DESPITE having finally secured a gaming licence, the question of when the Asian Coast Development (Canada) (ACDL) Ho Tram integrated resort (IR) project will throw open its doors to the public remains unanswered.
“(The gaming licence) confirms our ability to open the first phase of our first resort with its full gaming entitlement,” said Lloyd Nathan, CEO of ACDL. “It includes a gaming entitlement of 180 live tables and 2,000 electronic gaming machines split equally between our two first IRs.”
However, Nathan was unable to confirm a launch date. Originally slated to open in 2011, now ACDL would only say that the IR would open “as soon as possible”.
Asked if the indefinite time frame would affect travel consultants who had taken advantage of the IR’s advertised opening offers, Nathan commented: “We are not currently taking bookings.”
The Ho Tram project also saw the withdrawal of MGM Resorts International last month. MGM, which threw in the towel after several delays, was rumoured to have been frustrated by the lack of clarity and progress on its gaming licence, which was cleared one week after it had pulled out.
ACDL recently requested that all travel consultants and media stop using the MGM branding in communications and marketing, even as the company continues to work with MGM towards a June 2, 2013 transition date.
No replacement for MGM has been announced, but Pinnacle Entertainment appears to be a logical choice, holding a 25 per cent stake in the Ho Tram Strip and due to manage another complex on site. Nathan remarked: “We are exploring several alternatives, all of them positive.”
The Ho Tram IR was meant to be the first component of the US$4.2 billion multi-site Ho Tram Strip resort complex (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 24, 2012).
Located two hours from Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Tram Strip will ultimately include two IRs with gaming facilities, an additional three five-star resorts and a Greg Norman-designed championship golf course, among others.
By David Lloyd Buglar
