Okada Manila to combine the finest of Japanese and Filipino hospitality and opulence, under one massive roof
In the ever-growing, hyper competitive luxury leisure and entertainment industry, there is one name that promises to stand out above the rest, in opulence, grandeur, hospitality and cutting-edge innovation: Okada Manila.
Owned by Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc., and the brainchild of resort and gaming visionary, Kazuo Okada, chairman of Japanese gaming group Universal Entertainment, Okada Manila sets out to conquer the casino resort and recreation market in the Philippines, and in the Asia-Pacific region. Strategically located along the foreshore of Manila Bay, Okada Manila is a 440,000-square meter (44-hectare) property which is merely four hours by air from neighboring Asian countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong; and just three kilometers away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The massive facility will be a showcase of the Japanese brand of Omotenashi and Magokoro hospitality, which are marked by a respectful spirit, and zeal for efficient and creative innovativeness, combined with the congeniality and cheerful fervor of the Filipino service ethic. “With these guiding principles and values, the resort expects to bring people around the world together through fun and entertainment
by providing unique experiences that no one else can deliver,” says Tiger Resort President Steve Wolstenholm.
Iconic design, first-rate amenities
One will need only to lay eyes on Okada Manila’s iconic design features to be clued in to all the wonders that will lie within this integrated entertainment center. The hotel, for instance, will house the Pearl and Coral wings, which will be joined together in a Y-shape by two sky bridges. Each wing will be comprised of 15 floors, with a combined total of over 900 luxe guest rooms, which will range from sizable 60-square meter cuts, to indulgent 1,400-square meter villas. Each room will afford stunning views of either Manila Bay, or the hotel’s grand fountain.
Integral to the hotel’s design are a premium retail promenade with both high-end and casual retail outlets, opulent and spacious gaming floors, a spa and wellness center, domed nightclub and indoor beach club, casual and signature dining restaurants. The entire façade will be painted in hues of gold, intended to reflect the warmth and beauty of Manila Bay’s storied sunsets. “Naturally, it symbolizes abundance and, at the same time, represents the hue of Manila Bay’s famed sunset,” Wolstenholme points out.

Something to anticipate, as well, is the dancing water display and light show at The Fountain. This 37,464-square meter centrally located ornamental structure is expected to become the single most iconic of all of Okada Manila’s features, and is likewise projected to be a big crowd-drawer. At a cost of US$30 million, The Fountain will be a one-of-a-kind venue for special events and concerts, aside from a unique and awe-inspiring gathering place for family and friends.
Game on
Those bitten by the gaming bug will thrill to know that upon its opening, Okada Manila be the largest casino resort in the Philippines. As many 500 table games and around 3,000 Electronic Gaming Machines will be set up on the resort’s luxurious gaming areas.
Guests looking to get their game on in other areas or recreation can look forward to a shopping and dining experience like few others with premiere retail and culinary establishments.
More than 50 top brands are set to open shop in Okada Manila, and will be occupying a sizeable portion of the complex. Meanwhile, 21 self-operated restaurants for casual, buffet, and international dining – among these, K.O. Dining, which carries signature restaurants by Michelin-starred chefs, The Sky Casino, Sports Book & Bar, Yu Lei, Catch Live Seafood, Fujishiro, Museum Café, Enbu, Goryo Korean Barbecue, Imamura, and Ginza Nagaoka– are poised to please even the most discriminating of palates.
Leisure lovers will find a haven in Okada Manila’s world-class spa facilities, which will be located in each wing of the hotel, and will feature deluxe treatment suites, foot spa thrones, relaxation rooms, spa gardens, and aqua therapy facilities.
Clubbing will definitely be on the agenda, as well, with The Cove – a 9,000-square meter entertainment venue, with a maximum capacity of up to 4,500 guests. The club space will be enclosed in a large glass dome, and will allude to a tropical island getaway, in its ambiance. Cabanas and bungalows, 33 in all, equipped with amenities such as private Jacuzzis, dining rooms, media and karaoke rooms, and hotel-inspired private restrooms will be located within The Cove. Additionally, a real white sand beach, lily pads, daybeds, luxurious locker and shower room facilities for all guests, a sunset deck overlooking the bay, a 700-square meter butterfly pool, two expansive stages and five distinct bars offering unique artisanal cocktails will all be an exciting part of Southeast Asia’s largest indoor beach club.

Well-worth the gamble
“Okada Manila will redefine the concept of Philippine entertainment and gaming. We envision it to become the country’s iconic landmark for world-class entertainment and limitless fun that will delight and charm visitors from within the Philippines and all over the world,” Wolstenholme said.

Set to open before the end of 2016, at a whopping cost of US$2.4 billion, the gargantuan gaming gambit that is Okada Manila most definitely poses high stakes for its investors and developers, as well as high expectations for lovers of the good life, locally and internationally.
However, with a solid commitment to elevate the standards of fun and entertainment in the Philippines, as well as generate thousands of new jobs in the country, Okada Manila may very well be worth the gamble.
 
By ANGIE DUARTE