Ayala Land Plans $500 Million Hotel Expansion

Ayala Land Inc. plans to spend over $500 million over the next five years to double its hotel room capacity to 8,000 by 2030. Ayala plans to expand its home-grown brands in the Philippines and engage other international brands to expand its portfolio from premium economy to luxury hotels. AyalaLand Hospitality is also looking to build a five-star hotel in Cebu and another in Batangas, which will have 400 to 600 rooms. The group's priority is to expand its hotel and resort portfolio, within their existing estate developments and in areas with international flights. The Philippines Department of Tourism is expecting international visitor arrivals to reach 12 million by 2028. Ayala also sees domestic tourists driving growth, creating demand for a broader range of accommodations. Ayala also plans to upgrade and refurbish existing hotels and resorts. They have begun upgrading three Seda hotels in Bonifacio Global City, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, with the hotels to reopen within the year. The group is also slated to reopen Lagen Resort in El Nido, Palawan. The company now has more than 4,000 hotel rooms across 15 locations.

Marriott's W Hotels brands unveiled the renovation of W Maldives. The transformation encompassed newly designed rooms, suites, restaurants, and cocktail concepts, along with the brand's signature WET Deck. 77 villas have been reimagined into stylish hideaways. Overwater villas take cues from the patterns of majestic whale sharks, while beach villas channel the textures of mangroves. The first-ever Supreme Overwater Two Bedroom Villas and Oasis Overwater Two Bedroom Villas are available for larger groups. They also added two new Oasis Two Bedroom Beach Villas each featuring water slides that connect the second floor to a private pool. The dining venues and bars have been redesigned as has the AWAY Spa.

Dusit International signed a hotel management agreement with PT Komodo Property Management to manage Kaliwatu Residences – Dusit Collection, a new luxury retreat in Labuan Bajo, Flores Island in Indonesia. This is Dusit's first Dusit Collection branded hotel in the country, located on the western tip of Flores, 10 minutes by car from Komodo International Airport and the town of Badjo. The property is being developed in phases, with the full completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2028. When complete, it will feature 63 private villas with plunge pools, 194 contemporary apartments, and a clubhouse housing a restaurant, bars, shops, a gym, spa and rooftop swimming pool. With this addition, Dusit's portfolio totals 296 properties across 18 countries, with 57 under Dusit Hotels and Resortsand 239 villas under Elite Havens.

Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong Group has invested in a project in Phuket worth 4.5 billion baht via joint ventures with a local developer. Sudara Residences Phuket is a condo project under a joint venture partnership in the Bangtao area between Lan Kwai Fong Group and Princess Villa. The first phase will feature 220 units, with 25% of that phase already sold out. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026, with transfers in 2027. Renting out condo units in Thailand is still illegal, so they are not planning to acquire a hotel license but will focus on long stays of more than a month.

The Xcape River Kwai Hotel in Kanchanabun, Thailand, has unveiled a bold rebrand. The owner of the hotel, Thienchai Techawatanasuk, in partnership with Unicorn Hospitality, has redefined The Xcape River Kwai Hotel as a bold lifestyle destination infused with fun, adventure and creative spirit. The hotel blends innovative design, dynamic social spaces and curated experiences. Unicorn Hospitality now oversees the full management of the property.

Ananda Development announced Mira Valley, a luxury residential project spanning 8,000 acres of Phuket's largest untouched forest. The property is located between Kamala Mountain and Bang Niao Dum Reservoir. The $1.4 billion development will be completed in phases. The first phase encompasses 55 acres, with over 20% meeting LEED platinum criteria, ecologically preserved under the concept "Hidden Valley – Nature's Backyard." The Sandals & Boots Club is at the heart of the project, a social hub designed for all generations with a luxurious pool, fitness center with steam, sauna, ice bath recovery facilities, tennis courts, multi-purpose sports facilities, a cozy café and gourmet restaurant. Residential options include the Anann Villas, 12 private pool villas, along with Mount Mono luxury villas and Punyisa Pachira. The development also offers exclusive land parcels for your dream villas and Town Square, a lifestyle hub with boutique retail outlets.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp is advancing land acquisition for its planned third Solaire-branded integrated resort in Paniman, Ternate, Cavite in the Philippines. Solaire Properties Corp acquired 223 lots covering a total of 2.04 million square meters as of December 31. The Paniman property is expected to be another integrated resort and entertainment complex including a casino, hotel, golf course, commercial, residential and a mixed-use development. No timeline has been named but Bloomberry said it aims to develop and open the property within the next five to ten years.

Haig Court in Shanghai, China, has been reborn as a luxury serviced apartment under the management of Jin Jiang Radisson Hotels. Haig Court officially reopened after a renovation aimed at blending heritage charm with modern sophistication. Originally built in the 1920s, it was first designed as an upscale residential apartment complex. In 1977 it was converted into the Jing'An Hotel and now, in 2025, it has been reimagined to offer elevated urban living as a premium accommodation option offering an exclusive residential experience. Haig Court now offers 62 residences with the apartments ranging from 44 square meter studios to an expansive 257 square meter penthouse, each equipped with separate living, dining and sleeping areas. Amenities include high-end business and wellness facilities, personalized concierge services and exclusive butler services and laundry facilities.

Absolute Hotel Services Group announced its expansion into Malaysia by signing a management agreement under the Absolute Collection with Country Heights Holdings Berhad. AHS will oversee the redevelopment and relaunch of the legendary Palace of the Golden Horses in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Palace of the Golden Horses features 470 rooms and suites, multiple world-class restaurants and bars, 20 versatile meeting and banquet spaces, along with state of the art wellness, fitness and medical facilities. AHS will assist the owners in renovations and operations with the revitalization to have a relaunch in 2026. AHS recently signed The Mines Resort & Golf Club under Absolute Golf Services and that is an important element of the same large facility. AHS also is developing the Silver Horses Hotel in Malaysia which will feature 330 rooms when it opens in 2026.