The next hotel stay in the Philippines may take travelers farther from the country’s traditional tourism centers. As new accommodation projects move into emerging destinations, hotel development is reaching more parts of the country, with connectivity and regional tourism playing a growing role in where new investments are going.
The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) presented the 2026 Philippine Accommodation Pipeline Report during a media launch on September 15. The report tracked 213 projects scheduled to open from 2026 to 2032, representing 45,884 room keys and PHP 387 billion in committed capital.
A wider map for hotel investment
The figures point to a hospitality market extending beyond the country’s established urban and resort destinations. According to the report, the pipeline represents a 14% increase in room keys, while the number of projects has grown 35% from 158 in 2024.
Committed investment has also risen 55% compared with two years ago. The projects are expected to generate more than 64,000 direct hotel jobs.
Expansion is also reaching destinations such as Baguio, New Clark City, Cagayan de Oro, and Siargao, indicating a broader spread of hotel development across the country.
Alfred Lay, director of Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure at LPC, presented the pipeline’s outlook on future room supply and brand rollouts across the country.
Why connectivity matters
The movement of investment into new locations is closely linked to accessibility. Cebu was selected as the venue for the third Cebu Hotel Connect because of its strong connectivity and its role as a major economic and tourism hub in the southern Philippines.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport handled nearly 12 million passengers last year, while Cebu welcomed roughly 5.5 million tourists, accounting for nearly 80% of Central Visayas’ 6.9 million arrivals.
Held on September 24 and 25 at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort with the theme The Southern Boom: Expanding Hotel Investment Opportunities Across Visayas and Mindanao, Cebu Hotel Connect 2026 drew more than 150 hotel owners, investors, developers, government officials, and tourism stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities across the Visayas and Mindanao.
Leechiu also noted that hotel investments are increasingly clustering around economic corridors, international gateways, and destinations with direct international flights. This comes as developers contend with higher construction costs and tighter financing, while infrastructure, air connectivity, and tourism planning remain important to the sector’s expansion.
More choices for regional travelers
Homegrown operators are also expanding beyond established markets. Discovery Hospitality highlighted plans involving Siargao, El Nido, and Camiguin, while noting that 50% of its properties are in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The group is also preparing Kip and Kin, a mid-range brand aimed at millennial travelers, with three new regional openings planned over the next two years.
With hotel projects extending into more destinations, the country’s accommodation pipeline offers a view of how investment is moving beyond traditional tourism centers and into emerging markets across the Philippines.
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