Okada Manila Brochure 2019

ACCELERATING OPERATIONS THROUGH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WRIT TEN BY

SE AN GA LE A-PACE PRODUCED BY

K RIS TOFER PA LMER

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Redefining technology in Asia’s hotel industry

WRITTEN BY

SEAN GALEA-PACE PRODUCED BY

KRISTOFER PALMER

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Dries Scott, Chief Technology Officer at Okada Manila, discusses how his company is leveraging technology in the hospitality, gaming & entertainment sector

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C

onsidered one of the largest

overseen Okada’s digitalisation jour-

and most exciting entertain-

ney from the ground up, Dries Scott,

ment destinations in Asia,

Chief Technology Officer, reflects on

Okada Manila is in the midst of

how the company has evolved over

a digital transformation as it embraces

the past few years. “Okada Manila

technology to enhance the service

is the first Japanese-owned casino

it provides to its customers. Having

resort opened so there wasn’t any

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“We’re very much focused on the technology of today” — Dries Scott, Chief Technology Officer, Okada Manila

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previously used legacy system to rely

an older legacy. We can adapt and

on. The initial challenge when I came

change, and that gives us an advan-

on board was to start everything from

tage over our competitors because

scratch. It was an empty playing field,

we’re able to be more flexible. We

and we had to go and hand pick every

get a lot of support from our mother

single system installed in the prop-

company UEC, which is a gaming

erty,” explains Scott. “Through that

technology company that provided

process you don’t necessarily want to

some of our core gaming compo-

use legacy or outdated AS400 sys-

nents, and have in many areas been

tems because you want to go with the

beating some of their own competi-

newer developments and technolo-

tors by introducing advanced gaming

gies. I believe it gave us an advantage

platforms that is assisting to drive the

because we’re not stuck dealing with

industry into the next generation.”

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E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE

Dries Scott Dries is an accomplished and versatile IT professional with 23 years of experience in the Information Technology field where he has implemented over 100 different business systems and network tools. Having started as Vice President of IT at Okada Manila in January 2014, Dries went on to become Senior Vice President after proving his success and delivery of a fully operational IT environment to support the company.

Dries was promoted again to his current role of Chief Technology Officer in March 2018 to define the technology roadmap to support the Okada Manila’s future objectives.

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“ If you create a memorable experience then people tend to come back” 10

— Dries Scott, Chief Technology Officer, Okada Manila

Having worked in a variety of different IT roles early in his career in his native South Africa, Scott undertook positions such as an Associate Director at Sands Cotai Limited and Senior IT Manager with Tsogo Sun followed by a stint as Director of IT Development & Quality Assurance at The Venetian Macao Resort before moving on to Okada Manila in January 2014. Scott believes his earlier experiences in hospitality and gaming laid the groundwork for him to succeed in his current role.

“Working through the ranks teaches

OKADO MANILA – CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER – CREATING A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE’’

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TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSCEND FIND OUT MORE ONLINE

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O U R PA R T N E R S :

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Such is the case of Okada, Entertainment City’s largest integrated resort. For the finest, most extravagant hotel, expectations are sky-high. With Okada’s commitment to serve its guests better and give an unmatched experience of luxury and everything first class, it enlisted the technical and business expertise of Trends to

help provide a consistent experience and flexible set of guest services for a more improved satisfaction.

Guests can now fully have access to fast wireless internet connection. Cisco switches were strategically deployed at the podium and specific transmission and an unforgettable digital serious concern as Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise installed GPON cables beneath the floor, allowing for less cabling requirement taking into consideration the size of the property. All active components and IT equipment used for the digital transformation of Okada were integrated using CommScope’s Netconnect end-to-end structured cabling solutions.

All these have prepared Okada to keep up with the demands of technology in the hospitality industry.

Trends, in partnership with tech giants AlcatelLucent Enterprise, Cisco, and CommScope, has journeyed with the five-star hotel, and will continue to work hand in hand to meet its needs and its clients’ through technology-enabled business services and solutions. This is the lifelong commitment of Trends.

