AppleOne leads VisMin’s tourism growth

Sustainable ‘bleisure’ developments

MANILA, Philippines — The AppleOne Group, a premier developer based in Cebu, is setting itself apart as a company, through its commitment to uplifting communities and contributing to regional growth.

AppleOne said that for its hotel projects, which are mostly in partnerships with global brands, the company sources materials locally and champions homegrown suppliers and artisans from Visayas and Mindanao or the VisMin region.

These may be big or small suppliers and local artisans in the region. AppleOne believes that sourcing materials from them, as well as sourcing local employment, would help boost the local economy.

With this initiative, AppleOne continues to expand opportunities for the local workforce and economy, positioning VisMin as a next-generation bleisure hub or business and leisure travel, in both the national and regional tourism landscape.

Bleisure, the group said, is a fast-growing global segment that blends work with discovery.

AppleOne said it is at the forefront of this opportunity, as it envisions VisMin to be the Philippines’ next world-class bleisure region.

Global partnerships

The group said this is possible through its partnerships with global brands like Marriott International.

Through these partnerships, the company is able to bring international standards to the southern Philippines, at a time when the Philippines is gearing up for a new tourism boom.

AppleOne views this not just as an industry rebound but as a generational opportunity to shape the region’s future responsibly.

Riding the wave of tourism growth

The Department of Tourism projects six million international tourist arrivals in 2025, placing the Philippines on the cusp of a major tourism rebound, AppleOne said.

“Nowhere is this momentum more visible than in Visayas and Mindanao, with Cebu logging over 5.1 million tourist arrivals in 2024 — a 37 percent surge year-on-year. This growth not only revives leisure travel but also reshapes hubs like Cebu and Cagayan de Oro as rising centers for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions),” the company also said.

View of AppleOne’s Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort at night.

Developments driving change

Leading this movement is Mahi Center, the company’s upcoming mixed-use business complex in Lapu-Lapu City, which will feature office spaces, a boutique mall and Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan, designed to cater to both business and leisure travelers. Meanwhile, Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort has set a benchmark for luxury bleisure stays, blending international standards with Cebuano hospitality and attracting corporate retreats and incentive travel, AppleOne also said.

Further south, AppleOne is introducing the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences Cagayan de Oro, the city’s first five-star hotel and branded residence, which will elevate Northern Mindanao as a new frontier for MICE.

Together, these projects underscore AppleOne’s commitment to reshaping the tourism landscape — not just as a leisure destination but as a sustainable, community-driven bleisure hub for the future.

Renewable energy

As an added testament to its commitment toward sustainability, AppleOne also earlier launched Astronergy, its newly established subsidiary focused on renewable power.

Astronergy has developed its first solar farm, located in Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao.

Spanning approximately 23 hectares and equipped with 10,000 installed solar panels, the plant is projected to generate up to seven megawatts direct current power in its first phase, supporting the local grid via an existing power purchase agreement with Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc., the region’s electric cooperative.

The facility is expected to be fully operational by September 2025, with long-term plans to scale capacity up to 25 megawatts through future phases, AppleOne also said.

With deep roots in real estate and a recent move into health care, AppleOne continues to focus on sectors that deliver long-term value and meet critical needs.

“We’ve always been deliberate in where we grow the business,” said Ray Manigsaca, president and CEO of AppleOne.

“Energy is a natural next step for us. We saw an opportunity to add value to our communities and support the country’s energy transition.”

The launch of Astronergy comes at a time when the Philippine government is accelerating efforts to strengthen energy self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imported fuels. This direction is echoed by a recent study from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, which emphasizes the importance of expanding local and renewable sources to help secure long-term energy affordability and reliability.

In all, AppleOne is underscoring its commitment to sustainability while growing its business.