This positive outlook for Philippine tourism, coupled with an environment conducive for business, has captured the attention of global developers of hotels and resorts. Based on estimates, the country has generated more than US$5 billion in investments that will increase the room capacity of the country in the next few years.
Local companies have, likewise, poured substantial amounts of investment for the development of tourism facilities and infrastructure throughout the Philippines in response to the growing share of the country in Asian arrivals.
By 2011 and 2012, additional 3,539 and 1,142 rooms respectively will be available as 57 new accommodation facilities will commence operations. These new investments are anticipated to generate additional 17,782 employment in the accommodations sector.
The new investment being pumped into Philippine Tourism will definitely intensify the campaign of the Department of Tourism that aims to push the re-entry of the Philippines into the world M.I.C.E. market, considered as a top priority market of the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board.
Philippine Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim mentioned that now is the right time for organizers and planners of meetings, conferences, incentive travel, and special events to put back the Philippines into their M.I.C.E. shopping cart, given the new products, exciting destinations and upgraded tourism facilities throughout the country.
Among the recently opened properties in Manila are SM Bay City where the SMX Convention Center, the Philippines’ largest privately run exhibition and convention facility is located; the H2O Hotel (147 rooms); and the Resorts World Manila, which is home to Marriot Hotel Manila, Newport Mall, Newport Performing Arts Theater (seating capacity of 1,500), and the soon-to-open Remington Hotel and Maxims (an all-suites hotel).
Cebu, in the southern part of the Philippines, has Crimson Beach Resort and Spa (290 rooms); Radisson Blu Hotel (400 rooms), Imperial Palace Cebu Waterpark (557 rooms); and Harolds (90 rooms).
Also notable is the opening of Shangri-la’s Boracay Resort and Spa (219 rooms) in Boracay.
Other future developments include the SM Bay City Arena (to open in 2012), a multi purpose entertainment complex capable of holding 15,000 pax; Radisson Hotel, a 500-room hotel opening in 2013; Fairmont Makati which will offer 279 rooms, Raffles Hotel with 30 suite rooms and 236 Raffles branded private residences developed by Kingdom Hotel Investments and Ayala Land which will open in 2012; Aseana Business Park, a 1,300 hectares development site intended for business, tourism and entertainment facilities.
The Fort Bonifacio Global City Area, a 25.78 square kilometer urban development site located in Taguig City, Metro Manila, will be home to Shangri-la at the Fort, a 60 storey structure with 544 guestrooms, 146 long-stay residences and 89 exclusive horizon rooms; over 6,800 square meters of meeting and banquet facilities will include a grand ballroom, junior ballroom, 11 function rooms, business center, and individual teleconferencing room. Also at the Fort are the Grand Hyatt Hotel with 350 rooms (to open in 2011) and the F1 City Center with 240 rooms operated by Best Western International (to open 1st quarter 2011)
The SM Investments Corporation also plans to build convention centers in Baguio and Davao.
Along with the infrastructure development that will elevate the position of the Philippines as a destination for MICE and large scale events, Philippine Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim reaffirmed that the “Philippine Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board’s thrust is to develop strategic programs and incentive schemes for meetings, incentive travel, and events organizers that will attract the MICE market to the Philippines.”