Whatever your business is and however you envision success, Email info@trends.com.ph to know more.

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you a lot about the various systems and different operations,” says Scott. “Having an understanding of how it all works and is integrated has assisted me with a broad knowledge and very deep understanding of each system needed for an integrated resort.”

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY Having helped to oversee Okada’s

“ You shouldn’t just deploy technology for the sake of having technology” — Dries Scott, Chief Technology Officer, Okada Manila

rise from the ground up, Scott has watched as technology has become an increasingly important tool. “With

an escape through its popular gaming

the guest in mind, our implemented

facilities which boast 500 table games

systems start from the moment a guest

and 3,000 electronic gaming ma-

drives into the property. The first thing

chines. With the task of implementing

that they will experience is the car

technology considered a key priority to

park management system and parking

Okada, Scott points out how vital it is to

guidance system guiding the guest

keep up with the latest developments.

where to park the car,” he explains.

“We’re very much focused on the tech-

“As the guest transitions through an

nology of today – not yesterday. 90%

integrated resort, they are exposed to

of our company is actually virtualised

lots of user interfaces and different

as we move towards virtualization, not

systems that can be interacted with.

just from a data centre perspective but

Our portfolio’s quite big — typically

also from a personal computer point

a large integrated resort has over 100

of view” he says. “One of the most

different systems.”

advanced user interfaces that we’ve

Located close to the beautiful,

implemented has been produced by

recently revamped Manila Bay in the

a company called Paragon Digital

Philippines, the resort offers guests

Lifestyle. They’ve allowed us to implew w w.o ka da ma nila . com

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ment a user interface in the room that

to engage with guests in a better way

has seen a tablet based in every hotel

than ever before. We’ve diversified

room. The tablet is the controlling point

our languages so that our technology

for the user to control all features in the

can be tailored for each specific guest,

room such as operating the TV, brows-

regardless of the language they speak,”

ing the internet and opening or closing

he explains. “It allows us to guide the

the curtains. The tablet really becomes

guests with specific language require-

the portal for the guest in the room to

ments to the staff member that most

interact with the rest of the room.”

suits their needs. For example, if we

Operating with a firm customer-

were to find a guest in a room that

centric approach, Scott understands

speaks Mandarin, we would know

the importance of putting guests at

that they speak Mandarin based on

the centre of every decision Okada

the preference selection when they

makes. “We’re very focused on how

check into the room, which means that w w w.o ka da ma nila . com

2008

Year founded

7,000+

Approximate number of employees

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O U R PA R T N E R S

Paragon Digital Lifestyle “Paragon Digital Lifestyle has allowed us to implement a user interface in the room that has seen a tablet based in every hotel room. The tablet is the controlling point for the user to control all features in the room such as operating the TV, browsing the internet and opening or closing the curtains. The tablet really becomes the portal for the guest in the room to interact with the rest of the room.”

Trends Group “Trends Group helps to assist us in the installation of our entire network, from cabling to supply, connection and configuration of switches on both Campus & Data Center networks.”

HP Philippines “HP Philippines supplies us with our enterprise printing platform which has considerably saved cost on improving reduction of printing waste, reporting usage and accountability and access controls to printers.”

TIM Corporation “TIM Corporation are one of our main infrastructure

suppliers & integrators of our data center environment.”

FusionEx “FusionEx helped us to develop and customize a fully integrated leading-edge Casino Management System assisting in the tables, cage & marketing program play operations.”

Palo Alto Networks “Palo Alto Networks helped to assist us and supply the implementation of our physical and virtualized Firewall requirements.”

Cisco “Cisco helped to assist and supply the implementation of our software defined data centre network with their application centric infrastructure as well as portions of our campus network.”

Fujitsu Philippines “Fujitsu Philippines has been heavily involved in the implementation of many of our core network security components like Firewalls, SIEM, Internet Proxy & NAC.”

