Philippine Hotel Connect 2026 Brings Hospitality Leaders to Cebu for Southern Philippines Investment Summit

Cebu is set to welcome some of the Philippines’ most influential hospitality executives, investors, developers, and tourism stakeholders as the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) stages the third edition of Philippine Hotel Connect.

The two-day event will take place on September 24 and 25, 2026, at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort in Lapu-Lapu City. Themed “Southern Boom: Expanding Hotel Investment Opportunities Across Visayas and Mindanao,” the summit will bring together around 150 industry leaders to discuss investment opportunities, tourism growth, technology, sustainability, and the future of hospitality in the southern Philippines.

The event will be keynoted by Department of Tourism Secretary Maria Bernardita Angara-Mathay. Also expected to join the opening ceremonies are Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Maria Cynthia King-Chan, and Cebu Provincial Governor Pamela Baricuatro.

Why Cebu Was Chosen as the Host City

According to PHOA Executive Director Benito Bengzon Jr., Cebu was selected because of its rapid development and strategic role as an economic, tourism, and transportation hub in the southern Philippines.

Cebu has attracted a growing number of international hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Ascott, Radisson, Accor, Dusit, Marco Polo, and Shangri-La. The metropolitan area is also expected to add around 4,000 hotel rooms in the coming years, underscoring continued confidence in the destination’s tourism and business potential.

The conference will examine how this growth can translate into new partnerships and investment opportunities across the Visayas and Mindanao.

Samantha Manigsaca Leads the Organizing Committee

AppleOne Property Inc. Vice President for Hospitality Samantha Manigsaca chairs the organizing committee for Cebu Hotel Connect 2026.

Manigsaca was appointed during PHOA’s annual general membership meeting in June, where she was also elected to the organization’s board of directors.

At 29, she is the youngest member of the PHOA board. Her international hospitality experience includes positions at The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, JW Marriott Hong Kong, Marriott Hotel Manila, and The Westin Manila.

She graduated cum laude from Enderun Colleges and earned an MBA with distinction in Global Hospitality Management from Les Roches Crans Montana in Switzerland.

Manigsaca said Cebu Hotel Connect aims to provide a platform for building long-term partnerships while exploring opportunities arising from Cebu’s expanding connectivity and growing MICE tourism sector.

AppleOne’s Growing Hospitality Portfolio

Manigsaca’s leadership also highlights AppleOne Properties’ expanding role in the Philippine hospitality sector.

The company is behind several major hospitality developments, including Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and the newly opened Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan. Its ongoing projects include JW Marriott Panglao Island Resort in Bohol and a Radisson Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Cebu conference will also highlight the importance of broader regional development and greater investment outside the country’s traditional tourism centers.

According to Manigsaca, the first PHOA national conference in Cebu reflects investor confidence in the southern Philippines. The program will focus on regional inclusivity, equitable growth, community-driven development, generational collaboration, and innovation.

Philippine Accommodation Pipeline Signals Continued Growth

One of the major highlights of the conference will be the 2026 Philippine Accommodation Pipeline Report, prepared by PHOA and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC).

The report provides an overview of upcoming accommodation projects, including project numbers, room inventory, classifications, indicative investment levels, and employment potential. It is designed to provide useful information for hotel owners, tourism stakeholders, investors, and government policymakers.

The report identifies 45,884 hotel room keys across 213 projects expected over the next six years. These developments represent approximately PHP 387 billion in committed private capital and could generate more than 64,000 direct hotel jobs.

These figures provide an important snapshot of the scale of hotel development expected across the Philippines and the potential economic impact of continued tourism investment.

Day One Focuses on Investment, MICE and Technology

The first day of Cebu Hotel Connect 2026 will feature plenary sessions covering major issues affecting the hospitality sector.

Topics include:

• Asia-Pacific Hospitality Market Outlook: Real Estate Development and Investment Drivers
• Re-engineering Hospitality for the Global Market
• Government Support for the Hospitality Sector
• Redefining Hotel Networking in the Artificial Intelligence Era

Panel discussions will explore the relationship between aviation and tourism, the role of MICE venues in destination development, and the growing importance of food and experiential tourism.

Other sessions will examine the investment potential of the Visayas and Mindanao and provide strategic insights for regional hospitality businesses.

Day Two Highlights: Sustainability and Regional Partnerships

The second day will shift toward strategic partnerships, hotel management, sustainability, workforce development, and technology.

The program includes a plenary session on New Pathways to Strategic Tourism Partnerships and a discussion on Driving Regional Growth Through Strategic Hotel Management.

A panel on Scaling Properties for Long-Term Value will examine approaches to sustainable hotel development and expansion.

Industry presentations will also cover:

• Sustainable hospitality workforce development
• Artificial intelligence and Philippine hotel visibility
• Greener hotel operations

These discussions reflect the changing priorities of the hotel industry as operators respond to new technologies, environmental concerns, workforce challenges, and evolving traveler expectations.

Strengthening the Philippine Hospitality Industry

Founded in 1977, PHOA represents hotel owners and hospitality leaders across the country. The organization supports the industry through advocacy, professional development, community engagement, and industry leadership.

Cebu Hotel Connect 2026 provides a platform for stakeholders to examine the next phase of hotel and tourism development in the Philippines, with particular attention to opportunities emerging across the Visayas and Mindanao.

With Cebu serving as the host city, the conference puts the southern Philippines at the center of discussions on hotel investment, tourism infrastructure, MICE development, technology, sustainability, and regional economic growth.

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