Ascott has announced that it will open eight new properties in the Philippines before the end of next year as part of its expansion plans. The firm’s hotels, resorts and serviced residences are already seeing strong demand from both the domestic and overseas markets as tourism continues its sharp post-pandemic recovery.
“We have very strong support from the domestic corporate segment and the domestic leisure segments. Some of our properties offer 2- and 3-bedroom apartments for families. Our brand is a home away from home,” Ascott Philippines’ Country General Manager Philip Barnes said during a media event.
The openings will come across four of Ascott’s brands and happen throughout the country. Two new Somerset properties will open in 2023 with these being situated in Makati and Cebu. Citadines branded properties will be based in Bacolod, Makati and Quezon City while The Suites at Torre Lorenzo Malate is in Manila.
Ascott also plans to open two properties under the Lyf brand which focuses on co-living and is marketed towards young tourists and students. The eight projects are slated to contain more than 1,500 units which would see the company’s portfolio mushroom to more than 5,000 keys and 27 hotels, resorts and serviced residences in the Philippines.
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The Philippines and Thailand are Southeast Asia’s most popular travel spots
The Philippines recorded the highest number of international flight bookings to Southeast Asia during the first quarter of 2022 followed closely by Thailand. Research from technology firm Travelport showed the region’s two most popular travel spots accounted for more than half of all bookings in the first three months of this year.
“For the first quarter of 2022, international flight bookings to Southeast Asia overall have increased and have showed upward trajectory with the Philippines taking the lead by achieving 42 percent of its international bookings in the first quarter of 2019 prior COVID-19 pandemic,” Travelport noted. “The Philippines and Thailand were among the earliest countries in Southeast Asia to reopen their borders, and travelers are already clamoring to visit.”
