Tagged: Review

Manila Ocean Park, the PhP1-billion marine park constructed by Singaporean and Malaysian investors at the back of Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park, opened on 29th February 2008. "The park is set to be the city's major tourist destination. It is expected to draw millions of visitors on its first year, offering a unique tourist experience beyond the usual shopping activities," said park developer, China Oceanis Philippines, Inc., a joint venture between Singaporean and Malaysian investors.

Ascott Limited has signed contracts to manage two new serviced residences apartments in the Philippines. It will construct the 220-unit Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila as its second Ascott-branded property in the Philippines, after the one in Makati. It will also manage the 215-unit Citadines Salcedo Makati as the first Citadines apartment-hotel in the country. Both properties are expected to open in 2014.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has awarded the management of the 5,600-square meter All Hands Beach Resort to Brighterday Subic Ltd., Inc. (BSLI). The resort is formerly operated by the Freeport Service Corporation (FSC) which is located in a private cove.  SBMA said BSLI pledged to invest PhP10 million within five years to immediately improve the condition of the beach resort.

Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, formerly the Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa, is now managed by Swiss-based Movenpick Hotels and Resorts.  The hotel thus became the first Movenpick hotel in the Philippines.

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.

Marco Polo Hotels and Xin Tian Ti Development Corp. have signed a partnership deal to develop a PhP3-billion five-star hotel in the Ortigas central business district.  XTT president Samuel Po said the planned hotel will have 313 guest rooms and upscale suites and is scheduled to open by the fourth quarter of 2013.

Three hotels in the Philippines have been included in the latest list of 500 best hotels in the world complied by Travel + Leisure magazine.  These three Philippine hotels are the Peninsula Manila, Makati Shangri-La Manila, and Discovery Shores Boracay. The entries in the annual roster are determined by Travel + Leisure readers.

In 2011, the same three hotels made it to the Travel + Leisure list, along with Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa.

MJC Investments Corp., the leisure and tourism arm of Manila Jockey Club, has started a PhP3.7-billion tourism project in Manila after announcing plans to raise fresh capital.

MJC Investments said it broke ground for the Winford Hotel, which will encompass an 18-storey, luxury hotel with a six-storey retail, entertainment and recreation podium.  The project is located at the Lazaro

Deluxe hotels in Metro Manila posted their highest average occupancy rate in February 2006, amid a political noise that failed to scare away foreign investors and tourists in the Philippines.