RWM HAS ALL ‘BASES’ COVERED
Some might find it difficult to imagine that a vibrant leisure and entertainment complex brimming with much energy day in, day out was once part of a military air base.
Resorts World Manila (RWM), touted as the country’s first integrated entertainment and leisure complex, has truly remained a destination beyond compare even after 10 years since it opened its doors to the public. Then hyped as Asia’s newest playground, RWM continues to be a world class showcase for Philippine tourism and hospitality.
RWMis a joint project of Alliance Global Inc. subsidiary Travellers International and Genting Hong Kong, an Asian leader in the resort business. It is located within Newport City, which was formerly the 25-ha Villamor Gateway Center in Pasay City. It was in 2003 when Megaworld bagged the right to develop this parcel, which was then put up for bidding by state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
This exercise formed part of the government’s asset disposition program—one of the mandates given to the BCDA by virtue of Republic Act No. 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992. Among its primary goals was to “transform former military bases and properties into premier centers of economic growth in partnership with the private sector.” In turn, these centers help create more opportunities that generate jobs and drive economic growth.
Today, both the Newport City and RWM are pictures of progress. RWM, in particular, is a thriving, highly dynamic complex that is home to gaming facilities; international and homegrown hotel brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Belmont and Savoy; the Marriott Grand Ballroom, which is the country’s biggest function space that has since been helping boost the local meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition (MICE) industry; and the Newport Mall which houses a number of international and local retail brands as well as an array of dining destinations offering different cuisines.
Also within the RWM complex are the state-ofthe-art Newport Cinemas, the GameZoo Family Arcade, which features 4D and 6D simulation rides for the ultimate sensory experience, and of course, the 1,500-seater Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT), which has been mounting grand scale performances showcasing Filipino talent and craftsmanship. Within the Newport City and surrounding RWM are prime office spaces and luxury residential condominiums. And by the looks of it, as construction activities remain brisk within this area, the Philippine market can only expect more exciting things. As it is, there are reportedly at least two more hotels set to open within the RWMcomplex. Indeed, the transformation of this former military air base is nothing short of astounding as the RWM complex and the bigger Newport City where it is located, have clearly become centers of progress, generating fresh quality jobs for more Filipinos, helping drive the country’s economic growth, and in turn, playing a significant part in nation-building.