Megaworld partners with Accor to boost local hotel portfolio, expand reach

Insider Spotlight:

• Megaworld taps Accor for operations, guest service, and loyalty platform
• Belmont Mactan to rebrand as Mercure Mactan Cebu by end-2025
• First tie-up marks Accor’s expansion in Philippine midscale market
• 13 Megaworld hotels in operation, 7 more set to open in 3 years
• Total room count to hit 9,000 across 20 hotels by 2028

Megaworld Corp. is partnering with French hospitality giant Accor to scale up the reach and competitiveness of its homegrown hotel brands, with plans to introduce international standards in operations, reservations, and loyalty rewards across select properties under its Megaworld Hotels & Resorts unit.

Why it matters: 

The collaboration marks a strategic shift for Megaworld, the country’s largest operator of Filipino hotel brands, as it moves to compete more aggressively in a post-pandemic tourism market that increasingly values both global brand recognition and localized service delivery.

The details:

The partnership will see Accor take on the operational framework for select Megaworld hotel properties. These hotels will gain access to Accor’s global guest services infrastructure and be integrated into the “ALL ACCOR” loyalty program, enabling guests to earn points and perks.

The transition will begin with Belmont Hotel Mactan, which will be rebranded as Mercure Mactan Cebu within the year. Located in the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, the rebranding will bring the property under one of Accor’s key midscale hotel chains.

“We are honored to collaborate with a top-notch hospitality group like Accor,” said Cleofe Albiso, managing director of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts. “With Mercure Mactan Cebu, we aim to redefine Cebu’s tourism landscape by combining our group’s local expertise with Accor’s global leadership in hospitality.”

Zoom out: 

Accor’s entry into the Philippine midscale hotel segment coincides with a surge in leisure and business travel, particularly in gateway locations like Cebu. The company’s expansion strategy focuses on “bleisure” (business and leisure) travel hubs across Asia.

“The Philippines remains a vital market for us,” said Andrew Langdon, Accor’s chief development officer for Asia. “With Mactan-Cebu International Airport among the country’s leading gateways, Cebu is fast emerging as a preferred destination.”

Between the lines:

While Megaworld is not relinquishing ownership of its hotels, it is leveraging Accor’s brand equity and systems to upgrade service delivery and align with international travel trends. It also signals a shift toward asset-light strategies increasingly used in hospitality.

What’s next:

The company expects to expand its hotel footprint to 20 properties and 9,000 rooms over the next three years. New hotels are scheduled to rise in Palawan, Pampanga, Bacolod, and Iloilo. This follows the opening of the 1,530-room Grand Westside Hotel in Parañaque last year—the country’s largest in terms of capacity.

By the numbers:

Megaworld Hotels & Resorts currently operates 13 properties with around 7,000 rooms, including brands like Richmonde, Belmont, and Savoy, spread across major destinations such as Metro Manila, Boracay, Cebu, and Tagaytay.

The bottom line:

Megaworld’s tie-up with Accor marks a strategic push to scale its hotel business with international best practices while remaining anchored in local property development. It’s a move aimed at future-proofing its hospitality portfolio amid rising global and domestic travel demand.