Ryan Chen, Dusit International group director of development and Suphajee Suthumpun, Dusit International Group CEO pose beside the scale model of Dusit Thani Resort Mactan
Gokongwei-led Robinsons Land Corp. has signed a deal with Thailand-based global hospitality group Dusit International to open a 271-room beachfront luxury hotel-resort at the northern peninsula of Mactan, Island in Cebu by 2019.
Dusit Thani Resort Mactan Cebu Resort will be the third property in the Philippines to carry the Thai brand after Dusit Thani Manila in Makati and the pioneering Dusit Hospitality Management College which will open in BGC next year.
Suphajee Suthumpun, Dusit International Group chief executive officer, said in an interview on Friday that upon full development, the five-star Mactan hotel property would have a total of 550 rooms.
The Mactan resort-hotel also marks Dusit’s debut in Cebu but the group has two other upcoming hotels in Cebu’s city center. “This is our first hotel in Cebu to be operational,” she said.
After opening 271 rooms by 2019, the next phase of development will expand hotel rooms to 550 in subsequent years. For the first phase, 92 out of 271 guest rooms will consist of serviced apartments which will cater to longer-staying guests.
“Mactan Island has potential to further become a greater tourism destination and what better way than to partner with an international 5-star hotel partner as Dusit Thani to manage our upscale resort development,” RLC president Frederick Go said.
The upcoming beachfront hotel targets leisure and business travellers. The 271 guest rooms will be spread across three buildings adjacent to RLC’s AmiSa private residences.
The hotel property has a waterfront area of 360 square meters – the longest beachfront among resorts in Mactan.
Facilities will include a luxury spa, a fully-equipped fitness centre, an executive lounge, three restaurant outlets with al-fresco and private dining, a large infinity pool and over 1,200 square meters of meeting space.
Mactan Island is located a few kilometers from Cebu in the Central Visayas region and is known for its luxury tourism industry. Surrounded by coral, the island is suitable for diving and snorkeling and has a vibrant sailing community. It is also home to the only aquarium attraction in the Visayas.
Cebu is served by Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), which is currently undergoing a P17.5 billion-expansion to have its capacity upgraded from 4.5 million to 12.5 million passengers. This year, Cebu is expected to have about 10 million tourists arrivals, up by 12 percent from last year.
The upcoming Dusit hotel in Mactan is about 30 minutes by car from the airport, via the Punta Engano Road.
“Partnering with hotel owners in key markets such as the Philippines is essential to Dusit International’s long term sustainable and profitable growth,” said Dusit International’s chief operating officer, Mr Lim Boon Kwee. “Robinsons Land Corp.’s reputation for quality developments is second to none, and we are delighted they have chosen us to manage their property, which we look forward to making a huge success under our esteemed Dusit Thani brand.”
Dusit International currently operates 29 properties in key destinations around the globe with a further 51 projects confirmed to open within the next three years. Alongside Dusit Thani, other brands in the company’s international portfolio include Dusit Devarana, dusitD2 and Dusit Princess.