Radisson Blu Hotel, a five-star hotel in Cebu City, has redefined the accommodation sector in Cebu.  Radisson Blu Hotel is jointly-owned by SM Development Corp. and Carlson Group. It has 400 business class guest rooms and suites that are functional and offer an excellent view of either the city or the Mactan Channel.

AirAsia Philippines will launch flights from Clark to Davao City and Kalibo, Aklan.  “We are thrilled and excited to offer an opportunity for both local and international tourists to experience and explore Davao, one of the most alluring gateways to the Philippines, by offering daily flights from our hub in Clark at all-in low fares,”  said AirAsia Inc. CEO Marianne Hontiveros.

AirAsia is offering a PhP599 “all in” fare from Clark to Kalibo and PhP799 from Clark to Davao.  The company describes this as “one of the lowest offers in the market.”   AirAsia also plans to mount flights from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

Zest Airways Inc. plans to launch more regional flights this year as it expands its fleet with the addition of two Airbus A320 planes to meet growing passenger traffic.  Company president and CEO Alfredo Yao said the carrier would introduce scheduled flights to Incheon, Korea and Shanghai, China from Manila in June and direct flights from Manila to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in October.

Zest Air is also launching Clark-Hong Kong, Clark-Bangkok and Clark-Singapore flights in the last quarter of 2012.

“Our total passengers for our domestic flights this January is 224,723 compared to 150,091 in January last year, while for our international flights we had 35,638 passengers versus 15,990,” said Mr. Yao.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) expects its passenger volume to grow by more than a tenth this year as it aims for uninterrupted operations. “We are looking at 10 to 12 percent growth. The load factor of the flights is expected to improve," said PAL president Jaime B. Bautista.

Mr. Bautista refused to comment on ongoing talks between San Miguel Corp. and PAL majority shareholder Lucio Tan for a takeover deal.

PAL Holdings Inc., operator of PAL, posted PhP3.628 billion in nine-month losses, a reversal from PhP3.236 billion total comprehensive income recorded a year ago.

Cebu Air Inc. posted a 47.6-percent decline in profit to PhP3.62 billion in 2011 amid higher fuel costs.  The budget airline’s operating expenses in 2011 climbed 34 percent to PhP30.4 billion as fuel costs rose 55 percent to PhP15.22 billion.  Fuel costs make up 50 percent of its expenses.

Revenues were up by 16.7 percent to PhP33.93 billion brought about by improving growth in passenger traffic and ancilliary products.

“Amid this challenging cost environment, the company was able to sustain robust Ebitda [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation] and pre-tax core income margins of 23.3 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively,” the company said.

Cebu Pacific is expanding its fleet to 53 aircraft by end-2014 from 37 to increase flight frequency and add new routes.  The airline has entered into operating leases for four brand-new Airbus A330 aircraft. These A330s, which are part of the fleet expansion, will be delivered between 2013 and 2014.

The A330 can carry as many as 400 passengers and will allow the company to embark on flights that are within 11 hours from the Philippines.

Marriott Manila has appointed a seasoned general manager in the person of Mr. Scott Sibley. With his almost six years of stay at Marriott Guam Resort and Spa, American native Scott is now ready to assume leadership to one of the most progressive Marriott properties in the world.

“I am deeply honored and excited to be working with Filipinos where the best of the industry can be found. Marriott Manila has taken leadership in the market by storm and we aim to be at the same spot for the many years to come,” said Mr. Scott.
 

Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City is undergoing a major improvement programme. The hotel has embarked on a three-phase renovation programme that will cost PhP718 million.  The hotel has a total of 530 rooms.

Roxaco Land Corp. has acquired a majority stake in Fuego Hotels Property & Management Corp. (FHPMC), the developer of Club Punta Fuego, an 88-hectare premiere luxury seaside resort community in Batangas.

The company aims to become a major player in the tourism industry.  Aside from Punta Fuego, FHPMC also manages Terazzas de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas, 7 Stones Boracay Suites and Boracay Gems in Boracay, Aklan and recently, Camaya Coast in Bataan.  Roxaco is currently developing Anya Resort and Residences in Tagaytay, a six-hectare boutique community that integrates a luxury resort facility and an exclusive residential estate.

Century Properties plans to venture into hotel development as it seeks to further expand its revenue stream.

CPG is positioning itself in the tourism business, which is seen to be the next sunshine industry as the government steps up efforts to promote the country.  CPG has teamed up with Group Developers Inc., Caylaway Development Corp. and Batulao Bio-loop Farms Inc. to transform a 142-hectare property in Batulao, Batangas into a major leisure and resort community.

