Hotel group draws up plans to expand hospitality portfolio

CEBU, Philippines — Expressing confidence in the Philippines’ capacity to expedite a full recovery in the tourism industry, the Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) group is actively considering the expansion of its portfolio with the construction of additional hospitality facilities. This endeavor aims to complement their existing portfolio, which already counts over a thousand rooms.

“We are looking at lands very seriously. You see, the beauty of the Philippines lies in remote locations,” said newly appointed RHR senior vice president—Business General Manager Barun Jolly.

In an interview with Jolly, he said that aside from the upcoming opening of Nustar Hotel in Cebu next year, and Grand Summit Hotel, the group is drawing up plans to increase its combined room portfolio accommodating all market segments from affordable hotel room facilities to ultra-high-end accommodations.

Jolly, a multi-awarded hotelier, believes that the Philippines has the potential to become a sought-after global destination for travelers’ favorite vacations. However, to realize this potential, essential infrastructure improvements, such as increased direct flight options, are paramount.

As SVP-BUGM of the hotel group, Jolly will be handling all of Robinsons Hotels’ local brands including the essential value Go Hotels and Go Hotels Plus, boutique-type Summit Hotels and Resorts, mid-luxury Grand Summit and the first and only Filipino 5-star luxury hotel – Fili in Cebu, and soon at Bridge Towne Destination Estate in Quezon City.

He will also oversee the performance of RHR’s international brands including Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Holiday Inn Manila, and the new addition into the fold, The Westin Manila.

In addition to the current influx of both domestic and international travelers, Jolly highlights the Philippines’ promising potential to further tap into the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) market, particularly as the world emerges from the pandemic.

“The MICE market will continue to grow. We just need more flights,” Jolly said adding that one of the biggest markets for MICE now is the pharmaceutical sector and other big organizations.

Currently, RHR is in nine locations in the country, including the newly opened Fili Hotel in Nustar Cebu, which hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council last July 27 to 30, 2023.

The Gokongwei-led RHR recently bagged three awards from the Philippine Property Awards 2023—Fili Hotel as Best Architectural Design, Best Interior Design and Best Hotel Development, and the Best Operational Hospitality Portfolio for the entire group for Robinsons Hotels.

RHR is the hospitality arm of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) and is on the path to becoming the Philippines’ biggest and best hotel group with the widest variety of formats and brands and the most diverse geographic reach.

In the international deluxe category, it has the IHG-managed Crowne Plaza Galleria and Holiday Inn Galleria, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, and the newly opened The Westin Sonata Place Ortigas.

For its homegrown brands, there are the Summit Hotels and Resorts brand and the essential service hotel chain Go Hotels located in the metro and in key cities nationwide. Its latest development is the ambitious NUSTAR Resort & Casino, poised to become Cebu’s first integrated resort development.

NUSTAR Resort & Casino will be home to three exceptional hotels: NUSTAR Hotel Cebu (the only ultra-luxury hotel outside of Metro Manila), Fili (a five-star resort offering genuine Filipino hospitality), and Grand Summit (a lifestyle celebrations hotel).