Latest news with #Bohol
Hospitality Net
05-07-2025
- Hospitality Net
MGallery Collection to Showcase Local Culture & Nature in Enchanting Bohol
South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao - MGallery Collection will open its doors on 8th August 2025, introducing a new era of luxury hospitality and local storytelling to Bohol, the biologically diverse and heritage-rich island province in the Philippines. With its blend of tropical scenery, cultural charm, and natural beauty - including vibrant coral reefs, the mysterious UNESCO-listed Chocolate Hills, and a tarsier conservation sanctuary - Bohol has the potential to become Southeast Asia's next dream destination. This makes it the perfect fit for MGallery Collection, which strives to tell intriguing stories in one-of-a-kind locations. Nestled on Bohol's most beautiful beach, less than 5km from Bohol-Panglao International Airport, South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao - MGallery Collection lets guests explore the exotic wonders of this idyllic island, above and beneath the waves. Sustainable Luxury, Inspired by the Spirit of Nature Inspired by the legend of Sirenna, the "spirit of the sea" and guardian of Bohol, South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao - MGallery Collection captures the cultural essence of this aquatic wonderland. The waters beyond the beach are crystal-clear, and guests can swim out among tropical fish and colourful corals that shimmer in the sunlight. Then, a mysterious sunken plane rests peacefully on the seabed - guarded, according to Boholano folklore, by local spirits. Guided by these myths and legends, industry-leading architects and interior artists, including Patricia Ho of White Jacket, Philip Pond of Atelier Pond, and Patrick Keane of Enter Projects Asia, came together to craft a captivating design concept that tells the story of Bohol's time-honoured traditions, folk tales, tribal roots, and agricultural heritage. Having entered through a dramatic archway of entwined vines and branches, visitors are greeted in a light-filled lobby in the shade of a majestic banyan tree. Every low-rise building is crafted to respect traditional architecture, using locally sourced materials, flowing shapes and indigenous designs that blur the boundaries with nature. The iconic Walk Bridge is a spiralled walkway, while the heady fragrance of the lemongrass garden floats throughout the open-planned resort. Each of the 188 rooms and suites is a luxurious sanctuary, rooted in biophilic design and Boholano storytelling, with rustic-chic interiors that feature handwoven headboards, bamboo accents, rattan lighting, and coconut wood furnishings. Sensory Experiences to Connect with the Local Culture Guests, and families in particular, can embark on meaningful, low-impact journeys infused with the spirit of Bohol. Reef snorkelling, diving at the nearby planewreck, serene spa treatments, family activities, and authentic rituals are all enriched with the personal warmth of Filipino hospitality. Just 1km from the resort, the working farm lets eco-conscious explorers embrace the art of sustainable island living, with animal feeding and workshops, and close encounters with friendly carabao (local water buffalo). Diverse dining can be savoured at four restaurants & bars, young guests can enjoy fun-filled days at a colourful kids' club, and a striking pavilion and alfresco lawn set the stage for exceptional events, including weddings. Signature MGallery Moment - The Timeless Crystal of Bohol Under MGallery's signature M Moments experiences, which are designed to provide a connection with the artisan traditions of the destination, guests can discover "The Timeless Crystal of Bohol" - asin tibuok - a rare type of sea salt that is only found in this part of the Philippines. An exclusive excursion transports guests through the time-honoured process of producing this unique product. To be among the first people in the world to experience South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao - MGallery Collection, guests can enjoy an exclusive "Elite Access" offer, which is available to book from 4th July, for stays between 8th August and 31st October 2025. This rewarding promotion includes PHP 3,000 in resort credit, which can be redeemed for dining experiences and leisure activities. ALL and Accor Plus members will receive additional benefits. To book, please email [email protected], call +63 038 507 0010, or reserve your stay here. Hotel website
Skift
03-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Fairmont Enters Japan Market With Tokyo Property
STR reported China hotel data for the week ended June 28th. Hotel RevPAR in China was down 2.8% year-over-year. Last week's RevPAR numbers were up against what should have been an easy comp of down 9.4% in the year-ago week. Last week's occupancy was down 2.8% while ADR fell 0.4% y/y. Thailand's foreign tourism arrivals declined by nearly 4.6% in the first six months of 2025. The Tourism and Sports Ministry said foreign visitors totaled 16.61 million from January 1 to June 29, down 4.56% year-on-year. China dropped from the top spot due to the big decline from that source, now in second place behind Malaysia, with just 2.25 million arrivals in 1H25. The Bank of Thailand cut its forecast for foreign tourist arrivals in 2025 from 37.5 million to 35 million. This compares to nearly 40 million arrivals back in 2019. Chinese visitation is down about 30% from where it was pre-Covid. The South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao, operated by Accor's MGallery Collection, is set to open in August, introducing a new luxury resort experience in Bohol, Philippines. The 188-room resort is located on Panglao Island's beachfront, just five kilometers from Bohol-Panglao International Airport. The property features a spiraled Walk Bridge, a banyan-tree-inspired lobby, and rustic-chic rooms with bamboo, rattan, and coconut wood accents. There are four restaurants and a signature MGallery 'M Moment' experience featuring asin tibuok, a rare artisanal sea salt unique to Bohol. Filinvest Hospitality Corp said it is looking to open 60 refurbished rooms at its five-star Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan in