Mohegan Gaming will hold a soft opening of its new South Korean property INSPIRE Entertainment Resort on November 30. The announcement was made this week by Mohegan Gaming’s President Chen Si.
INSPIRE is a large-scale integrated entertainment resort in the International Business Center III (IBC-III) near Incheon International Airport in Yeongjong-do. The resort is the eighth property of its parent company, Mohegan. Spanning a land area of 461,661 square meters, the facility required an investment of approximately KRW 2 trillion ($1.53 billion).
This first phase includes three hotel towers with 1,275 rooms, Korea’s first multi-purpose arena, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) facilities including the largest ballroom in Korea, restaurants, and digital entertainment street Aurora.
INSPIRE plans to open the entire resort in phases by the first half of 2024, employing a gradual opening strategy.
“This is a momentous occasion for Mohegan, marking both a historic partnership for our Tribe and a new echelon for our system of premier integrated entertainment resorts around the world,” said James Gessner Jr., Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe and the Mohegan Management Board.
“We have been honored to work closely with the Korean government to make this day possible, and we look forward to INSPIRE contributing to the local and regional economies by creating local jobs, bringing visitors to enjoy the Incheon region, and attracting new businesses both on and adjacent to the property.”
The soft opening will introduce a premier hotel comprising three towers, each with a distinct concept (Forest Tower, Sun Tower, and Ocean Tower); INSPIRE Arena, a multi-purpose indoor performance venue with a total capacity of 15,000 seats; and Aurora, a 150-meter-long digital entertainment street featuring large LED screens.
This opening will also showcase Splash Bay, a glass-domed indoor water park (swimming pool is available to hotel guests in the initial phase), more than 10 INSPIRE-owned restaurants, including Michael Jordan’s Steak House, and MICE facilities.
“INSPIRE is significant to us not only for our growth in the global market but also for the opportunity to share Mohegan’s legacy and spirit with the world,” said Ray Pineault, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mohegan. “Together as a team, we look forward to bringing this incredible entertainment destination to Asia, offering the top-notch hospitality services and products that our guests expect from our brand.”
Following the initial soft opening, INSPIRE Mall – an integrated cultural space combining shopping, dining and entertainment – and a foreigner-exclusive casino are expected to open in the first quarter of 2024.
Discovery Park, an outdoor entertainment facility covering approximately 100,000 square meters, and an international food court in collaboration with Glow Seoul, along with Splash Bay’s water attractions, Korea’s largest digital immersive content exhibition center and an indoor children’s playground are expected to open in the second quarter of 2024.
“We are delighted that project INSPIRE, aimed at creating a leading entertainment integrated resort in Northeast Asia in Incheon, South Korea, has reached a major milestone,” Chen Si said. “As we grow with the community, we will establish ourselves as an ultimate entertainment destination that attracts visitors from around the world, filled with inspiration and innovation.”
