Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., a unit of Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group, has moved to take the lead in developing the $1.25 billion Westside Integrated Resort in Manila’s Entertainment City. The decision follows ongoing delays and financial pressure faced by its partner, Hong Kong-based LET Group Holdings, through its subsidiary, Suntrust Resort Holdings.

Travellers Steps In to Accelerate Westside Development

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, in a disclosure on Monday, September 1, Suntrust confirmed it had entered into a “strategic working agreement” with Travellers, Westside City Inc., Westside Bayshore Holding Corp., and Entertainment City Resorts Corp. (ECRC) to speed up the completion of the integrated resort. The project, originally slated to open as early as 2022, now has its launch pushed back to the third quarter of 2026.

Under the new arrangement, Travellers will take operational control of the property, while Suntrust will retain a 20% indirect interest in ECRC. “To ensure the timely construction, development, completion and operation of the Westside Integrated Resort Project, ECRC will assume all rights and obligations related to the project,” Suntrust said in its filing.

The Westside City development, located along the Manila Bay waterfront, is envisioned as a premier destination within the Philippines’ integrated casino landscape. Once completed, the complex will feature a five-star hotel, a sprawling casino floor with more than 2,000 gaming tables and slot machines, a luxury shopping mall, and several entertainment venues, including the Grand Opera House and theaters such as the Apollo, Bohemia, and Crown, designed to showcase Philippine performing arts.

Kevin Tan, chairman of Travellers International and president and CEO of Alliance Global, emphasized the company’s commitment to creating a world-class hub for entertainment and tourism. “Westside City is more than a destination—it’s a commitment to Filipino talent and world-class entertainment,” Tan stated. “Our vision is to create a global stage that celebrates local excellence, drives tourism, and redefines how the world experiences the Philippines.”

Travellers, best known for operating Newport World Resorts near Manila’s international airport, is also pursuing additional integrated resorts in Mactan Cebu and Boracay, further expanding its presence in the Philippines’ hospitality and gaming sector.

Market Conditions and Industry Impact

The takeover comes at a time of shifting dynamics in the gaming market. Analysts point out that demand in the land-based VIP segment has been softening, while digital platforms continue to gain traction among players. Jeri Alfonso, a gaming analyst at Unicapital Securities, described the move as a calculated risk in a challenging market.

“The takeover shows Travellers’ confidence in the Westside project, though it’s worth highlighting that their flagship Newport World Resorts has already been facing softer momentum, with [gross gaming revenue] declining in [the first half of 2025],” Alfonso said. She added that while the development could drive foot traffic to the area and boost integrated resort demand, “momentum now tilts toward digital platforms.”

Despite these challenges, the project positions Travellers to strengthen its foothold in the highly competitive Entertainment City area, home to other major properties such as Solaire Resort Entertainment City, City of Dreams Manila, and Okada Manila.

SunTrust’s decision to step back reflects mounting financial difficulties for its parent, LET Group. The Hong Kong-listed firm, which owns 51% of Suntrust, recently reported HK$34.3 million loss in the first half of 2025, driven by high borrowing costs, a defaulted HK$137.5 million loan, and the heavy capital requirements of the Manila project.

The company also announced that its shares would be delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on September 1, 2025, following the suspension of trading. These challenges have limited Suntrust’s ability to support the project, making Travellers’ leadership essential to keeping the development on track.