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PHILIPPINE HOSPITALITY NEWS
All Metro Manila hotels now fully booked, can’t be converted into isolation facilities
By: Krissy Aguilar - Reporter / @KAguilarINQINQUIRER.net / April 10, 2021
MANILA, Philippines — All 300 hotels in Metro Manila affiliated with the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) are already fully booked and can no longer be converted into isolation facilities.
Japan approves first casino, hoping to create new tourism stream
Osaka integrated resort to open in 2029 and compete with others in Asia
RYOHTAROH SATOH, Nikkei staff writer
April 14, 2023 09:13 JSTUpdated on April 14, 2023 12:18 JST
TOKYO -- The Japanese government approved its first casino on Friday, taking a step toward developing a new source of tourism. The casino will focus on attracting domestic tourists as other Asian casinos struggle to recover from a drop in Chinese visitors after the pandemic.
Singapore's casino resort expansions mired in delays
Projects at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa likely pushed into 2028
MAYUKO TANI, Nikkei staff writer
April 9, 2023 13:09 JST
SINGAPORE -- Expansion projects at two high-profile integrated resorts in Singapore have been plagued by delays of up to four years, pushing back their midterm growth strategies.
‘Stimulus’ payback
COMMONSENSE - Marichu A. Villanueva - The Philippine Star March 27, 2023
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced last week the entire Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) passenger terminal 2 will be used for all domestic flights starting in July this year. This is supposedly in a bid to decongest the long immigration lines in NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 under the terminal rationalization plan laid out by the MIAA. In fact, the MIAA earlier suspended the initial X-ray inspection/screening process to prevent long queues in all NAIA terminals.
Indonesia's Traveloka eyes sustainability demand as tourists return
Online booking unicorn seeks 'quality' partnerships for wider ASEAN market share
NANA SHIBATA and TSUBASA SURUGA, Nikkei staff writers March 13, 2023 17:33 JST
JAKARTA/SINGAPORE -- Traveloka, Indonesia's leading online travel booking site, will roll out more sustainable travel options for users this year, the company's president told Nikkei Asia, as the tech unicorn aims to expand its share in Southeast Asia's growing market.
Philippines casinos to see limited short-term boost from China reopening: Maybank Securities
Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke Wed 22 Feb 2023
The Philippines will enjoy only minimal gain in 2023 from the recent reopening of China’s international borders, primarily due to the slow pick-up of air traffic and limited Chinese visitation across ASEAN, says a recent note from Maybank Securities.
Hotel occupancy tops pre-pandemic levels in January
Catherine Talavera - The Philippine Star
February 18, 2023
MANILA, Philippines — Hotels in the country remain optimistic of the industry’s performance this year as the average occupancy has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, according to an official of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA).
Help boost the Philippine economy by supporting domestic tourism
by Manila Bulletin
Published April 20, 2022
After the two-year ordeal brought about by the pandemic, Filipinos are once again traveling as seen in airports that are full of passengers, roads that are full of vehicles, and restaurants that are full of customers. Last week, hotels and resorts enjoyed high occupancy rates, something they haven’t experienced for a long time.
Philippines hotel owners send SOS
Catherine Talavera - The Philippine Star
April 17, 2020
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) has renewed its call to the government for support for the accommodation sector in the form of tax relief measures, labor force assistance and travel stimulus, in a bid to help the sector survive and recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
OWWA racks up P1.7B debt to quarantine hotels
Pola Rubio·Contributor
March 11, 2022
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has accumulated around P1.7 billion in debt to quarantine hotels used by returning overseas Filipino workers, Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) said Thursday (March 10).
Alert Level 2 in NCR to help hotels recoup losses from lockdowns
By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
November 9, 2021
MANILA – The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) on Tuesday lauded the government’s decision to downgrade the quarantine classification in the National Capital Region (NCR) from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2.
All Metro Manila hotels now fully booked, can’t be converted into isolation facilities
By: Krissy Aguilar - Reporter / @KAguilarINQINQUIRER.net / April 10, 2021
MANILA, Philippines — All 300 hotels in Metro Manila affiliated with the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) are already fully booked and can no longer be converted into isolation facilities.
Philippine hotels run out of rooms to convert into Covid-19 facilities
By Rosa Ocampo/ Posted on 8 April, 2021
As Covid-19 infections continue to surge in metro Manila and nearby provinces, more hotels are needed to be converted into temporary treatment facilities, but existing quarantine hotels are not even enough to accommodate more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning to the country.
By: Miguel R. Camus October 09, 2019
A new international airport plan in Cavite province that aims to ease air congestion in Manila and potentially rival conglomerate San Miguel Corp.’s $15 billion Bulacan air gateway is getting ready to launch.
