Airport lounge operator ramps up Philippines expansion

CEBU, Philippines — Airport hospitality operator Plaza Premium Group is stepping up its Philippine expansion, with planned upgrades to its international and domestic airport lounges in Cebu and new locations in Bohol and Cagayan targeted for 2027, as it seeks to capture rising demand for premium passenger services.

Stephen Lim, regional general manager of Plaza Premium Group, said the company would renovate its lounges at Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s Terminals 1 and 2, while expanding existing Aerotel facilities to increase capacity for travellers.

The investments is part of the Hong Kong-founded group’s push to strengthen its presence in the Philippines, which it sees as a market with significant growth potential.

“We keep the momentum going by turning our focus to the Philippines, where we see a lot of potential opportunities for growth in the years to come,” Lim said at a networking event in Cebu, at the Nustar Resort and Casino, the company’s first such gathering in the city.

The group also plans to introduce its Plaza Premium Lounge brand to new locations in Bohol and Cagayan in 2027, although further details of the projects have yet to be disclosed.

The expansion comes as airport operators and hospitality providers seek to broaden their revenue streams beyond conventional airline and passenger services, using lounges, transit accommodation, dining and concierge offerings to capture more spending across the air travel value chain.

For Plaza Premium Group, Cebu serves as an important base for expanding these services, with Lim acknowledging the support of Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s management team and local partners in advancing its plans.

Founded in Hong Kong in 1998, Plaza Premium Group describes itself as an integrated airport hospitality provider operating across lounges, airport hotels, passenger services, dining and technology-enabled travel programs.

The company has about 7,000 employees worldwide and serves approximately 30mn passengers annually, according to Lim.

Its portfolio includes Plaza Premium Lounge and Plaza Premium First, which caters to travellers seeking a more premium experience, as well as Aerotel, an airport hotel brand focused on transit passengers.

The group also provides meet-and-greet and concierge services, operates airport dining concepts and offers technology-based loyalty programs.

Its international network is a key competitive advantage, Lim said, particularly for airlines seeking lounge access across multiple markets.

Rather than negotiate separate agreements in each location, airline partners can work with Plaza Premium Group to secure access across its network through a single partnership arrangement.

The company operates and manages airport lounges, including facilities for airline partners, and has built relationships with hundreds of organizations across the aviation and hospitality industries.

Lim also highlighted the group’s record of industry recognition, including its 10th Skytrax award and recognition as the world’s best airport lounge group for 10 consecutive years.

For the Philippines, the immediate priority is to improve existing facilities while adding capacity and extending the group’s geographic reach.

The planned Cebu renovations and proposed provincial expansion will test its ability to translate its international operating model into growth in a market where airport infrastructure and passenger experience are increasingly important to the tourism industry.

Lim said the company was optimistic about the opportunities ahead.