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In a strategic three-way pivot, Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc., the owner-operator behind Newport World Resorts, is set to assume a majority equity position in the beleaguered LETX integrated resort project in Manila’s Westside City. As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, this move positions Travellers to both fund the completion of the resort and lead its operations once it opens its doors.

The LETX development, spearheaded by Philippine-listed Suntrust Resort Holdings and majority-controlled by Hong Kong’s LET Group, has faced significant headwinds. Costs have ballooned from an initial estimate of US$1 billion to approximately US$1.25 billion, while construction timelines continue to slip—pushing the anticipated launch to the third quarter of 2026.

According to LET Group’s 2024 Annual Report, the project had already soaked up over US$586 million through year-end and reached US$688 million by April—covering just over half of the total budget. The cost overruns, coupled with funding constraints, have made the partnership with Travellers not only prudent—but essential.

Crucially, Travellers brings more than capital. As the landowner of the LETX site and a seasoned operator of integrated resort destinations in Manila, Travellers offers the continuity and logistical expertise necessary to see the project through. While Suntrust will retain a minority stake, Travellers is expected to take the reins of both development and eventual operations, providing a stable blueprint for completion.

This collaboration signals a significant shift in the entertainment and tourism landscape of Manila. It illustrates how political logic, financial pragmatism, and industry insight can converge to salvage and accelerate projects with transformative potential. Manila’s Entertainment City has matured into one of Southeast Asia’s premier gaming hubs—and the LETX resort under this newly envisioned leadership could emerge as its crowning jewel.