreamPlay by DreamWorks, a live performance central lounge inside the casino and a night club situated at the Fortune Egg, an architecturally-unique structure with creative exterior lighting design and an iconic landmark of the Manila Bay area.
City of Dreams Manila is destined to deliver an unparalleled entertainment and hospitality experience to the Philippines and will ultimately play a key role in strengthening the depth and diversity of Manila's leisure, business and tourism offering, enhancing its growing position as one of Asia's premier leisure destinations. It has been developed to specifically meet the needs of the large, rapidly growing and increasingly diverse audience of leisure and entertainment seekers both in the Philippines and those visiting Manila from across the Asia region and around the world.
About Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation
Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation, with its shares listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: MCP), is a subsidiary of Melco Crown Entertainment (SEHK: 6883; NASDAQ: MPEL). It has developed City of Dreams Manila, a casino, hotel, retail and entertainment integrated resort in Manila, which has six hotel towers, including the Crown Towers hotel, Nobu Hotel and Hyatt City of Dreams Manila, numerous specialty restaurants and bars, gaming facilities, a multi-level car park, as well as three separate entertainment venues. For more information about Melco Crown Philippines, please visit www.melco-crown-philippines.com.
About Melco Crown Entertainment Limited
Melco Crown Entertainment, with its shares listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange") (SEHK: 6883) and its American depositary shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ: MPEL), is a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia. Melco Crown Entertainment currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), a casino hotel located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated urban casino resort located in Cotai, Macau. Melco Crown Entertainment's business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), which comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. The Company is also developing the planned Studio City Project, a cinematically-themed integrated entertainment, retail and gaming resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation's subsidiary, MCE Leisure (Philippines) Corporation, currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreams.com.ph), a casino, hotel, retail and entertainment integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. For more information about Melco Crown Entertainment, please visit www.melco-crown.com.
Melco Crown Entertainment has strong support from both of its major shareholders, Melco International Development Limited ("Melco") and Crown Resorts Limited ("Crown"). Melco is a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is Co-Chairman, an Executive Director and the CEO of Melco Crown Entertainment. Crown is a top-50 company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and led by Chairman Mr. James Packer, who is also Co-Chairman and a Non-executive Director of Melco Crown Entertainment.
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