Lapu Lapu City in Cebu and Panglao in Bohol are the top hotel investment destinations in the Philippines, according to a report by the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC).
The inaugural report provides critical information on hotel, resort and other accommodation projects in the country that are in the planning and/or construction stages. It includes data on the number of hotel projects and room keys, classification breakdowns, indicative investment costs and jobs generated.
“Both international and local brands are expanding rapidly, with a notable increase in projects across key areas like Metro Manila, Cebu City and Davao, as well as emerging destinations such as Panglao, Mactan and Palawan. This geographic diversity reflects developers’ efforts to capture the evolving demands of both leisure and business travelers,” according to the report.
“The rise of alternative accommodation models such as condotels, serviced apartments and branded residences, signals a shift in market preferences. These flexible investment options cater to both travelers seeking home-like stays and investors looking for long-term returns,” it says.
The report says of the more than 40,000 hotel rooms in the pipeline, Lapu-Lapu City leads the country with 4,786 keys across 10 projects, averaging 435 keys per accommodation.
Key projects include local brands like Aruga by Rockwell, Hotel 101 and Abaca, along with international brands such as Pullman, Fairfield by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton.
Panglao Island ranked second with 4,401 keys planned across 16 projects. Local projects like Henann, Solea and Modala (expansion) are driving growth, while upcoming international brands include South Palms Resort – MGallery, JW Marriott and Crown Regency Grand Paradise Resort under Radisson Individuals.
Boracay maintains its status as a top tourist destination in the Philippines, with 3,625 keys in the pipeline, ranking third nationwide. DoubleDragon’s Hotel 101 accounts for 1,001 of these keys. Upcoming projects include Fridays Boracay under the Radisson Collection, Henann’s new luxury resort Anali.
Parañaque also attracted significant interest from major local developers. With 2,863 keys in the pipeline, Parañaque leads Metro Manila and ranks fifth nationwide. Notable upcoming projects include the Westside City Resorts by Suntrust Resort Holdings, Hotel Okura Manila Bayshore and Banyan Tree Manila Bay.
Cebu City has 1,929 keys in the pipeline. SMHCC is launching Park Inn by Radisson and Radisson Cebu South Road in 2026. Cebu Landmasters Inc. will introduce Mercure Cebu and Sofitel, while the NUSTAR integrated resort will open its second hotel, the NUSTAR Hotel, managed by Robinsons Hotels & Resorts.
New Clark City ranks sixth nationwide with 1,550 keys in the pipeline, largely driven by Hann Resorts’ projects scheduled to open over the next seven years. These include Banyan Tree Clark, The Westin Clark Resort & Spa and Sofitel Clark. Filinvest is also expanding its portfolio, adding 300 keys with the development of Crimson Clark.
Clark Freeport in Pampanga has 2,098 keys in the pipeline under international brands, including the first Wyndham Garden hotel in the Philippines.
Quezon City has 1,714 keys in the pipeline across six projects. The highly anticipated Hotel 101-Libis, with 702 keys will be the largest hotel in the city. Robinsons’ second Fili Hotel is expected to open within the next two years, following the debut of its high-end Opus Mall. SMHCC will also open a Park Inn by Radisson in the city.
Known as the regional commerce hub in Mindanao, Davao City is set to welcome 1,335 keys in the next four years. By the end of the year, Hotel 101-Davao will add 519 keys. Local developer FTC Group will open its first hospitality venture, Aria Hotel & Residences, situated in the Aeon Tower, the tallest building in Mindanao.
Home to Asia’s 2024 leading tourist attraction Intramuros and other heritage sites, Manila City is set to expand its supply with 1,213 keys. International brands are set to enter Manila in the next five years, with upcoming projects including Citadines Malate.
