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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider InterContinental Manila to reopen in BGC after 15-year absence

InterContinental Manila to reopen in BGC after 15-year absence

Published Mar 16, 2026 03:06 pm
(From left) Keyland Corp. President Jose Ma. Montinola, Philippine Realty & Holdings Corp. Chairman Gerardo Domenico Antonio V. Lanuza, and IHG executives Vivek Bhalla, Bryan Chan, and Chris Anklin lead the ceremonial signing for the return of the InterContinental brand to the Philippines. The 212-key hotel will serve as a new landmark in the BGC business district.
(From left) Keyland Corp. President Jose Ma. Montinola, Philippine Realty & Holdings Corp. Chairman Gerardo Domenico Antonio V. Lanuza, and IHG executives Vivek Bhalla, Bryan Chan, and Chris Anklin lead the ceremonial signing for the return of the InterContinental brand to the Philippines. The 212-key hotel will serve as a new landmark in the BGC business district.
IHG Hotels & Resorts is returning its flagship luxury brand to the Philippines, more than a decade after the original InterContinental Manila closed its doors.
The UK-based hotel group signed an agreement to open a new 212-key InterContinental Manila in 2032, according to a company statement on Monday, March 16. The move marks a revival of the brand’s presence in the capital following the 2015 closure of the previous landmark property in Makati, which had operated for 46 years as a centerpiece of the city’s high-end hospitality sector.
The new hotel will be in Bonifacio Global City, the 240-hectare financial district that has supplanted older neighborhoods as the primary hub for multinational corporations and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
The shift in location from the traditional Makati central business district to the modern enclave known as The Fort reflects the changing geography of wealth and corporate activity in Metro Manila.
IHG is partnering with a consortium of local developers for the project, including Keyland Corp., Philippine Realty and Holdings Corp., and Greenhills Properties Inc. The partnership underscores a broader trend of local real estate players diversifying into the hospitality segment to capture a projected rise in luxury travel demand.
While the developers did not disclose the specific investment value, similar high-end developments in the district typically command valuations in the billions of pesos.
Vivek Bhalla, IHG managing director for Southeast Asia and Korea, said the reintroduction of the brand is a milestone supported by the city’s “strong long-term fundamentals.” The InterContinental was the first international luxury hotel brand to enter the Philippines in 1969, and its return is part of IHG’s strategy to expand its "Luxury & Lifestyle" portfolio across the region.
The planned property will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a signature specialty bar, and extensive meeting facilities including a ballroom. Wellness amenities will include a health club, spa, and an outdoor swimming pool.
“Partnering with IHG to bring a globally recognized brand back to Manila is an exciting new chapter” said Jose Ma. Montinola, president of Keyland Corp.
He noted that the project aims to honor the brand’s history while establishing a new benchmark for luxury in the current market.
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