The Grand Ho Tram Strip, Vietnam

from Casino Life Magazine

November 2014

www.casinolifemagazine.com

Bill Healey reports on one of South East Asia’s most impressive Resort Casinos

Designed to draw domestic and international tourists to the pristine, sun-drenched beaches of southern Vietnam, the Ho Tram Strip is quickly becoming one of Asia’s top

Casino Life Magazine
November 2014

leisure getaways. With a focus on providing a personalized blend of excitement and relaxation, the Ho Tram Strip features something for everyone -- whether it be one of the region’s top golf courses, Vietnam’s first international standard casino, lavishly appointed accomodation, incredible entertainment options to premium dining shopping or exceptional recreational facilities.

“We are set on more than 400 acres of land along a 2.2 kilometer beach and surrounded by protected forest, and conveniently located just two hours away from Vietnam’s largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City,” said Stephen Shoemaker, Chief Executive Officer of Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd, the developer of the Ho Tram Strip.

The first phase of the Ho Tram Strip - The Grand Ho Tram Strip - opened its doors in July 2013, and includes 541 five star rooms, gaming, meeting and convention space, nine bars and restaurants, a spa, teen’s and children’s areas, three swimming pools and gift shops.

The second phase will include a mixture of vacation homes comprised of condominiums and residential villa developments. Ultimately the Ho Tram Strip will one more integrated resort with world class amenities and three additional five-star resorts.

The Grand was the first truly integrated resort to open in Vietnam.  Its current gaming

facilities offer 585 slot machines, 90 table games and multiple VIP table rooms for the finest in full-service gambling. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the gaming features include:

Table games: 90 table games including VIP Baccarat, Baccarat, VIP Roulette, Roulette, Sic Bo, Blackjack, Ho Tram Stud Poker Progressive, Ho Tram Hold’em Poker, Progressive and VIP Texas Hold’em. Baccarat is the casino’s top table game.

Slots: 585 slot machine (including 118 electronic table games which consists of Roulette, Baccarat, Sic Bo and Craps; 32 machines in VIP-high limit area, 8 machines in private gaming rooms)

The casino offers a selection of multiplayer machines, including:

      Lucky Big Wheel - Aruze..........................................15

      Lucky Sic Bo - Aruze .................................................8

      Craps - Aruze ..............................................................8

      Interblock G3 Roulette.............................................64

      Interblock G4 Roulette & Baccarat........................38

Best performing electronic gaming machines include Aristocrat and Shuffle Master.  

The resort also provides both Poker and Slot Tournaments. For slot tournaments, there is a buy-in and a time-limit.  When the time limit expires, players have a final spin, starting with the player with the lowest credit.  If they win here, they can continue to play up to five more times, with the winner being the player with the highest credit at the end of the session.  The Grand has been playing this in heats, with a final round play-off to determine a winner.

“Our casino offering is targeting tourists from around Asia, with an emphasis on mainland China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Korea,” said The Grand’s recently appointed President, Shaun McCamley. “So far, tourists from the PRC have made up the

largest group of inbound visitors to the property. We also market to Viet Kieu (foreigners of Vietnamese origin) from all over the world, as well as the local resident expatriate community. The Grand’s non-gaming targets includes local Vietnamese, typically seeking a truly unique F&B, leisure and golf experience.”

Along with casino gaming, the resort offers an array of world-class leisure activities. In recent weeks (October 2014), the Ho Tram Strip delivered further on its vision to develop a truly unique destination resort in Asia with the opening of The Bluffs – a championship golf course designed by golfing icon Greg Norman.

With Norman himself on hand to cut the ribbon on a course he has called one of the two most beautiful that he has ever been involved in, the course has been open for preview play since early in 2014, The Bluffs has already been nominated for three Asia Pacific Golf Awards, including Best New Golf Course in Asia Pacific, Best Golf Course in Vietnam and Best Golf Course Superintendent (Ali Macfadyen). In so doing, it became the first course to ever be nominated in three categories at the prestigious awards.

“To be recognized in such fashion without even being officially open speaks volumes to this course and the job everyone here has done,” said Ben Styles, General Manager of The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip. “We can’t wait for the world to come and enjoy what I firmly believe is as good as any golf experience that exists.”

Speaking from The Bluffs launch, Harbinger Capital Principal and Ho Tram Strip

investor Philip Falcone took the opportunity to announce that the Ho Tram Project Company would be developing both condominiums and villas which would be available to both international and domestic investors.

Adding to The Grand’s allure is the opportunity to escape into the resort’s signature spa. This beautifully designed sanctuary provides a constant cycle of anticipation while unveiling surprise and delight. Ancient healing traditions of the world’s richest cultures combine with modern sensory immersion technology to help restore balance and inspire a sense of rejuvenation, connection, and well being.

For a bold new evolutionary nightlife experience, Club 9 offers an unforgettable place to party. Embodying the mysticism, power and seduction of the dragon; the fashionable nightclub allows guests to indulge in their specialty cocktails as well as a unique bottle service presented by their gorgeous team of Natural 9’s.

In recent months, Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd., the owner of The Grand Ho Tram Strip, announced two new investments in the property in 2014. The first in July, was an investment of US$20 million by NewCity Capital, an entity established by American investor Mr. Chien Lee. In September, Asian Coast Development announced a US$50 million funding commitment from its majority shareholder, Harbinger Capital. Harbinger is the majority owner of Asian Coast Development Ltd along with minority owners Pinnacle Entertainment and NewCity Capital.

Asian Coast Development Ltd.’s Board of Directors recently announced the appointment of Mr. Stephen Shoemaker as Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors as well as its President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Shoemaker had previously served as ACDL’s President and Chief Financial Officer since 2008. With over 30 years of financial and operating experience in the hospitality and telecommunications industry, Shoemaker’s extensive background will be used in developing strategy, overseeing financial operations and fund raising activities.

Vietnam’s gaming scene is one to monitor closely, as the government prepares for a decree that could give the local Vietnamese an opportunity to enter the gaming floor. The Grand Ho Tram Strip is ideally positioned to welcome this traffic.

Bill has been working in the global leisure and gaming technology industry for more than thirty years. Based in Bali for the past ten years, he frequently writes and consults on gaming, golf, club and spa management.