BIZ BUZZ: Michelin Star chef at Newport World

A renowned multi-Michelin Star celebrity chef is set to open his first-ever restaurant in the Philippines at Newport World Resorts next year, becoming only the second concept under its brand to open outside its country of origin.

This dining concept considered as one of the hottest dining experiences in the world today, is expected to open its doors to the public by the second quarter of 2024.

This exciting development forms part of the epic transformation of Newport World Resorts, which now celebrates its identity as a 100-percent Filipino-owned integrated resort.

Newport World Resorts is part of the 25-hectare master-planned Newport City township in Pasay City, strategically located across the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport—another concern that the empire’s young head honcho Kevin Tan has on his increasingly full plate nowadays, but that’s an issue to be tackled another day.

Newport World Resorts also boasts of luxury retail brands; world-class live entertainment venues, including the 1,700-seater Newport Performing Arts Theatre; over 70 restaurants and dining outlets; a massive casino complex that spans two wings, and variety of locations for MICE (that’s tourism industry shorthand for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibits), surrounded by an upscale residential community.

Newport World Resorts also features five renowned international hotel brands, collectively offering the greatest number of hotel room keys in a single property.

As for the Michelin star celebrity chef, Biz Buzz cannot exactly say who he is right now, but you can catch him on some reality cooking shows on television, often berating—ok, maybe “berating” is too harsh —maybe “aggressively encouraging” contestants to raise their culinary game. That clue is a giveaway, right?

—Daxim L. Lucas

Who holds the truth card?

Something’s heating up in businessman Dennis Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., but it’s definitely not fuel.

Reports have been circulating that Phoenix plans on retrenching some of its employees to plug the company’s losses, which amounted to P2.066 billion in the first half of 2023 alone.

This is substantially wider than the P62.11 million recorded in the same period last year, and probably the reason why there are talks of retrenchments.

Phoenix tells Biz Buzz, however, that none of these rumors are actually true.

“The recent news alleging that a round of retrenchment is oncoming at Phoenix is untrue,” the company said in a text message.

Pressed to verify the statements it had reportedly released saying that retrenchment “is reasonably necessary and likely to prevent business losses,” Phoenix reiterated: “We don’t have any planned/approved retrenchment as we speak.”

So who’s actually holding the truth card? Are Phoenix employees in danger of losing their jobs in a company that’s already bleeding? We’ll know soon enough (hopefully). Abangan!

—Meg J. Adonis