Grant Bowie, Chief Executive Officer of MGM China Holdings Ltd, explained why the official opening ceremony for the new MGM Cotai property of the brand is to take place two weeks after the actual launch of the venue. Yesterday, Mr. Bowie shared that the official opening is to happen after the planned launch to public, as such a step would provide the brand with the chance to make sure that some “high-level technology” is tuned well enough to be used.
The initial opening of the property is set to take place on January 29, while the official opening ceremony is scheduled for February 13th. The MGM China Holdings’ CEO did not reveal what facilities are to be launched at the time when the new property is open to public and what facilities would be launched at the grand opening ceremony. Mr. Bowie further shared that the property is to feature high-level technology that will take some time for the company to make sure that it all worked effectively.
As revealed by MGM China’s CEO, the two different date openings for the property would give the operator with the opportunity to make all necessary technology arrangements for everything to be working properly.
MGM Cotai Property to Open Soon
It also became clear that the operator had provided the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, which is the local gambling regulatory authority, with information about the live dealer table allocation for the Cotai property of the brand and was waiting to get the regulator’s answer. According to Mr. Bowie, the company believed that it had presented all the necessary information to be given the final award by the local regulator, so all they had to do was to wait for the Government’s response.
Previously, the operator has revealed that 500 live-dealer tables can be situated in the MGM Cotai venue. According to analysts from the Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., MGM China is to get a permission for a total of 150 tables for the Cotai property that is soon to be open.
Apart from that, the Cotai property is to feature a luxury villa area called The Mansion. It is expected to officially open over the second quarter of 2018, although there have been rumours that it could be delayed until the second half of the year. In addition, a Theatre featuring up to 2,000 seats in over 10 different configurations is also included in the property.
Approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites are to be featured by the integrated resort. The latter is also going to offer space, retail, spa and dining areas.
According to Mr. Bowie, about 8,000 local residents are currently being employed by the MGM Group, with this number accounting for approximately 80% of the operator’s workforce.
