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Japan – Melco launches The City of The Future as Japanese casino concept

By - 30 November 2017

Melco Resorts has launched “The City of The Future,” its Japanese IR concept which aims to become the most advanced gaming and entertainment destination in the world, while still holding true to the distinct history and heritage of Japan.

The news follows the recent establishment of a Japanese division with country headquarters in Tokyo, Melco Resorts & Entertainment has held a special event where Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho and the recently appointed Japanese leadership team under Ako Shiraogawa, Japan office President, discussed initial plans for developing an original integrated resort for the Japanese market.

Mr. Lawrence Ho said: “It’s still early days in the long road ahead to a potential IR in Japan. So while some details may change along the way, what absolutely will not is this: We will do in Japan what we have done since our very first day, what we have delivered in Macau, the Philippines and Cyprus: build with local partners, invest in extraordinary world-first architecture and design, create sophisticated entertainment experiences, and embed state-of-the-art technology into everything we do.”

Melco’s team of architects, advisors and environmental specialists are working to make the site both energy-neutral and aesthetically daring. Design teams have imagined a futuristic façade that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding environment while subtly expressing key motifs in Japanese landscape design. And integrated throughout the entire property will be the world’s most advanced facial recognition technology for enabling responsible gaming and security.

Developed directly by Melco, the biometric intelligence system would make the proposed Melco IR the safest and most protected site possible using commercial technologies today. At the event, Melco announced that it would also offer the Japanese government back-end access to and data-sharing with these systems free-of-charge to ensure the most effective collaboration in safeguarding against potential gaming-related social issues.

Commenting on the system, Ms. Shiraogawa said: “This proprietary technology demonstrates our deep commitment to developing and implementing practical solutions for the government’s ongoing consideration of how to uphold socially safe integrated resorts. Its back-end technology can be updated as regulations evolve and on the front-end, the state-of-the-art biometric interface eliminates nearly all risk of human error.”

Mr. Ho concluded: “We dream big, think different and deliver more. What does that mean in practice? Our resorts add to their communities. The City of the Future will make its surroundings even better. It will cultivate sustainable local consumption. And it will attract the most valuable type of tourism – mass luxury.

“In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing more on how our teams and partners, our entire approach, is oriented around delivering the answer to one simple question: How do we give Japan not just the best, but the kind of offer that will keep getting better?”

Melco is actively building up its team in Japan, recruiting as core permanent hires professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and who represent the kind of diverse experience the Company believes will be critical to delivering on its strategy for the market. In addition to the new country leadership, Melco’s Japan management now also includes Maki Hiromi, formerly with luxury brand Lanvin, as Director of Marketing & Communications; and Shumpei Kumagi, formerly of the international online video gaming company Nexon, as Director of Development.

Picture caption: Melco Resorts Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho with the company’s Japan leadership team
Melco Resorts Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho with the company’s Japan leadership team: (From left to right) Geoff Davis, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, CEO & Representative Director, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Japan; Ako Shiraogawa, Japan Office President; Lawrence Ho; Maki Hiromi, Director of Marketing and Communications; Shumpei Kumagi, Director of Development

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