Philippine developer Megaworld Corporation has announced an expansion of its hotel portfolio into the provinces of Palawan and Ilocos Norte, with the aim of reaching almost 12,000 rooms nationwide by 2032. The group is simultaneously restructuring its hotel business around two dedicated entities, brought together under the Megaworld Global Hotels and Resorts banner, as the segment establishes itself as the group’s fastest-growing source of recurring revenue in the first half of 2026.
Expansion into new island destinations
The new properties, planned over a five- to seven-year horizon, will combine Megaworld’s in-house hotel brands with international names. The rollout into Palawan and Ilocos Norte will run alongside continued growth in the country’s already-established tourism and business hubs, including Metro Manila, Boracay, Batangas and Cebu. According to the group, this expansion builds on an already dominant position: Megaworld positions itself as the Philippines’ leading hotel developer and operator.
Beyond the opening of new properties, Megaworld is also reorganising its hotel business to prepare for a larger, more internationally oriented operation. To drive this expansion, the group has created Megaworld Global Hotels and Resorts, a structure designed to bring its entire hotel portfolio together under two distinct operating divisions.
Two entities to steer a growing portfolio
Megaworld Hotels and Resorts will oversee the group’s developments in Metro Manila, Boracay, Batangas and Cebu. Megaworld Global Hospitality, meanwhile, will manage the Mövenpick Manila Bay Westside, the group’s largest property, along with the forthcoming Palawan developments and three hotels in Iloilo: the Courtyard by Marriott, the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and the Belmont Hotel Iloilo.
“One of our biggest contributions to nation-building is helping make our tourism industry more dynamic and appealing, especially to foreign visitors. To support this goal, we are undertaking this ambitious effort to strengthen our hotel organisation with respected veterans and innovators from the global hospitality and leisure industry,” said Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, president and chief executive officer of Megaworld.
Hospitality, the group’s fastest-growing recurring revenue driver in H1 2026
Hospitality was Megaworld’s fastest-growing recurring revenue segment in the first half of 2026, with revenue up 11% to PHP 3.1 billion, or around EUR 43.5 million.
This growth was driven by the opening of the 405-room Belmont Hotel Iloilo, the group’s third hotel within its 72-hectare business park in Iloilo. Megaworld says the property is now the largest hotel in Iloilo City by room count, taking the group’s total hotel portfolio in the city to almost 1,000 rooms.
Kevin Tan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Global Group, Megaworld’s parent company, linked the expansion to a broader economic goal: “We see tourism as one of the most powerful drivers of sustainable economic growth. Every hotel we build creates jobs, supports local businesses, draws visitors to new destinations and opens up more opportunities for prosperity in communities. Through the development of our hotel portfolio within Megaworld Global Hotels and Resorts, we want to continue unlocking the Philippines’ immense tourism potential and introduce travellers from around the world to more of our destinations, our culture and Filipino hospitality.”
Two complementary leaders at the helm of the new organisation
The two divisions will be led by Socrates Alvaro, chief executive officer of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, and Anna Vergara, chief executive officer of Megaworld Global Hospitality.
Socrates Alvaro brings nearly two decades of experience in hotel operations and management, having held several leadership roles within Megaworld Hotels and Resorts alongside experience gained in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the Maldives, Thailand and other key Asian destinations. Vergara, for her part, brings more than 32 years’ experience at Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel group, with a career focused on hotel operations, leadership and building high-performing teams.
Megaworld notes that the two executives bring complementary skills to the new organisation, pairing the group’s in-house hotel expertise with international hospitality standards and global brand management, reflecting the partnership forged with Accor for several of the group’s recent openings in the Philippines.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Megaworld targets nearly 12,000 hotel rooms across the Philippines by 2032
Megaworld positions itself as the Philippines’ largest hotel developer and operator
New hotel development planned for Palawan and Ilocos Norte over the next five to seven years
New umbrella entity Megaworld Global Hotels and Resorts created, split into two operating groups, as part of a push toward a bigger, more global hospitality business
Megaworld Global Hospitality to manage Mövenpick Manila Bay Westside plus new Palawan and Iloilo properties
Hospitality revenue up 11% to PHP 3.1 billion (about EUR 43.5 million) in H1 2026
Belmont Hotel Iloilo (405 rooms) now the city’s largest hotel by room count
New leadership: Socrates Alvaro (Megaworld Hotels and Resorts) and Anna Vergara, ex-Marriott International (Megaworld Global Hospitality)
