The Visayas is emerging as the Philippines’ busiest hotel investment market outside Metro Manila, with international brands lining up projects in Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, and Iloilo through 2029.
Nearly 60 percent of new foreign-branded hotels scheduled to open outside the National Capital Region from 2026 to 2029 are expected to rise in the four Visayas destinations, according to Colliers Philippines.
The pipeline includes recently completed and upcoming properties such as Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue, JW Marriott Panglao, Park Inn by Radisson Cebu, Sofitel Cebu, Pullman Cebu Mactan, Citadines Mactan Cebu, and Somerset Gorordo.
“The entry of globally recognized hotel brands strengthens Visayas’ position as one of the country’s most active hotel investment destinations outside Metro Manila,” Joey Bondoc, director for research at Colliers Philippines, said.
The expansion is not being driven by leisure travelers alone.
Bondoc said the arrival of international hotel brands also reinforces the Visayas’ credentials as a business destination, particularly in Cebu, Bacolod, and Iloilo, where growing corporate activity is supporting demand from expatriates and business travelers.
Tourism numbers provide another reason investors are checking in.
Government data showed the Philippines recorded 63.9 million overnight travelers in 2024, up from 55.3 million a year earlier. Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, and Iloilo accounted for 9.6 million travelers, or about 15 percent of the national total.
The growing hotel pipeline has yet to significantly weaken occupancy levels.
Cebu posted average occupancy of nearly 70 percent in the first half of 2026, while Bacolod and Iloilo recorded rates ranging from 55 percent to 65 percent, suggesting that demand has continued to absorb new rooms.
Colliers expects domestic tourism, the continuing recovery in international travel, and expanding meetings and events activity to support hotel performance across the region.
Infrastructure could provide another lift. Airport modernization projects in Bacolod and Iloilo are expected to expand passenger capacity and improve connectivity, making the two cities more accessible to tourists, investors, and business travelers.
For hotel investors, the Visayas is increasingly offering a broader proposition than beaches and weekend getaways. The region is building a deeper mix of tourism, corporate activity, conventions, and regional commerce.
The growing presence of global hotel brands suggests investors are positioning themselves for that shift well before the next guest checks in.