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CLICK TO WATCH : ‘OKADA MANILA NOW’ 23

if a call was to come through from the

technology for the sake of having

guest’s room, it would automatically be

technology. It’s crucial to have an end

diverted to the most appropriate staff

objective of what you want to achieve

member to assist in the language that

in mind before implementing any tech-

suits the guest.”

nology. It’s been a journey because we

With all companies encouraged to

started with just English-only plat-

adopt an increasing level of technol-

forms but soon realised that a lot of the

ogy to enhance their services, Scott

guests were frustrated because they

believes it has become essential to

couldn’t engage with the technology

ensure there is a clear strategy in

on our English version. This encour-

mind when introducing new technol-

aged us to transition our guest inter-

ogy. “Whatever you want to implement

faces into becoming multi-lingual plat-

should have a purpose and goal,” ex-

forms that enable us to engage with

plains Scott. “You shouldn’t just deploy

the guests better, quicker and without w w w.o ka da ma nila . com

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our staff needing to communicate in

developed a number of important

many different languages. Ultimately, it

partnerships to accelerate its growth.

creates a better user experience which

The firm established key strategic

enables us to focus more on innova-

relations with Trends Group, HP

tion and entertainment activities which

Philippines, TIM Corporation, Paragon

in turn allows us to improve our guests’

Digital Lifestyle, Palo Alto Networks,

experience at Okada Manila overall.”

TIM Corporation, Fusionex, Cisco and Fujitsu Philippines. Scott believes that

ESTABLISHING KEY PARTNERSHIPS

a good partnership should be mutually

In order to help achieve success in

beneficial with both companies willing

the industry, Okada has formed and

to make it work. “When we’re looking w w w.o ka da ma nila . com

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TIM gets I.T. done Total Information Management (TIM) Corporation specializes in delivering business and I.T. solutions that enable various organizations to achieve optimum performance. The pioneer in providing business continuity services, TIM today progressively transforms it's services aligned to the latest industry trends and demands. Customer Success is our Passion.

HEAD OFFICE Tel. Nos. (+632) 857 1846 Fax Nos. (+632) 857 1808

WWW.TIMCORP.NET

27

at a new partnership, we’re looking for

the company to adapt to the latest de-

people that are energised, creative and

velopments. “Sustaining success into

willing to work with us to help deliver

the future is a matter of evolving and

our dreams and wishes. It’s important

staying updated with the latest direc-

to have the drive, will and presence.

tions of the world and the economies,”

A good partner is a company that

he says. “We need to keep up with the

stays there and always checks up on

different generations in order to con-

you to make sure that everything’s as

tinue to be successful. All the different

it should be. These are the long term

students that are coming out of school

relationships and partnerships that

and university are growing up with

we want to have.”

a different age of technology. They’re

Scott points out how critical it is for

used to smartphones and tablets so w w w.o ka da ma nila . com

Between hope and possible there’s a bridge.

There from the beginning to where we stand today.

And to where we will go from here.

One company. One promise.

If you can imagine it, we will build the bridge to get you there.

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it’s up to us to transition our services to meet the latest trends, because if you don’t, you start trailing the competition.”

FUTURE PLANS With an eye on the future of Okada Manila, Scott has clear ideas of how his company can continue to expand during 2019 and beyond. “Today, we’re already running a completely paperless slot gaming operations and we will continue to strive towards digitization of all areas of our business.

“ We’ve diversified our languages so that our technology can be tailored for each specific guest” — Dries Scott, Chief Technology Officer, Okada Manila

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31 This year alone, we’ve got more than

trends and technologies but only if we

100 different projects that we’re

harness that technology in the right

working on and many challenges that

way. Building the right partnerships

we intend to overcome”, he summa-

and hiring the right people to help us

rises. “Our key driver is to always ask

achieve a digitised future is of key

the question: how can we attract more

importance to our success.”

guests? In what ways can we bring more people to the property and give them an experience that they want to remember? If you create a memorable experience then people tend to come back because they enjoyed it.

That’s what we want to achieve on a consistent basis. In order to do that, it’s important we embrace the latest w w w.o ka da ma nila . com

Okada Manila P.O. Box 348060, Sacramento, CA 95834 T +866-599-0998 | www.okadamanila.com