The provincial government of Cavite is set to publish a request for joint venture proposals—an early step in the selection of a partner for the development of the $10-billion Sangley Point International Airport.
by Tomo Yamamoto Wednesday 28 August 2019 at 06:35
Leading Asian VIP promoter Suncity Group and Bloomberry Resorts, owner and operator of Solaire Resort & Casino in Manila’s Entertainment City, confirmed their interest in developing an integrated resort in Wakayama, Japan, after unveiling their IR concepts at a symposium held in the prefecture on Monday.
In a presentation to an audience of around 450, including Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka, local politicians, industry representatives and local residents, Suncity executive director John Au said his company would “create a brand new IR in Wakayama that the world has never seen.”
by Newsdesk Sunday 11 August 2019 at 16:06
An alleged crackdown by China on online gaming operations in the Philippines could benefit Macau, according to brokerage Sanford C Bernstein.
The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines released a statement late last week expressing its concerns over the proposed transfer of Chinese workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to self-contained hubs and warning against the illegal inducement of Chinese citizens to gamble either online or in Philippines land-based casinos.
By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman) - August 2, 2019 - 12:00am
CEBU, Philippines — Gokongwei-led Robinsons Hotels and Resorts will soon introduce its own five-star brand, joining the circle of globally established luxury hotel chains.
In an interview with Robinsons Hotels and Resorts general manager Arthur Gindap, he said that the company is currently developing a team working on the creation of a five-star brand, which is envisioned to grow the first Filipino-owned luxury hotel brand that will showcase Filipinos’ distinct trademark of hospitality and warmth.
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo - July 30, 2019
THE damage has been done. Resorts on Boracay Island have yet to get back their mainland Chinese and Korean guests despite the government aviation body allowing new and additional charter flights to Kalibo and Caticlan. Both municipalities are gateways to the island resort, known as one of the best beaches in the world.
A sales director of a large chain of resorts on the island disclosed to the BusinessMirror, “we haven’t been able to recover the old bookings. Of course, when the CAB [Civil Aeronautics Board] suspended the charters, our guests went to other countries instead.” She noted Vietnam, for one, became a beneficiary of this government action.
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo - July 30, 2019
THE damage has been done. Resorts on Boracay Island have yet to get back their mainland Chinese and Korean guests despite the government aviation body allowing new and additional charter flights to Kalibo and Caticlan. Both municipalities are gateways to the island resort, known as one of the best beaches in the world.
A sales director of a large chain of resorts on the island disclosed to the BusinessMirror, “we haven’t been able to recover the old bookings. Of course, when the CAB [Civil Aeronautics Board] suspended the charters, our guests went to other countries instead.” She noted Vietnam, for one, became a beneficiary of this government action.
Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star) - July 20, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Hotel owners have urged President Duterte to veto Senate Bill 1299 and House Bill 8784 or the Service Charge Bill, which will give 100 percent of service charge to employees, as they claim that it would impact the cost of doing business in their sector.
In a letter to Duterte, Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc. president Arthur Lopez pointed out that PHOA and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines were informed in a House of Representatives hearing that 90 percent of the service charge will go to the employees while the remaining 10 percent will be for losses.
Iris Gonzales (The Philippine Star) - July 19, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Andrew Tan-led Megaworld will put up the P2.1-billion Belmont Hotel Boracay, its second hotel in the island resort, through unit Global Estate Resorts Inc. (GERI).
The hotel will have three towers and will be located within the sloping area of the 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast, just beside Savoy Hotel Boracay.
Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star) - July 10, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines continues to draw interest from international tourists as foreign arrivals nearly hit the 3.5 million mark in the first five months of the year.
In a statement, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said that foreign arrivals grew 9.76 percent to 3.49 million arrivals from 3.18 million arrivals in the same period last year.
Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star) - June 13, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Stronger marketing initiatives and improved connectivity spurred an increase in foreign arrivals in the first four months of the year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.
Based on data from the DOT, international tourist arrivals grew 8.5 percent to 2.87 million in January to April this year from 2.6 million in the same period last year.
Newsdesk by Newsdesk Wednesday 29 May 2019 at 20:15
The shareholders of Philippines casino operator PH Resorts Group Holdings have agreed to merge with its 100%-owned subsidiary and holding company PH Travel and Leisure Holdings Corp to improve efficiency.
PH Resorts Group, the gaming and hospitality arm of Udenna Group, owned by businessman Dennis Uy, is currently planning and developing two casino resorts in the Philippines – the US$341 million Emerald Resort and Casino in Mactan, Cebu, and the proposed Clark Resort on a site covering 13.5 hectares in the Clark Freeport Zone. It also operates Donatela Hotel in Panglao.
Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star) - May 28, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The number of accredited accommodation establishments in Boracay has been increasing, the Boracay Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) said in its latest bulletin.
Based on the updated list, six more establishments with a total of 31 rooms have been cleared to operate by the BIATF.
Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star) - May 28, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has signed a law that extends the granting of incentives to tourism enterprise zones (TEZs) for another 10 years by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
The President signed Republic Act 11262 on April 10 but it was released more than a month after by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO). The law amends Sections 85 and 103 of RA 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.
Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star) - May 24, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — To showcase the prevalence of quality accommodation facilities in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is calling on hotels to join the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards 2020.
Hotels are invited to submit applications for categories such as the green hotel award, meeting incentives and exhibitions (MICE) venue hotel category, clean tourist city and sustainable tourism award.
Iris Gonzales (The Philippine Star) - May 24, 2019 - 12:00am
Clark, Pampanga , Philippines — Dennis Uy’s PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. will raise funds for its sprawling integrated casino resort in Mactan, Cebu, its first casino venture which is estimated to cost $600 million.
The company will secure funding through a combination of debt and equity within two to three months, PH Resorts Group president Raymundo Martin Escalona said on the sidelines of the company’s annual stockholders meeting.
Iris Gonzales (The Philippine Star) - May 20, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Gotianun-led Filinvest Group is pouring in more than $200 million for its first ever integrated casino resort in Clark.
Under FHC subsidiary Mimosa Cityscapes Inc., Filinvest has a provisional license granted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PagCOR) for a casino integrated resort in Filinvest Mimosa. FHC or Filinvest Hospitality Corp. is a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corp., the Gotianun-led holding company.
May 16, 2019
Backed by 35 years of expertise as a general contractor, H.S. POW Construction and Development Corp. through its pioneering venture in real estate will bring to the Philippines the first Wyndham Garden Hotel, which is part of the world’s largest hotel chain.
Dedicated to building quality and well-designed developments, Wellworth Properties and Development Corp. chose hotel development as its first project after years of planning and careful study.
Arra B. Francia May 15, 2019
THE owner and operator of Resorts World Manila (RWM) recorded a 45% drop in attributable profit in the January to March period due to higher finance costs.
In a regulatory filing, Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc. (TIHGI) said net income attributable to the parent fell to P244.44 million, against the P445.13 million it posted in the same period a year ago.
Iris Gonzales (The Philippine Star) - March 26, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — DoubleDragon Properties Corp., through its hotel subsidiary Hotel of Asia Inc., has signed a joint venture agreement with Federated Realty Corp. for the development of a hotel in Cebu which will meet its 5,000 room target by 2020.
July 31, 2018 |By Mark Louis F. Ferrolino, Special Features Writer
THE BAY AREA, a business hub straddling Pasay City and Parañaque City, has regained its position as the fastest-growing office district in Metro Manila, recording a 10% growth in stock during the second quarter of the year.
By: Doris Dumlao-Abadilla Philippine Daily Inquirer / June 26, 2018
Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy has transformed Philippine H2O Ventures Corp. into his group’s tourism platform, officially anointing this as the backdoor-listing vehicle for upcoming integrated casino resorts in Cebu and Pampanga.
In its annual stockholders’ meeting on June 25, the publicly listed Philippine H2O Ventures secured approval to change its name to PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. (PH Resorts) as well as transform its primary purpose to engage in the hotel and/or gaming and entertainment business.
PH Resorts will house the tourism-related businesses of Uy-led Udenna Group.
By Arra B. Francia
BusinessWorld / June 25, 2018
MEGAWORLD CORP. is set to open Savoy Hotel Manila within its Pasay City township this week, adding 684 rooms to the company’s hospitality portfolio.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the listed property developer said it will start operations of Savoy Hotel Manila inside Newport City on June 28. The hotel is located across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, and is within the same township that hosts integrated resort and casino Resorts World Manila.
Krisanne Fordham, CNN • Updated 17th May 2018
(CNN) — There's a special breed of hotels that cater to the most discerning and tasteful of luxury travelers, so profoundly unforgettable and special you want to keep them all to yourself.
Set apart by their location, sheer luxury, history or venerability -- and in many cases, all of the above -- we've handpicked 25 of the world's most exclusive hotels where you can stay
By Romsanne R. Ortiguero
BusinessWorld / May 15, 2018
THE ERAWAN Group PLC, Thailand’s leading hotel investment company, is ramping up the expansion of its Hop Inn hotel chain in the Philippines this year.
The Erawan Group last week opened its third Hop Inn Hotel in the country, and plans to open two more this year.
By Roy Stephen C. Canivel
Philippine Daily Inquirer / April 24, 2018
Various stakeholders in both government and the private sector are looking for ways to soften the impact of the looming 6-month closure of popular tourist spot Boracay Island.
Efforts vary from being reactionary and proactive as more than 30,000 jobs would be displaced by the government decision.
By Carmelito Q. Francisco
BusinessWorld / April 24, 2018
DAVAO CITY — Halifax Hotel Davao, Inc., owner of Marco Polo Davao, is spending about P80 million this year for its ongoing refurbishment.
Francis R. Ledesma, hotel president, said over the weekend that the upgrade involves aesthetics as well a improvement of key facilities and systems such as the sewage treatment plant, fire safety equipment, and security.