Posted on May 22, 2014 11:13:49 PM [
BusinessWorld Online ]
CASINO OPERATOR Melco Crown
(Philippines) Resorts Corp. will be opening an indoor theme park, through a
tie-up with DreamWorks Animation SKG, at its City of Dreams Manila within the
second half of the year.
The company announced yesterday a plan to open “DreamPlay,” an
interactive play area that will feature educative and entertainment activities
for children. It is being designed by DreamWorks Animation SKG -- the animation
studio that created the films Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train
Your Dragon.
Within a 2,000- to 3,000-square-meter
high-ceiling indoor park, children can interact digitally with the animated
characters in those DreamWorks films, Willy N. Ocier, vice-chairman of Belle
Corp., told reporters separately on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum
meeting on East Asia in Manila.
When asked about the opening date of
DreamPlay and City of Dreams, Mr. Ocier said: “October. I don’t know kung
definite na, finu-feng shui pa ’yun eh (I don’t know if that’s a definite date as
we’re still consulting with feng shui).”
The $1.3-billion City of Dreams Manila
is a joint venture of Melco Crown and SM Group's Belle Corp. It will have a
casino, high-end restaurants, and three luxury hotels, including a 260-room
Crown Towers Hotel and a two-tower, 321-room Nobu Hotel. The third one, which
was reported to be the biggest, is yet to be announced.
City of Dreams is also among the four
integrated resorts being developed at Bagong Nayong Pilipino of Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corp. in Parañaque City.
Melco shares yesterday gained 1.39% or
P 0.18 to P13.10 each. -- Daphne J. Magturo with K. N. M. Lazo
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