Belle Corporation, the Philippine-listed parent company of Premium Leisure Corp (PLC), has now publicly announced that it is pursuing Clark as a “strategic location” for further growth.
In a release on Thursday, the company behind City of Dreams Manila indicated that the direction involves ‘charting a path for long-term growth as it positions itself strategically in the evolving gaming and tourism sectors, buoyed by the emergence of Clark, Pampanga as a prime destination for integrated resort developments’.
In 2024, Belle Corp, via Premium Leisure Corp, procured a gaming license to develop an integrated resort at the former US air base in Clark.
“Clark’s strategic location, with accessibility to major foreign tourist markets such as China, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, strengthens its appeal as a gaming and tourism hub. Belle is well-prepared to explore opportunities that align with this growth trajectory,” indicated Belle’s President and CEO Armin Raquel Santos.
The rumor mill has been spinning about Belle’s Clark intentions, with the group reportedly having applied for a license to build and operate a casino, convention center and hotel in Clark last July.
The group at the time reiterated that the project was still in its very early stages.
Belle Corp is known for its stake in City of Dreams Manila, which it operates alongside Macau gaming group Melco.
The group, apparently, aims to further its diversification, with the Clark investment the next notch on the belt.
“We are committed to identifying ventures with high growth potential, particularly in the gaming space, while ensuring that these align with our broader goals of shareholder value creation and inclusive progress,” stated Santos.
Aside from the casino project, the group is further pursuing an interest in the Tagatay highlands.
The group highlights that it is “committed to playing a key role” in the resurgence of the Philippine gaming industry’s recovery and that it is ‘poised to drive meaningful growth while cementing its position as a key player in the gaming and tourism landscape’.
