Nelson Morales

Ayala Land Hospitality eyes $500-M capex in next 5 years

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Ayala Land Hospitality on Tuesday unveiled fresh versions for its resorts and other leisure properties, just as it announced a $500-million capital expenditure for its portfolio in the next 5 years.Mariana Zobel de Ayala, senior vice president for leasing and hospitality at Ayala Land Inc., showed the media a glimpse of a refreshed version for their high-end resorts and hotels such as Seda and Lagen under El Nido resorts.Top executives said the resorts would be reinvented. The new Lagen Island Resort in El Nido, for example, will showcase a new fitness and wellness spa when it opens during the third quarter of 2025.“Lagen is undergoing an incredible transformation. We will position it as a beacon of Filipino design on a global scale. This is a multidisciplinary coordination. The project is exemplary and narrative-driven design,” said Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Hospitality’s creative director.Lagen’s transformation, she said, will “elevate the guest experience” and make it truly notable for its $1,500 price point.<div>$500-M CAPEX</div>Asked about Ayala Land Hospitality’s $500-million capital expenditure and its risks, Zobel de Ayala told ABS-CBN News she was positive for the goal.She cited data from the Tourism department showing that tourist arrivals may reach 12 million by 2028.“Our first priority really is to be able to drive up value in Ayala Land estates so that’s places like Makati, Arillo that is a place in Cebu, we have secured a property for a hotel in Mactan as well as in Bataan,” she said in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News.“For us, we’re really excited about what we could do just in Ayala Land estates. The priority is to see how we would be able to add value to our land estates but secondary is thinking about what areas have strong international arrivals.  Zobel de Ayala said the rebrand aims to cater to leisure travelers, as the Philippines attracts a “new wave” of tourists.“We felt that Ayala Land Hospitality better captures… beyond just hotels and resorts but really about how to bring the best of Filipino hospitality to the fore,” she said.  Ayala Land Hospitality President and CEO George Aquino said the renovated resorts and hotels might affect its price point, but he assured the public that this would be worth it.“As we mentioned during the media launch, we see a growth in Seda portfolio particularly driven by our renovation. With Lagen, we expect that rate will really match the product we are offering, the quality and services there would really be world class,” Aquino said.Aside from this, he said the newly renovated resorts would bank on Filipino culture, food and beverage, and the quality of service they offer in a bid to attract more international travelers.

Ayala Land Hospitality unveiled fresh versions for its resorts just as it announced a $500-million capital expenditure in the next 5 years.

Ayala Land Hospitality unveiled fresh versions for its resorts just as it announced a $500-million capital expenditure in the next 5 years.