A foreign group behind the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore is in talks with the Philippine government for the transformation of the Manila Central Post Office into a first-class hotel.

Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta, vice president of the city of Manila’s Historical and Heritage Commission, said the group is currently engaged in negotiations with the government.

Federal Land and Japanese firm Orix Corp. have formed a joint venture called Bonifacio Landmark Corp. that will build a US$300-million project in Bonifacio Global City to be managed by Grand Hyatt Hotels Worldwide, according to a report by Philippine Daily Inquirer. The construction of the hotel, Grand Hyatt, is now in full swing and is slated for completion in 2015.

Azalea Residences, a 99-suite-suite vacation residence, has recently opened in Baguio city. “It is the hotel that offers the brand of convenience and amenities of top international hotels, yet maintaining the natural texture and traditional character of the Philippines at a very affordable price,” said Azalea Resorts and Residences COO Dulah Lipardo.

The Araneta Group will start accepting guests at the Novotel Manila Araneta Centre in Cubao, Quezon City, the “crown jewel” of its multibillion-peso redevelopment of bustling Araneta Center.

Novotel Manila is envisioned to be the only upscale hotel in Quezon City that will offer a “five-star experience at four-star prices,” said Araneta Group chairman and CEO Jorge L. Araneta.  Michael Issenberg, chairman and COO of Accor Asia-Pacific, flew to Manila to take part in the ceremony and expressed confidence that the hotel would be a “great success.”

JG Summit Holdings (JGS) will invest PhP6 billion for the construction of 30 budget hotels over the next four years to complement its budget airline business as the company anticipates robust tourism trade in the country.

JG Summit president and COO Lance Gokongwei described tourism as a natural third leg of the Philippine economy next to overseas Filipino workers and BPO.

Clark Development Corp. (CDC) said major investment projects are expected to rise in Clark Freeport in the areas of tourism, residential, commercial, manufacturing and aviation-related industries in 2012. 

Among the projects in the pipeline are the hotel and casino complex of Eagle Sky Amusement and Gaming (ESTAG), Go-Hotel project of Robinsons Land Corp., and mixed-use commercial facilities of Hausland Development.

Hotel chain operator Tune Hotels opened its first hotel in Manila and its third in the Philippines.  Located in Central Manila, Tune Hotel Ermita offers 167 rooms comprising 117 double, 48 twin sharing and 2 wheelchair-friendly rooms.

“We are very excited with the opening of Tune Hotel Ermita, our very first hotel in the capital city. With three more Tune Hotels coming up in Manila this year and next, Manila will be a very important growth centre for our regional expansion. With its international city stature and coupled up with the rigorous economic landscape, Manila attracts tourists and business travellers from across the world and Tune Hotels is proud to serve them all,” said Tuna Hotel CEO Mark Lankester.

Japanese firm Universal Entertainment Corp. has committed to invest US$2 billion for an entertainment and gaming complex called Manila Bay Resorts on the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment Complex in the reclaimed portion of Manila Bay.  Its Philippine unit, Tiger Resorts,Leisure and Entertainment Inc., said the plan is to build two luxury casino hotels with 450 and 650 rooms each.

However, the project became uncertain following reports that Wynn Resorts Ltd. bought out its Japanese investor, Kazuo Okada who controls Universal Entertainment, for extending cash and gifts worth US$110,000 to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) officials.

Hotel operator Raffles and Fairmont is set to open its first development in Makati City by the second semester of 2012.  The project called Fairmont Makati & Raffles Suites, built by Kingdom Hotel Investments and local developer Ayala Land, Inc., is reportedly set for completion by September.  The 30-storey project will include the 237-unit luxury Raffles Residences, 32-suite Raffles Hotel, and 280-room Fairmont Hotel.

International budget hotel chain Tune Hotels has opened a 165-room branch along Don Juico Avenue in Angeles City, Pampanga. Mr. Mark Armsden, senior vice president for sales and marketing of Red Planet Hotels Ltd., said Tune Hotel would give its customers choices according to their actual needs.   A second Tune Hotel would also open in Cebu City while three more hotels would be completed in Makati, Pasig and Cagayan de Oro this year.

Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp. (AHRC) has begun construction of Kukun hotels, the country’s first chain of urban lifestyle hotels. The company began in December 2011 the development of Kukun BGC (Bonifacio Global City), Kukun Cagayan de Oro, and Kukun Nuvali.

Kukun hotels will blend the best qualities of branded, businessman and boutique hotels, thereby bringing a signature experience for its guests. The initial Kukun hotels will only have 150 to 200 rooms.