From mouthwatering dishes to inspiring words of wisdom, the soft opening of the Hann Casino Resort was truly a can’t-miss occasion
Hosting an extravaganza with the right set of people is the best way to not just end the year that has passed, but also welcome the upcoming year ahead with open arms–or in this case, doors. Just last December 15, 2021, the amazing team behind Hann Casino Resort in Clark, Pampanga finally held their much-awaited soft opening, and they did so with a tour around the newly opened development, kind welcoming remarks from the people who made this launch happen, and stellar song and dance numbers from Hann Casino Resort’s talented performers before the official ribbon cutting ceremony that tied the special event altogether.
The ins and outs
The joyful soirée at the Hann Casino Resort, the first fully integrated resort north of Manila that’s composed of Hann Casino, Swissotel Clark, Clark Marriott, and later on, Mercure Hotel, began with the Hann Casino tour that showed us the Rewards area first where anyone and everyone can apply to be a member. Each member can enjoy perks that can be used for dining and room accommodations, as well as entry to the H Club for local VIP guests who meet three specific membership tiers. This exclusive area has a total of 11 table games and 104 slot machines that Royal, Majestic, and Imperial members can choose from. H Club also has their own buffet-style food and beverage area called Nasi, which means “rice” in Kapampangan, the language spoken within Pampanga.
Right after being toured around H Club, we were shown the incredibly wide main gaming floor, which is accessible to both VIP and non-VIP members. As of their soft opening last December 15, this area already has almost 900 slot machines and more than 100 table games for everyone to choose from.
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Another restaurant that will be opening soon isn’t just the first of its kind in the Philippines, but also the only branch outside of China. Named after the Taoist concept of the different elements, Wu Xing is a fine dining Chinese restaurant that aims to meet everyone’s expectations of what Chinese cuisine truly is. The last restaurant we were taken to was called Spice, which offers a wide array of Asian dishes that range from noodles, dimsum, rice toppings, and even the ever-popular bubble tea. The creative design of this restaurant shows an open-kitchen to emphasize a street food vibe that perfectly matches the Asian fusion concept.
The ideal spot to take a breather in the midst of all the bonus announcements of different slot machines, Bar Twenty is the best place to watch different types of performances from Hann Casino Resort’s own talented team. It also has a round bar that’s fully stocked with a variety of spirits that everyone can definitely enjoy.
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The ones that made it happen
When the tour was over, we were given the opportunity to relax in the beautifully designed Bar Twenty while waiting for the program to begin. The hospitable staff was very welcoming as they served us delicious food and beverages that made the event even better. The celebrations officially started at around 11:30 in the morning, with the Hann Casino Resort performers having an eye-catching dance number before host KC Montero took the stage to welcome everyone to the special occasion. After sharing a few anecdotes himself by saying that he can’t wait for his gastronomic journey of indulgence in Hann Casino Resort to begin, he introduced Neki Liwanag, the Assistant Vice President for Corporate Planning, Development & Communication, for her opening remarks.
Throughout her piece, Liwanag emphasized that, “This [event] is just a preview of what Hann can do.” She also made sure to explain that one of the visions behind the concept of Hann Casino Resort is that people in Clark, Pampanga are always looking for a new adventure, which made her and the team come up with something new, and something bold, referencing to the resort’s motto of Play Bold, Live Bold. By the end, she shared that the construction of the development got pushed back due to the pandemic, but they made sure to come back stronger, which led to her giving thanks to every person and team involved.
Liwanag was followed by Clark Development Corporation Chairman Edgardo Paminutuan for a few talk points that highlighted the contribution of the newly opened Hann Casino Resort to Clark, Pampanga. Not only will it create even more jobs for the locals, which has already happened as they chose to employ mostly local talents and entertainers as a way to support the local industry, but it will also boost the tourism within the area. According to Pamintuan, this new attraction will, “Produce excitement to both foreign and local tourists.”
The third and final speaker of the event was none other than the Chairman and CEO of Hann Philippines Inc. himself, Daesik Han. One of the first few things he noted was that this particular project of his became incredibly challenging due to the unforeseen pandemic and strict lockdown restrictions. However, when asked for his thoughts on the team’s next steps, he shared that he had to make a big, important decision whether or not they should resume construction or put the brakes on it a whole lot longer. He decided to go with the former, which made him simply stand tall and say, “I’m proud of what we’ve done.”
The special event, which was only the first of two phases in the launch of Hann Casino Resort, was finally put to a close when the three speakers and other guests were invited to step outside the lobby for the official ribbon cutting ceremony. The first phase consists of the recent soft launch of Hann Casino and the upcoming soft launch of Swissotel, while the second phase is the grand launch of both brands in early 2022.
To know more about the first fully integrated resort in Clark, Pampanga, visit the Hann Resorts website.
Photos KIERAN PUNAY of STUDIO100