Golden TW eyes 2nd hotel, luxury villas in Boracay

BORACAY, Philippines — Golden TW Realty and Development Corp. is eyeing a branded hotel and luxury villas as part of a long-term expansion of its 23-hectare property in Boracay, following an initial investment of P3 billion in its newly opened Kaban hotel and casino.

Golden TW and Kaban president and CEO Kevin Wong said the company is looking to bring in a major hospitality brand for the next phase of the development, which could feature about 100 accommodation units across roughly 20 hectares of land.

“The goal is to build, ideally, a branded hotel,” Wong told reporters. “We want to get a big brand to come in.”

The proposed development would include low-rise accommodations, luxury villas and residences, with an emphasis on preserving open spaces along the property’s 600-meter beachfront.

Wong said discussions with a prospective partner are ongoing, although the company has yet to disclose the brand or a firm construction timeline.

The expansion forms part of Golden TW’s long-term plan to transform the property into a mixed-use tourism destination combining hospitality, retail, dining, entertainment and gaming.

Wong said the entire development could take around 10 years to complete, with the company pursuing the project in three phases.

The first phase covers the Kaban hotel and casino, which occupies about one hectare of the property and officially opened on Oct. 11 following a soft opening on Sept. 16.

The second phase involves Boracay Central, a one-hectare shopping complex that is targeted to open in the first quarter of 2027.

The retail development will feature restaurants, coffee shops, clothing stores and other commercial establishments, expanding the island’s shopping and dining options.

“Phase two is the retail, which will open early next year. And then once we lock in the branded hotel and residence, that’s phase three,” Wong said.

The company has invested around P3 billion in Kaban, which was financed through a combination of equity and borrowings from Philippine Business Bank.

Apart from additional accommodations and commercial establishments, Golden TW is also planning a jetty that would provide more direct access to the resort from Caticlan.

The developer is positioning its expansion to benefit from improving tourism infrastructure, including the ongoing upgrade of Caticlan Airport, which Wong expects to attract more international visitors to Boracay.

Meanwhile, Kaban’s existing hotel and casino combines accommodations, dining establishments, wellness facilities, entertainment venues and a gaming area licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Wong emphasized that gaming occupies only a small portion of the overall development, with hospitality and entertainment remaining the company’s primary focus.

“Our vision is to create a complete resort experience that brings together the best of Filipino hospitality, world-class dining, wellness, shopping and entertainment,” Wong said.

“Gaming is just one part of that experience. We want Kaban to become a destination in itself, one that complements Boracay’s natural beauty and gives tourists more reasons to visit and stay longer,” he added.

The company also expects the development to generate employment opportunities for local residents as more establishments begin operations.