Okada Manila eyes opening ahead of Miss Universe pageant

Casino operator Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment is on track to open the first phase of its first integrated casino resort—Okada Manila—before the year ends, just in time for co-hosting the Miss Universe beauty pageant.

Steve Wolstenholme, president of Tiger Resort, told Manila-based reporters that they have “completed around 85 percent” of the integrated resort’s first phase, according to Business World. The company, led by Japanese mogul Kazuo Okada, has already announced a planned soft opening in November.

“We will open this year—that’s our PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp) obligation—but the grand opening date will be determined by our chairman,” Wolstenholme said, according to the news outlet.

But more than fulling its licensing agreement with the state-run regulator, Tiger Resort is making sure that the resort’s amenities are ready for the Miss Universe beauty pageant, which it wants to sponsor as part of the plan to promote Okada Manila globally.