- Establishes Japanese subsidiary and opens office in Tokyo
- Appoints local Japanese leadership team
- Reveals design concept for The City of the Future integrated resort
- Unveils state-of-the-art biometric intelligence system for responsible gaming
TOKYO, Nov. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (NASDAQ:MLCO)(‘Melco Resorts’), a developer, owner and operator of integrated gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia, today shared key pillars of its development strategy in Japan. Following the recent establishment of a Japanese division with country headquarters in Tokyo, the Company held a special event where Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho and the recently appointed Japanese leadership team under Ako Shiraogawa, Japan office president, discussed initial plans for developing an original integrated resort for the Japanese market.
Photos accompanying this announcement is available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae10f4d6-880f-4e42-b023-b58bc566bc59
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf8d7b9f-ca9d-402d-97b4-2ed45689de24
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0aaca07-38a1-40d0-8eb7-e021fbd6f04b
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4402007d-4664-4b9a-89cb-2a4b12cbb9c2
Mr. Lawrence Ho said, “It’s still early days in the long road ahead to a potential IR in Japan. So while some details may change along the way, what absolutely will not is this: We will do in Japan what we have done since our very first day, what we have delivered in Macau, the Philippines and Cyprus: build with local partners, invest in extraordinary world-first architecture and design, create sophisticated entertainment experiences, and embed state-of-the-art technology into everything we do.”
Called “The City of The Future,” Melco’s Japanese IR concept aims to become the most advanced gaming and entertainment destination in the world, while still holding true to the distinct history and heritage of Japan. Melco’s team of architects, advisors and environmental specialists are working to make the site both energy-neutral and aesthetically daring. Design teams have imagined a futuristic façade that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding environment while subtly expressing key motifs in Japanese landscape design. And integrated throughout the entire property will be the world’s most advanced facial recognition technology for enabling responsible gaming and security.
Developed directly by Melco, the biometric intelligence system would make the proposed Melco IR the safest and most protected site possible using commercial technologies today. At the event, Melco announced that it would also offer the Japanese government back-end access to and data-sharing with these systems free-of-charge to ensure the most effective collaboration in safeguarding against potential gaming-related social issues.
Commenting on the system, Ms. Shiraogawa said, “This proprietary technology demonstrates our deep commitment to developing and implementing practical solutions for the government’s ongoing consideration of how to uphold socially safe integrated resorts. Its back-end technology can be updated as regulations evolve and on the front-end, the state-of-the-art biometric interface eliminates nearly all risk of human error.”
Mr. Ho concluded, “We dream big, think different and deliver more. What does that mean in practice? Our resorts add to their communities. The City of the Future will make its surroundings even better. It will cultivate sustainable local consumption. And it will attract the most valuable type of tourism – mass luxury.
“In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing more on how our teams and partners, our entire approach, is oriented around delivering the answer to one simple question: How do we give Japan not just the best, but the kind of offer that will keep getting better?”
Melco is actively building up its team in Japan, recruiting as core permanent hires professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and who represent the kind of diverse experience the Company believes will be critical to delivering on its strategy for the market. In addition to the new country leadership, Melco’s Japan management now also includes Maki Hiromi, formerly with luxury brand Lanvin, as Director of Marketing & Communications; and Shumpei Kumagi, formerly of the international online video gaming company Nexon, as Director of Development.
About Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited
The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ: MLCO), is a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities in Asia. The Company currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), a casino hotel located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated urban casino resort located in Cotai, Macau. Its business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), which comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. The Company also majority owns and operates Studio City (www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated entertainment, retail and gaming resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, a Philippine subsidiary of the Company currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreams.com.ph), a casino, hotel, retail and entertainment integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. For more information about the Company, please visit www.melco-resorts.com.
The Company is strongly supported by its single largest shareholder, Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and is led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Japanese media
Takatsu / Muta
Asahi Agency Co., Ltd.
Tel: 03-5574-7890
Fax: 03-5574-7887
E-mail: melco@asahi-ag.co.jp
International and Hong Kong media
Joseph Lo, Kevin Hartnett
Brunswick Group
T: +852-9137-9872
E: melco@brunswickgroup.com