Megaworld, Accor Partner to Rebrand Cebu Hotel

Megaworld Corp. is teaming up with global hospitality leader Accor to elevate the operations and branding of its homegrown hotels, starting with a major rebrand in Cebu.

Through its hospitality arm, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the property giant announced a new franchise agreement that will convert Belmont Hotel Mactan into Mercure Mactan Cebu this year.

The partnership marks a significant expansion of Megaworld’s 13-property portfolio, which currently includes nearly 7,000 rooms across key tourism hubs such as Metro Manila, Cebu, Boracay, and Tagaytay.

Accor, which manages over 5,600 hotels in 110 countries under brands such as Sofitel, Pullman, and Mövenpick, will lend its operational standards and global reservation system to selected Megaworld hotel brands.

Guests at the rebranded Mercure Mactan Cebu will also gain access to Accor’s global loyalty program, ALL ACCOR, which offers point accruals and other travel perks.

“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,” she said.

Albiso said the hotel will enhance the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City as a destination and will help “drive tourism growth and stimulate the local economy.”

Andrew Langdon, Accor’s chief development officer for Asia, said the partnership aligns with the company’s regional growth strategy.

“We are accelerating the growth of our Premium, Midscale & Economy Division with a focused strategy to expand in sought-after destinations across Asia,” Langdon said.

He noted the strategic value of Mactan-Cebu International Airport as one of the country’s leading travel gateways and praised Megaworld’s record of “uplifting communities and contributing to national progress.”

The rebranding signals a broader expansion ahead, as Megaworld plans to open seven more hotels in Palawan, Pampanga, Bacolod, and Iloilo within the next three years, increasing its room count to 9,000.

Among the upcoming properties are Savoy Hotel Palawan, Belmont Hotel Iloilo, Kingsford Hotel Bacolod, and Chancellor Hotel Boracay.

In 2023, Megaworld opened the 1,530-room Grand Westside Hotel in Parañaque City, the country’s largest hotel development by room count, reinforcing its lead in the domestic hospitality sector.