Ho Tram Strip -- Vietnam’s Newest Seaside Gaming Gem

from Gaming & Leisure Magazine

Summer 2014

www.gamingandleisuremagazine.com

Interview with Colin Pine

Ho Tram Strip’s first luxury integrated resort is drenched in tropical sunshine and bordered by Vietnam’s  untouched beaches fringing the East Sea. Combining elegant and gracious service with entertainment that pushes the limits, The Grand Ho Tram Strip is a perfect mix of exciting day life and exhilarating nightlife.

G&L is fortunate for the opportunity to chat with Mr. Colin Pine, General Director of Ho

Gaming & Leisure Magazine
Summer 2014

Tram Project Company.  He provides further insight into the present status and future of Ho Tram Strip.

[G&L] The Ho Tram Strip is positioned as an all-round tourist destination, helping usher in a new era for Asia’s leisure and entertainment industry.  What are some of the iconic features within the property helping advance this transformation?

[CP] The realization of the vision for our overall project starts with the natural setting in which we are building.  The area of Ba Ria-Vung Tau where The Ho Tram Strip is located has a beautiful 2.2 kilometer stretch of beach on one side and a protected forest on the other, with our world class links golf course built on the natural sand dunes in between.

The first phase of our development is of a scale and scope never seen before in Vietnam and the first resort has drawn fabulous reviews for the truly luxurious finishing touches that are used through the property.  The Ho Tram Strip is the first truly integrated resort project in Vietnam and is currently planned to ultimately include casinos with total of 180 live table games and 2,000 electronic gaming machines.  Beyond gaming we are focusing on world class entertainment and leisure features.  This is evidenced by The Bluffs, our signature 18-hole links course.  Mr. Greg Norman, the designer of the course has called it one of the top two sites he has ever been involved with, and we are confident that it will not only be the best golf course in Vietnam, but one of the best in all of Asia.

Colin Pine

We plan to continue to roll out first of its kind/best in class features to build on the base of luxury sport, spa, F&B and MICE product that already exists with the first phase of our project.

[G&L]  What are the target markets of The Grand - Ho Tram Strip?

[CP]  On the gaming side our focus is mainly pan-Asia.  Key target customers include mainland Chinese, Thais, Malaysians and Singaporeans, Japanese and Koreans.  We also place a strong emphasis on marketing to Viet Kieu (foreigners of Vietnamese origin) from all over the world, as well as the local resident expatriate community.

Our non-gaming targets includes local Vietnamese, typically seeking a truly unique F&B, leisure and golf experience with MICE travel as a key driver of through-the-week trade.

[G&L]  What type of restrictions are there on Vietnamese nationals? Will they be allowed into the casino facilities?

[CP]  Under Vietnamese law, only persons with proof of foreign residency may enter the casinos.

[G&L]  There are concerns that the HTS is too far from Ho Chi Minh, and that it will be difficult to get visitors to the site.  How are you addressing this?

[CP]  This is a misconception that we are always happy to clear up.  With the new

expressway for Ho Chi Minh-Long Thanh–Dau Giay which was inaugurated earlier this year, coupled with the widening and improvements to Highway 51, the journey to our site is now comfortably under two hours from downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

Certain customers may also come down to the Strip by helicopter. They will be helicoptered directly from Ho Chi Minh City airport to our landing pad directly at the resort.

The Long Thanh Airport will also shorten the journey when it comes on line.  It is expected to service all international visitation for south Vietnam and have a traveling time to our site of less than 1 hour.

[G&L]  The properties within the HTS are of high standard and have received many accolades.  What special honors have these properties received?

[CP]  Watch this space!  We are still a new property, technically still in our soft-opening period for the resort, and with a golf course that has just entered "preview play" operation.  We will look to enter relevant awards for both the resort and the course in the near future.

[G&L]  What future developments can we expect from the HTS in Vietnam and internationally?

[CP]  The first phase of the first integrated resort The Grand - Ho Tram Strip opened in July of last year, bringing 541 rooms, extensive F&B and other leisure amenities, as well as its casino. The second phase of The Grand is underway, which will add another 559 rooms and further leisure/F&B/shopping facilities. Ho Tram Strip will include at least one more integrated resort with a number of other resort properties and world class amenities.

[G&L]  How does social media play into your overall marketing mix?

[CP]  The Grand has a dedicated social media team in-house, as well as a consultancy retained to work on its social media presence.  We regard is an integral part of our marketing mix.

[G&L]  How is HTP involved with Corporate Social Responsibility?

[CP]  HTP has a long history as an active corporate citizen, having supported orphanages and various initiatives around Vietnam since our inception.  Our team also gets involved, with one of the most recent examples being The Grand's President, Mike Santangelo, who recently participate in a long distance cycling to raise funds for a local charity in Ho Tram.  Our next initiative will be focused around the importance of water-ways in Vietnam, so stay tuned for more information on that!

G&L would like to thank Colin Pine for his insight into Ho Tram Strip, the newest gaming gem on Vietnam’s unspoiled seaside.