Top township developer Megaworld Corp. plans to expand its hospitality portfolio by opening six new hotels over the next three years, an aggressive buildout that will add nearly 2,000 room keys to its inventory.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said it is expanding its roster of hotel developments in key tourism destinations across the Philippines to further contribute to the country’s tourism sector.

These hotels, to be managed and operated by its hospitality arm Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, will also shore up Megaworld’s already massive portfolio—the biggest in the industry to date.

“Our goal is to have more than 20 hotels and about 9,000 hotel rooms when we reach our 40th year within the next three years,” said Megaworld President and CEO Lourdes T. Gutierrez-Alfonso. “This will further help us unlock big opportunities and continue supporting tourism as a major catalyst of development and economic growth across the country.”

These new hotels include ArcoVia Hotel at ArcoVia City in Pasig City; Savoy Capital Town at Capital Town in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga; The Hamptons Hotel at The Hamptons Caliraya in Cavinti, Laguna; Paragua Sands Hotel and Savoy Hotel Palawan at Paragua Coastown in San Vicente, Palawan; and The Kingsford at The Upper East in Bacolod City.

Of these six new hotels, two are rising near the beach: Savoy Hotel Palawan and Paragua Sands Hotel within the 462-hectare Paragua Coastown, Megaworld’s first ecotourism township. Offering more than 600 rooms combined featuring views of both the turquoise sea and the nearby mountains, these two hotels are envisioned to provide a big boost for tourism in San Vicente, Palawan—an emerging destination home to the longest beachline in the country and the second longest in Southeast Asia.

Another hotel rising near the water is The Hamptons Hotel at The Hamptons Caliraya, a 300-hectare integrated lifestyle community by Megaworld subsidiary Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI). The hotel will be situated along the edges of Lake Caliraya, overlooking the lush mountains in Cavinti, Laguna.

The other three upcoming hotels are nestled within Megaworld townships emerging as key central business districts.

The 31-story ArcoVia Hotel is rising as Megaworld’s tallest hotel, and the company’s second hospitality development in Pasig City after Richmonde Hotel Ortigas. Located across the iconic Arco de Emperador in ArcoVia City, the hotel promises to delight future guests with sweeping views of the Metro Manila skyline and the nearby Antipolo mountains.

In the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Megaworld is currently building the 16-story Savoy Capital Town, its first hotel development north of Metro Manila within its 35.6-hectare Capital Town township. Strategically located along San Fernando Boulevard, the development will be situated near the soon-to-rise Capital Mall, and will be surrounded by residential condominiums, office developments, and the iconic Plaza Pasudeco.

At Megaworld’s The Upper East—a 34-hectare township known as Bacolod City’s new and modern CBD—construction is in full swing for The Kingsford. This 12-story hotel will feature a variety of “first-in-Bacolod” amenities, which include its own Executive Lounge for VIP guests and a high-ceiling, pillarless Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 guests.

Earlier this year, Megaworld opened Chancellor Hotel Boracay, its third hotel inside the 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast, bringing the company’s total hotel room inventory on Boracay Island to almost 1,600 rooms.

In the coming weeks, Megaworld will open Belmont Hotel Iloilo, its third hotel within the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Iloilo City.

Furthermore, in the next few months, the company will fully transition its 1,531-room Grand Westside Hotel to become Mövenpick Manila Bay Westside Hotel—the largest Mövenpick hotel property in the world. (James A. Loyola)