Bloomberry Resorts takes former Marina Bay Sands honcho as Solaire Resort president and COO

Bloomberry Resorts Corp. appointed a former executive of Marina Bay Sands to replace the sacked chief operating officer of Solaire Manila Resort & Casino as part of its management re-organization.

In a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange Tuesday, Bloomberry Resorts said Thomas Arasi will be the president and chief operating officer of Solaire Resort starting Oct. 11.

"We are pleased to welcome Thomas Arasi to Solaire. We believe his credentials and experience will be key to achieving our expectations for Solaire," chairman and president Enrique K. Razon Jr. was quoted saying.

The Bloomberry Resorts board also approved, in a meeting Tuesday, the resignation of Estela Tuason-Occeña as director and Razon as president by Oct. 11.

Occeña will stay on as treasurer and executive committee member and Razon as chairman and CEO.

The company said Arasi is responsible for leading efforts to ensure Solaire Resorts continue ramping up operations and profitability, especially to make sure the casino's $500-million expansion will be in operation by the fourth quarter of 2014.

Arasi is the former president and CEO of Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd., and has held senior positions with InterContinental Hotels Group that included the presidency of three major divisions, apart from being president of Tishman Hotel Corp.

He was responsible for helping Marina Bay Sands achieve profitability to the tune of $1.5 billion in annual run-rate EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).

On Sept. 13, Bloomberry Resorts terminated an agreement with Global Gaming Philippines LLC to manage Solaire Resort and fired its then chief operating officer Michael French for "material breach." - Danessa Rivera/VS, GMA News