Widus, Marriott forge $60-M Clark hotel deal

CLARK FREEPORT—The third Marriott-branded hotel in the Philippines is opening in this premiere economic hub in 2017.

The construction of the Marriott at Clark was made possible by Korean-led Widus International Leisure Inc., owner of Widus Hotel & Casino here, when it assigned to the Renaissance Hotels International Corp. Ltd. the management of the $60-million project.

Rising on a 3.2-hectare land beside Widus, The Marriott in Clark consists of 260 rooms in a 15-story tower designed for so-called millennial customers.

“I am confident this will bring a lot of growth in and around Clark,” Daesik Han, president and chief executive officer of Widus, said after he and Baldwin Chua, director for Marriott International Inc. Asia-Pacific’s hotel development, signed the contract here on Oct. 30.

Tapping Marriott to run the five-star hotel ensures “excellent service with consistency,” Han said.

The development of the Clark International Airport, he said, is a “determining factor” in the second expansion of Widus in Clark and the growth of the tourism sector.

From operating Hotel Vida here in 2008, Widus opened a second tower, improved the casino and built a multi-function 600-seat convention center that hosted key events, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings this year.

Chua said Marriott would bring proven systems, support and services, and deep knowledge and experience in managing award-winning hotel brands around the world.

“We are honored that Widus chose us to manage their latest hotel and we are committed to making The Marriott at Clark the most successful hotel in Clark in terms of innovative concepts and offerings, and attentive guest care that translates to consistently delightful guest experiences, a value that we share with Widus Hotel & Casino,” Chua said.

The Marriott at Clark, added Han, is “a final cap to our vision of being the preferred one-stop leisure destination.”

Arthur Tugade, president and chief executive officer of the Clark Development Corp., a government agency that oversees the conversion of Clark from military into civilian use, called the partnership of Widus and Marriott a “marriage of titans.”

As Tugade assured the two business firms of a secure environment as well as stable supply of power and water at reasonable prices, he urged them to put in place a training program to generate jobs for locals.