The Filinvest Consortium led by Filinvest Hospitality Corporation (FHC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), has been awarded the 25-year term lease over a 5,700-square meter property at the heart of Camp John Hay (CJH) in Baguio City.
In a statement, FDC said the lease agreement was awarded by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC).
The lease agreement will allow Filinvest to develop a new 200-room hotel and strengthen its hospitality presence in Northern Luzon.
The new build property will be the first dual brand property under the Grafik and Quest brands and will be managed by Chroma Hospitality Inc. (CHI).
“We thank BCDA and JHMC for trusting Filinvest. Being the center of the Cordillera Region, Baguio City has always been one of the company’s top priorities,” said FHC Senior Vice President Francis Gotianun.
He added that, “This unique opportunity will allow us to develop a full-service hotel in CJH, one of the most prime locations in Baguio. It offers the whole package— exclusivity, nature and panoramic views in the heart of Baguio.”
“This year may be challenging, but we continue to look ahead and see a bright future. The hotel will be ready to welcome guests in 3 to 4 years in line with the full recovery of the tourism sector,” Gotianun said.
He noted that, “As early as now, since the loosening of the lockdown and implementation of more efficient health and safety protocols, we are beginning to see signs of that recovery.”
Gotianun said that the company believes that Baguio will remain a top tourist and business destination due to its unique climate, culture, tourist attractions, and accessibility.
Travel time has already been significantly cut with the completion of the Tarlac-Pangasinan Expressway (TPLEX) and will be further reduced once various infrastructure projects are completed. “FHC commits to support the recovery and growth of tourism in Baguio through its investment in world- class hospitality developments. We look forward to being part of the Baguio community and becoming its hotel of choice,” Gotianun said.