Good morning,
Star Entertainment has given a vote of confidence to the potential of the Gold Coast’s tourism industry, pressing ahead with plans to build a A$400 million “Tower for Tourism” despite the Covid-19 crisis. Check out our feature below for more. Meanwhile, news from Saipan indicates that a former CNMI Senator is close to a deal on becoming the next CEO in Imperial Pacific International. Finally, our Nippon Weekly discusses Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki’s rejection of IR development in Japan’s first round of licensing, and how some city officials and other pro-IR elements have not been able to take “no” for an answer.
First, the news
- Star gives vote of confidence to Gold Coast with new tower
- Former CEO submits IPI casino reopening plan
- Macau workers association gets complaints of forced resignations
- Macau visitor arrivals up 3.6% in December from prior month
- Oshidori issues positive profit alert
- Yokohama expected to launch its RFP process shortly
- Suncity hotel unit granted incorporation in the Philippines
- Police make arrest in Jeju casino heist
- Paradise Co. accused of pushing some employees into early retirement
What you need to know
Star gives vote of confidence to Gold Coast with new tower
Star Entertainment has given a vote of confidence to the potential of the Gold Coast’s tourism industry, pressing ahead with plans to build a A$400 million “Tower for Tourism” despite the Covid-19 crisis. The new development is expected to break ground in coming weeks and will comprise a 63-storey mixed use tower. Star said it’s currently in talks with an international five-star hotel brand for the tower, taking the total number of hotels at the IR to four.
IPI may hire former CNMI Senator as CEO
Imperial Pacific International has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with former CNMI Senator Ray N. Yumul to become its next CEO. Aside from his own political resume, Yumul is also the brother of House of Representatives floor leader Ralph N. Yumul (R-Saipan), chairman of the House Committee on Gaming in the previous 21st Legislature. Ray Yumul has remained coy about the prospect in public, only saying “we’ll see” and adding that his mind “is open to these discussions” when asked about it directly.
Insights
INDUSTRY VOICES
Tomakomai IR optimists see hopes dashed again
Hope springs eternal in the minds of Tomakomai IR advocates. The answer delivered from the lips of Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki keeps coming back “no,” but what seems to be delivered to their ears is “maybe soon.” It’s not too much to say that if Tomakomai had been allowed to move forward with its IR bid, it almost certainly would have been one of the three to obtain a license from the national government. But the Achilles heel of the Tomakomai bid was always located in the prefectural capital of Sapporo and in public opinion in the wider prefecture.
Supplier Special
CPI: Ready for cashless gaming
With the landmark decision by the Nevada Gaming Commission to allow changes to regulations surrounding the electronic transfer of money to games and gaming devices, the gaming industry has reached a pivotal payment moment. In a space that has long been dominated by cash, how can operators prepare for the digital shift?
AGB Initiatives
MEMBERSHIP | MAGAZINE | ASEAN | CAREERS
