The SkyCity Entertainment Group has announced that it is expecting an additional $85 million insurance payout next month from its International Convention Centre fire last October.
Graeme Stephens, chief executive of SkyCity, said they would use the funds to repair issues caused by the fire at the convention centre. However, the company took a hit from the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic – resulting in a loss of $55 million.
“We fully understand and support the priority to slow the spread of COVID-19 in order to save lives. SkyCity always seeks to be a responsible leader in our communities, and we will play our part in working with governments to help and protect our customers, staff, and other stakeholders,” Stephens said, as reported by NZ Herald.
Stephens said the restrictions caused by the pandemic could continuously impact the business, especially if they have to close facilities in the event of total lockdown.
“We anticipate further restrictions on mass gatherings in Australia and New Zealand,” he said. “We will need to understand these restrictions in more detail as they evolve to ascertain whether they will apply to our properties.
“Casinos are similar to shopping centres in that they have multiple smaller areas within a larger precinct, and these areas can be used in flexible ways to comply with enhanced mass gathering restrictions.”
