7 A LUCKY NUMBER FOR THE GRAND 04:49, 28/07/2020

Taking the reins early this year, new Chief Executive Officer Walt Power said of the announcement: “Starting this month, the Ho Tram Strip will transition to an entirely plastic-free property.”

The announcement sees the property commit to removing all plastics for either paper, wood, glass or rope substitutes resort-wide.  This includes bags, to-go containers, straws, cutlery, water bottles and beverage carriers.

“With a 2.2-kilometer private beach front, we see each morning the impact that plastics have on our ocean, and as such, we made a commitment to do our part to reduce the amount of single-use plastics we are generating.”

Other measures around the resort include a property-wide replacement of lightbulbs to energy saving LEDs, as well as processes to turn off up to half the lights in areas that are less-heavily trafficked.  External light timings have further been adjusted to minimize energy use.  Other power saving measures are also being deployed in back-of-house areas.

In addition to the power-saving initiatives, the resort has also embarked upon on program of wastewater recycling, using the byproduct for irrigation, cooling, and even fire-safety systems.  The recycling initiatives extend into solid materials as well, with waste sorted and sent for recycling.

The program, part of an ambitious new phase for the property comes as the resort reflects upon its history and legacy in Vietnam.   The Grand, which first opened its doors in 2013, has redefined entertainment in Vietnam.  The first property to open an international standard gaming area in the nation, the property’s highlight-reel includes a trophy-cabinet the envy of the nation, the opening of the country’s top golf course – The Bluffs – which hosted the richest sporting event in Vietnam’s history with the 2015 Ho Tram Open. 

With entertainment central to The Grand’s DNA, the resort has played host to such international powerhouses as dance-duo Above & Beyond, as well as a who’s-who of Vietnamese performers 

including everything from iconic balladeers Dam Vinh Hung and My Tam to today’s hottest idols including Toc Tien and Son Tung M-TP.

“The next phase of the Ho Tram Strip will include a series of major announcements that will include the Grand’s transition to an Intercontinental Hotel, as well as the opening of our second resort, the Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach,” said Mr. Power, referring to the deal the property inked with IHG late in 2019.

About The Grand Ho Tram Resort & Casino

Just a two hour drive from the nation’s largest metropolitan city, Ho Chi Minh City, The Grand Ho Tram Resort & Casino is the first of a group of integrated resorts and residential developments located on more than 164 hectares of land along 2.2 kilometers of pristine beach in Ho Tram, Vietnam. 

The resort opened its doors in July 2013 and includes the Grand, a 541 room five-star hotel, a world-class entertainment facility, 13 food and beverage venues, high-tech meeting spaces including a 1,800 person capacity Grand Ballroom, Putt-Putt miniature golf, 3D cinema, game center, karaoke rooms and a wide variety of beach-front recreation activities. 

After the agreement with IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, signed, The Grand Ho Tram Resort & Casino will be renovated and rebranded as InterContinental Grand Ho Tram at the end of 2020.

It's second hotel - Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach - will be a 502-key hotel featuring facilities geared for family fun. Guests can enjoy their time at swimming pools and enjoy captivating views of the long coastline at the 360-degree rooftop bar. Additionally, the hotel will have direct access to facilities including a cinema, bowling arcade, food court and water park.

The Grand Ho Tram Resort & Casino is the most awarded resort in Vietnam. Its awards include Luxury Hotel and Spa of the Year by Luxury Travel Guide Awards, UK; and Best Luxury Hotel Vietnam by Business Destination UK; World Luxury Hotel Award; Luxury Coastal Resort by World Luxury Hotel Award; Luxury Casino Hotel, Asia by World Luxury Hotel Award ; Vietnam’s Best Golf Hotel  by World Golf Awards; Luxury Beach Resort Category by World Luxury Hotel Awards; Vietnam’s Best Golf Hotel and Asia’s Best Golf Hotel by World Golf Awards; Luxury Golf Hotel by Luxury Travel Guide Awards, Best Casino Hotel Spa in Asia and Best Luxury Hotel Spa in Vietnam by the Haute Grandeur Global Spa Awards; and a member of International Les Clefs d'Or Concierge.

It's adjacent golf course The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip - was designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2014 and has gone on to win countless prestigious awards such as World’s Best New Golf Course and is a multiple winner of Vietnam’s Best Golf Course. The Bluffs was also the first course in Vietnam to ever make Golf Digest’s Top 100 list for courses around the world for 6 consecutive years and hosted the successful Ho Tram Open which was awarded as Asian Tour Event Of The Year.