GMB - Tell us a little bit about your career until you reach the presidency of ABR. How was (or is it) the management transition and what are your main goals for the resort industry now that you are ahead of the organization?
Alberto Cestrone - I have been involved in tourism for 23 years and since 2012, Infinity Blue has participated in the ABR. Throughout this period, I was a member of the board and I was a born associativist. I have always encouraged the exchange of information and I value collective actions in order to strengthen our segment. ABR is a mature association with professionals with great experience in the industry, so the transition has been healthy and natural. Nevertheless, half the current board comes from the previous one. Among the flags we are drawing for the next biennium are:
- Strengthening of commercial actions among associates, travel agents, international market and opinion makers;
- Valuing the knowledge and production of content through the approach with the Universities;
- Stimulating startups and technology companies to the world of resorts;
- Maintain protagonism and monitor bills that in some way impact or can impact our activity.
What is your opinion about the development of the gaming legalization process and the regulation of casinos in Brazil?
We are in favor of the liberation of casinos in Brazil. We estimate that it is an additional attraction for a sector that has a lot of seasonality. Mature markets in tourism, like the United States, Canada, Portugal and Spain coexist harmoniously with the casinos. We understand that casinos should be within resorts, after all, we are trainers of labor and we encourage the socio-economic development of the microregions where we are established.
Last week in the United States, Rep. Rodrigo Maia, president of the Brazilian Chamber, spoke on an integrated project between the House and the Senate to legalize gaming. Do you believe that this may be the best way, or would it be better if the projects that are already in progress continue their way?
We believe that an integrated project would be the best option. Today, two projects are under way: one in the House and one in the Senate, with different proposals. Since both will have to process in both houses, we believe that a single project may have greater agility for approval.
In addition to the congress, the Ministry of Tourism also supports and works for the release of casinos. What is your assessment of the ministry's role in this process? How could it help speed up the legalization of gaming?
The MTur is confident that the casinos will boost domestic tourism in Brazil and strengthen the country's image abroad. The minister has played a key role in sensitizing senators and deputies about the importance of this activity.
Nowadays several resorts, such as Jequitimar, in Guarujá (SP), already have among their attractions casinos without cash prizes, but with all the structure of a traditional casino. Does ABR support this initiative? Does the entity receive any feedback on the projects that have adopted this model?
Making a historical rescue, the casinos in São Paulo were inside resorts. The Grande Hotel São Pedro was one of the main casinos in the State of São Paulo and today is administered by Senac as a hotel-school. Currently, several companies that organize casino activities with no cash prizes, including Infinity Blue. This is an additional service created by resorts to attract the public and foster occupation.
Does the new management of ABR also considers importante the interest of international investors in the country for the good development of a casino market?
One point is important to note: we are not against international investors, even for the expertise they have and can contribute to the strengthening of casinos in the country. On the other hand, we argue that the investment conditions should be the same.
Apart from the casinos and taking as example the poker championships that are held in hotels in Brazil and abroad, do you believe that other games can be enjoyed inside the resorts and become permanent attractions?
We're betting on that (sorry for the pun). The resorts are, by themselves, a leisure entertainment center with international cuisine. However, because of a tourist feature of the country, we suffer from seasonality. During the summer months, our associated resorts work with average occupancy of 92%, however, in the off-season (May / June) we need to create new products to stimulate occupancy that often falls below 40%.
What is your projection for casinos in resorts in Brazil after the approval of the legalization of the activity? Do you believe that in a short time we will see a growth of the sector of resorts and the tourism as a whole?
Everything will depend on the law that is approved and the conditions proposed. If resorts are the only destination for the installation of casinos, we estimate a potential growth of 12% in the occupation and 15% in billing.
Source: GMB Exclusive
