New hotels in the Philippines
More hotels are expected to open in the Philippines in 2009 that would add over 3,000 rooms in the accommodation sector. In the first quarter of the year alone, a total of 1,231 additional rooms were opened. With an aggregate cost of P8.016 billion, these new investments directly employed 1,286 people.
The opening of the P3.18-billion Imperial Palace Water Park, Resort and Spa in Cebu increased the room supply in the province by 4 percent to 14,792.
With 616 rooms, Imperial Palace Water Park, Resort and Spa provided employment to 780 workers.
The San Remigio Beach Club in the northern part of Cebu has also opened its new facilities during the first quarter. With P8.5 million in investments, the resort has built a convention facility to capture the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions of both international and domestic markets.
Shangri-la's Boracay Resort and Spa, a high-end 217-room resort in Boracay Island, opened just in time for the influx of tourists on vacation and long holidays.
The resort has initially hired 488 workers to manage its various ranges of product offerings.
Seven locators investing in 28 cluster villas for a total cost ofP761.9 million in the Amanpulo Tourism Enterprise Zone in Palawan also began their operation during the first quarter.
In Metro Manila, the opening of the Legend International's Park, Bed and Breakfast Hotel, Eurotel Hotel Branch in Makati, and the expansion of Oakwood Serviced Residences increased the total room supply by 320.
By December 2009, some 1,946 people are expected to be directly employed nationwide once the additional 2,315 rooms become operational in the following destinations.
These include the Manila Ocean Park H2O Hotel (120 rooms), the Picasso Serviced Residences (136 rooms), Newport Marriott Hotel (342 rooms), and Maxims Hotel (178 rooms) in Metro Manila.
In Cebu, there is Radisson Hotel (400 rooms) while in Boracay, new and expansion projects include Crowne Regency (449), Phonex Hotel (130 rooms), Boracay Regency Lagoon (120 rooms), Seven Stones (100 rooms), Grand Water (100 rooms).
Microtel Inns and Suites (50 rooms) will open in Puerto Princesa, Palawan while Summer Ridge (108 rooms)
will be completed in Tagaytay.
In Albay, there is Discovery Bay Misibis (82 rooms).
With greater demand for tourism services, the Department of Tourism or DOT endorsed five development projects worth P6.323 billion in the first quarter of the year.
These initiatives will generate 6,340 employment opportunities for local residents in the said tourist areas.
A US$200-million luxury spa and resort is also set to be developed by Banyan Tree in a 55-hectare property in Diwaran Island of Palawan.
This project will generate 8,000 direct and indirect jobs during the planning, construction and operational stages from 2009 to 2012.
In Subic, Harbor Yacht Services Philippines will construct a restaurant and resort in a marina facility with an investment package of P36.1 million.
An 18-hectare manmade lake called Lago del Rey, the biggest in the country, was opened to tourists by the provincial government of Camarines Sur.
With the cost of P20 million, this new tourist product complements the wakeboarding park set up by the LGU in 2005. The facility offers family-oriented activities such as boat ride, fishing, and swimming, among others.
Anguib beach in Sta Ana, Cagayan has started to draw foreign and domestic wind and kite surfing enthusiasts because of its unspoiled natural wealth and wider and bigger reef ideal for the said sports.
To promote the area, the DOT and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority have organized a windsurfing exhibition which was highly attended by international and local windsurfers.
With increased demand for nature and wildlife adventure, the DOT and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines have jointly developed birdwatching tours in coordination with tour operators and LGUs in key destinations.
The opening of a theme park called Fantasyland in Zamboanga del Norte had boosted tourist arrivals in said destination.
The entertainment facility includes interactive rides, shows and activities for foreign and domestic visitors. A 360-room hotel will also be built in the park.
Based on press release from DOT