Insider Spotlight
This positions Cebu as a national leader in sustainable tourism and dining.
Why it matters
This collective pledge is the most ambitious hospitality sustainability initiative by any Philippine province. By making plant-based dining a core part of their operations, Cebu’s hotels aim to significantly lower their environmental impact while offering healthier options to guests.
Who’s on board
Ten hotels have adopted local sustainability targets, including:
Meanwhile, five more hotels are rolling out group-wide policies, such as Citadines Cebu City, Lyf Cebu, and Somerset Cebu under
The Ascott Limited Philippines, the first hotel group in the country with a nationwide 30 percent plant-based commitment.
Holiday Inn Cebu City follows IHG Philippines’ 30 percent pledge, while Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu aligns with Accor’s 50 percent plant-based global policy.
What they’re saying
“Cebu’s hospitality has always been about caring for people and our community, and this commitment extends that care to the environment,” Mia Singson-León, general manager of Quest Hotel Cebu and President of the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu Inc., said in a press release on Oct. 13, 2025.
“That’s why this collective shift is more than just a tick in the box for all of us. We are serious about expanding sustainable choices that care for both our guests and the planet.”
“The hospitality leaders in Cebu have shown remarkable vision in embracing plant-based initiatives,” said Marielle Lagulay, sustainability program manager at Lever Foundation. “They clearly see why this shift is important and why action must be taken now."
The big picture
Studies by the United Nations and World Health Organization show that plant-based foods emit fewer greenhouse gases, use less land and water, and reduce food waste, helping the tourism sector shrink its environmental footprint. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
