![John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/5221fe4f-2750-435f-8dfb-8106870febfc.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w576_h298_fmax.webp "John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes")
![John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/46a4f43f-1aea-41cb-a8ff-5acd1a2f17a3.jpg/r0_0_420_279_w576_h298_fmax.webp "John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes")
![John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/740fe678-4d2a-4d9a-9b16-429a126b2032.jpg/r0_0_360_426_w576_h298_fmax.webp "John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes")
![John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/770228ad-eb86-4631-9f14-c98b3f28ba0b.jpg/r0_0_1024_682_w576_h298_fmax.webp "John O’Neill would not be drawn on comparisons with last year's casino war in Sydney, which Echo lost against Mr Packer. “I’m very comfortable with the process [in Brisbane].” he said. Photo: Sahlan Hayes")
Echo Entertainment Group chairman John O'Neill says the company has built a formidable joint venture team to take on James Packer's Crown Resorts in the bid to develop a $1 billion-plus casino and entertainment complex in Brisbane.
Echo along with its Chinese partners, conglomerate Chow Tai Fook and developer Far East Consortium, submitted its bid to redevelop the Queens Wharf precinct on Tuesday. Crown and its joint venture partner Chinese developer Greenland Holdings also lodged its proposal.
Chief executive Matt Bekier told the company's annual general meeting on the Gold Coast on Thursday that one of the company's three priorities for the next year was to "put our best foot forward" in Brisbane. Echo is fighting to retain monopoly control of the city's casino market, where it already runs the Treasury Casino.
Mr O'Neill recently travelled to Hong Kong to meet the executive teams of Echo's consortium partners. "They're both very impressive companies and very impressive people with tremendous relevant experience and success in the areas that we're aiming to do well in," he told Fairfax Media after the meeting.
Chow Tai Fook is the major shareholder of the Hong Kong listed New World Development Co, which is known for its shopping malls. The Cheng family behind Chow Tai Fook also own the world's largest jewellery retailer of the same name, which has a market capitalisation larger than Tiffany's.
Both companies have interests in luxury hotel chains. Far East holds a stake in the Hong Kong listed Dorsett Hospitality, while Chow Tai Fook owns grand hotels like London's Grosvenor Square Marriott and the Rosewood hotel and resort chain.
"Both of them have aspirations to do a lot more in Australia," he said. "I'm really comfortable that we've chosen well. We've been on the same page literally from day one which is sometimes surprising when you have three partners."
The process in Brisbane sets up a repeat showdown between Echo and Crown. Last year's Sydney casino war fell in favour of Mr Packer's bid to develop a $1.5 billion luxury hotel and casino at the Barangaroo development precinct.
Crown originally made an unsolicited bid to former Premier Barry O'Farrell to build its new waterfront gambling palace. However the bid turned into a choice between the two rivals when the government said Echo could come up with an alternative proposal.
The dramatic battle descended into personal attacks and insults being flung from both sides. Perhaps sensing the potential for round two, the Queensland government has imposed strict confidentiality criteria around the Queens Wharf tender. The proponents are unable to discuss their plans.
Mr O'Neill would not be drawn on comparisons between the Brisbane and Sydney bids. "I'm very comfortable with the process," he said.
On Thursday Echo said growth in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation could grow by up to 31 per cent in the half of the 2015 fiscal year. The strong guidance was underpinned by a record breaking start to the year in Echo's high roller business.
CLSA analyst Sacha Krien said VIP activity at Echo's flagship Sydney casino The Star could equal Crown's Melbourne venue by the end of the financial year. But Mr O'Neill said that was not the goal. "It's simply about playing our own game and growing our own business," he maintained.
