Built for P6.5 billion and twice as large as SM Megamall, the Mall of Asia which opened yesterday, is seen to contribute three to five percent of the company’s total revenues for this year.

The Mall of Asia, the 25th mall to be built in 21 years after its first mall, SM North Edsa, expects to see on weekdays 400,000 and on weekends, half a million shoppers. In comparison, SM Megamall is visited by 350,000 shoppers daily.

The Mall opened to the public yesterday.

SMPHI president Hans T. Sy said the mall’s primary come-on aside from its hugeness is the Manila sunset, and the ‘fiesta atmosphere’ it will provide daily.

Its entertainment strip, from which the Manila sunset can be viewed in airconditioned comfort, will provide the ‘New Orleans atmosphere’, Sy said.

Mall of Asia opened with 80 percent of its 600 tenants ready.

The complex consists of four buildings linked by elevated walkways— the Main mall that features local and foreign brands and the Olympic-sized skating rink; the North Parking Building which is anchored by the SM Hypermart and the Dell Call Center; the South Parking Building where the SM Dept. Store is located; and the Entertainment Center Building that houses 6 regular cinemas, the IMAX theater, 1 open-air multi-purpose hall, a premier cinema, the concert stage and a 70-seater preview room.

Sy said the two parking building will have 5,000 spaces available for private vehicle which can be expanded to accommodate up to 7,000 vehicles. Both the North and South Parking areas also have public utility terminals for jeeps, FXs and buses.

With eight out of 10 tourist that visits their second biggest mall—SM Megamall in Pasig—due to word of mouth, Sy also sees the new mall to be a destination for these tourists ‘especially since it is nearer to the country’s international airport.’

The first international standard skating rink in the mall has also qualified the Philippines to be included in the Ice Skating Union (ISU) of the world which qualified the Philippines to field local talents that train in the country.

As a ‘mall for celebration,’ Sy said daily events are scheduled ‘that will encourage everyone to come to the mall everyday to celebrate something not just on weekends but also on weekdays.’

Sy said the mall will be open from 8 am to 10 pm with several shops open as early as 6 am, to cater to morning joggers in the area. There are talks with the restaurants in the entertainment area to open even after 12 midnight to lure the Malate and Baywalk patrons.

The Mall of Asia also employs 10,000.

With the completion of the mall, SMPH is also scheduled to finance construction of new malls in other areas as well as the expansion of its existing malls. SMPH has allotted P6.5 billion for financing mall constructions and expansions in the country.

Built for P6.5 billion and twice as large as SM Megamall, the Mall of Asia which opened yesterday, is seen to contribute three to five percent of the company’s total revenues for this year.

The Mall of Asia, the 25th mall to be built in 21 years after its first mall, SM North Edsa, expects to see on weekdays 400,000 and on weekends, half a million shoppers. In comparison, SM Megamall is visited by 350,000 shoppers daily.

The Mall opened to the public yesterday.

SMPHI president Hans T. Sy said the mall’s primary come-on aside from its hugeness is the Manila sunset, and the ‘fiesta atmosphere’ it will provide daily.

Its entertainment strip, from which the Manila sunset can be viewed in airconditioned comfort, will provide the ‘New Orleans atmosphere’, Sy said.

Mall of Asia opened with 80 percent of its 600 tenants ready.

The complex consists of four buildings linked by elevated walkways— the Main mall that features local and foreign brands and the Olympic-sized skating rink; the North Parking Building which is anchored by the SM Hypermart and the Dell Call Center; the South Parking Building where the SM Dept. Store is located; and the Entertainment Center Building that houses 6 regular cinemas, the IMAX theater, 1 open-air multi-purpose hall, a premier cinema, the concert stage and a 70-seater preview room.

Sy said the two parking building will have 5,000 spaces available for private vehicle which can be expanded to accommodate up to 7,000 vehicles. Both the North and South Parking areas also have public utility terminals for jeeps, FXs and buses.

With eight out of 10 tourist that visits their second biggest mall—SM Megamall in Pasig—due to word of mouth, Sy also sees the new mall to be a destination for these tourists ‘especially since it is nearer to the country’s international airport.’

The first international standard skating rink in the mall has also qualified the Philippines to be included in the Ice Skating Union (ISU) of the world which qualified the Philippines to field local talents that train in the country.

As a ‘mall for celebration,’ Sy said daily events are scheduled ‘that will encourage everyone to come to the mall everyday to celebrate something not just on weekends but also on weekdays.’

Sy said the mall will be open from 8 am to 10 pm with several shops open as early as 6 am, to cater to morning joggers in the area. There are talks with the restaurants in the entertainment area to open even after 12 midnight to lure the Malate and Baywalk patrons.

The Mall of Asia also employs 10,000.

With the completion of the mall, SMPH is also scheduled to finance construction of new malls in other areas as well as the expansion of its existing malls. SMPH has allotted P6.5 billion for financing mall constructions and expansions in the country.