FACE-TO-FACE: John Webb, MGM Grand Ho Tram Beach
Travel Daily goes Face-to-Face with John Webb, Vice President and General Manager of Vietnam’s new integrated resort, MGM Grand Ho Tram Beach…
1) The MGM Grand Ho Tram Beach opens in Vietnam next year; what can guests expect?
There is simply no comparable property in Vietnam to the MGM Grand Ho Tram Beach. This is the first integrated resort ever to open here and is part of the largest tourism development the nation has ever seen. MGM Grand is a brand built around three key tenets – Energy, Excitement and Entertainment. Ultimately this is what we look to bring to people who visit us in Ho Tram. Whether that is in our entertainment area, our incredible meeting and event space, our restaurants or our bars, we will be delivering a product that Vietnam will be showcasing to the world.
2) And what type/nationality of guest are you expecting to attract?
We expect to see premium players from mainland China, Thailand, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and the other countries of ASEAN. Other international players we expect to see are from the US and to some extent Europe. Visiting overseas Vietnamese, who tend to come back regularly and particularly around the Lunar New Year, are another potential market for us, as are the resident expatriates of Vietnam of which there are many.
We have a strong MICE offering, which should be attractive to visitors from around the world. We think that local Vietnamese are an important market for our non gaming amenities. We will be offering a broad array of leisure activities and luxury amenities unrivaled in the nation, in an incredible location, within 120 kilometers of Ho Chi Minh City, a major metropolis encompassing 10 to 12 million people.
Some will come to celebrate a special occasion, others to play golf, dine out, conduct business, or be entertained, as well as many other leisure pursuits.
3) Integrated resorts are becoming increasingly popular in Asia; why do you think they have so much regional appeal?
A combination of factors really. First, the huge population that comprises the Asia Pacific region. Add to that rising household incomes in many of the fast developing nations in this part of the world. Add in something of a cultural predilection toward games of chance that sees, for example, mainland Chinese nationals becoming a large visitor group in Las Vegas.
Combine this with the various other offerings of the MGM Grand Ho Tram Beach – its beach, its protected forest, its golf course, its restaurants and bars. We believe we have developed a winning formula for this region at this time.