Cebu this year. The two phases of the room renovations should be finished by the end of this year. Filinvest Hospitality is looking to elevate the Crimson brand across all its properties. It manages seven hotels with a total of 1,800 rooms under brands like Crimson and Quest. By year-end, it will open the 256-room Grafik Hotel Collection Baguio and plans to break ground on the 300-room Crimson Clark Hotel in Pampanga this year. Its goal is to open about 2,000 new rooms by 2029. Dusit Hotels and Resorts announced the dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives will soft open this month. This is the group's first all-inclusive lifestyle resort and second Dusit-branded property in the country, complementing the luxury Dusit Thani Maldives. The soft opening will begin on July 27th. The resort is located on a pristine natural island just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Male. The upscale resort features 127 spacious villas across seven distinct categories, ranging from 77 to 306 square meters. Each villa includes indoor-outdoor living spaces, private decks, and most have plunge pools. It's all-inclusive concept offers a la carte dining across five distinctive venues, unlimited premium beverages, daily entertainment, and resort credits for personalized indulgence. The dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives includes the Namm Spa, rooftop bar, full-service conference facility, and more. The resort is scheduled to celebrate its official grand opening in Q4 2025. Fairmont Tokyo celebrated its grand opening on July 1 in Minato Ward, Tokyo. This is Fairmont's first property in Japan, occupying the upper floors of the 43-story Blue Front Shibaura tower in Tokyo's Minato Ward. The property offers 217 rooms and suites, an infinity pool, spa, and gym, and five dining venues. The launch comes amid a sharp uptick in upscale hotel developments across Japan. Next year, Mitsui Fudosan plans to open the Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi, and there are many similar projects underway across the country. Japan's luxury hotel market size reached US$7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $10 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group. Enford Hotel in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, will officially open the largest outdoor infinity pool in the central region on July 18th. SOLEADO is an open infinity pool that is located on the fifth floor of the hotel and includes six private cabanas, food and beverage options, and more. Oswal Group's realty firm, Vardhman Amrante Pvt. Ltd., will invest Rs 260 crore to build a hotel in Ludhiana, Punjab in India. Marriott International will manage the 200-key hospitality project under the Westin Hotels & Resorts brand. The 5-star hotel will be the largest hotel property in the city, part of a seven-acre commercial project with a total development potential area of 17 lakh square feet. Construction will start next year with an opening in the last quarter of 2030. Indian Hotel Company Ltd. announced the disinvestment/sale of its 100% shareholding in Leanluxe Hospitality by its Roots Corporation. The sale is to sugar daddy Tata Sons. Indian Hotels also announced the signing of a Ginger hotel in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The greenfield project is being developed by JK Urbanscapes Developers Limited. The 100-key Ginger Kanpur will be located near Kamala Cricket Club and will feature Ginger's signature Qmin as well as a bar, meeting room, and fitness center. With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 34 hotels in Uttar Pradesh, including 21 under development. Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of D Square Statue of Unity Kevadia, a member of Radisson Individuals. The hotel is strategically located in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, in close proximity to Ekta Nagar Railway Station. IHG Hotels & Resorts signed an agreement with Thanishq Hospitality to develop a 200-key hotel, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Electronic City, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2029. IHG currently has 48 hotels operating across six brands in India, and a strong pipeline of 63 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.
South China Morning Post
30-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
As Philippines tourism slumps, soul-searching begins: ‘not a priority Asean destination'?
A viral social media thread lamenting the Philippines ' seventh-place ranking for tourist arrivals in Southeast Asia has sparked soul-searching among Filipinos, who blame poor infrastructure, high costs and weak accessibility – even as experts say the country is quietly shifting towards a more sustainable, higher-value model of tourism. Advertisement The online uproar began with a widely shared post by content creator Thea Tan, who wrote on social media earlier this month: 'The Philippines has what other countries dream of: jaw-dropping beaches, vibrant culture, incredible food, and the warmest locals. So, why are tourists still choosing Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali over us?' Tan cited figures from the Outbox Company, a Vietnam-based travel intelligence firm, showing that the Philippines attracted just 2.1 million of Southeast Asia's 48.5 million tourist arrivals in the first four months of this year. Malaysia led the region with 13.4 million visitors, while Thailand had 12.09 million and Vietnam welcomed 7.67 million tourists in the same period, official data from the countries showed. In 2024, the Philippines received 5.9 million visitors – narrowly trailing Cambodia 's 6.7 million and well short of its target of 7.7 million, according to government statistics. Tourists at Chocolate Hills in Bohol province in the Philippines. Only 5.7 million tourists visited the country in 2024, well short of the government target of 7.7 million. Photo: Shutterstock While Tan acknowledged recent gains in spending and average length of stay, she said these 'small wins don't hide the bigger truth: the [Philippines] is still not a priority Asean destination'. She described the country as 'exhausting' due to inadequate transport infrastructure and access.
