PH Resorts Group COO Jose Angel Sueiro has described a revised 3Q22 launch of its Emerald Bay integrated resort development in Cebu as ideal given the current state of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The company last week flagged a slight delay to the phase one opening of Emerald Bay in a series of filings, pushing a previously planned launch date back from Q2 to Q3.
In a press release issued early Thursday, PH Resorts Group provided more color on the delay, pointing to challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic but highlighting the fact that construction has continued throughout.
“The re-imposition of stricter quarantine measures in March earlier this year created more difficulties in the construction of Emerald Bay in terms of labor mobilization and materials delivery just as we were generating momentum,” said Sueiro.
However, “The timing of Emerald Bay’s first phase completion by the third quarter of next year will be ideal with the recovery already seen to be well underway by that time,” he added.
PH Resorts Group said it expects increased vaccination rates to result in more international flights in the coming months, “spurring a recovery in tourism in the Philippines and in the region.”
Emerald Bay’s first phase will feature 122 gaming tables, 600 electronic gaming machines (EGM) and 270 hotel rooms with PH Resorts Group still eying a soft opening in March 2022.