Booming Philippine economy fuels resurgence of the luxury hotel market

The second fastest growing economy in Asia and a stable political environment are combining to fuel a surging Manila hospitality market, particularly in the high end luxury sector, with escalating room rates and strong occupancies setting the stage for dramatic future growth for the sector.

With an economy growing at 7.1% last quarter, just a few points behind China, the Philippines is enjoying a fast tracked journey back to the future - and the hospitality sector is a front line beneficiary, according to the Manila Hotel Market Update report released today by leading hospitality consulting firm C9 Hotelworks.

The report points to an aggressive pipeline of growth and investment in the luxury sector with a total of 5,797 rooms opening in the upper tier of the market over the next five years, representing a 37% growth to existing supply. These will include the introduction of internationally renowned brands such as Raffles, Fairmont, Grand Hyatt, Shangri-La, Sheraton and Westin.

As an early indication of what's to come, C9's hospitality research details a rise in overall average room rates of 6% and occupancy in luxury accommodation of 72%.

"Step back in time three decades and hotel headlines would be surprisingly similar to those today," said C9 Hotelworks Managing Director, Bill Barnett. "Manila Bay asserting itself as a tourism hub in Metro Manila, and a new business district flexing its muscles within the competitive hotel landscape.

One of many hotels expected to be launched over the next five years: Fairmont Makati will be opening in Makati in December 2012.

"But this time around it is Manila Bay featuring the evolution of Pagcor Entertainment City and Resorts World, while the new CBD is not Makati but neighboring Bonifacio City. This is the new storyboard of Mega Manila."

According to Mr Barnett, the government led by President Benigno Aquino III and the private sector can be credited with much of the growth by executing a coordinated and effective strategy of selecting a limited number of massive infrastructure projects to focus on - which has created major demand.

At the end of last year Manila played home to 15,567 hotel rooms with 57% of these being in the upscale tier. But suddenly there is now significant movement at the top end of the market where luxury supply grew at only 3.2% between 2004 to 2011.

Commenting on the shift up Mr Barnett said: "Present day trading remains strongly leveraged with corporate travelers, who combined with the meeting and incentive segment command 78% of total hotel room nights."

Looking forward to 2013 and beyond Mr Barnett added that an interesting dynamic was forming.

"The urban spread of Mega Manila into new areas - such as leading Philippine developer Ayala's FTI acquisition in Taguig - is expected to create new hotel micro markets and this is only good news for the hospitality sector overall.

"In the new Asian age when the East is now embracing a rising and increasingly affluent middle class even Donald Trump has come to the table with his luxury namesake brand in the new Mega Manila."Bill Barnett is the Founder and Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, who are a leading consulting firm specializing in hotels, tourism and property development in Asia Pacific. C9 assists developers, private equity and financial institutions, and investors in providing market research, feasibility studies, hotel operator negotiations, asset management and transaction/due diligence support. From their base of operations in Thailand the group is considered a leading regional player in market intelligence, and publish regular industry updates. (http://is.gd/foBsmh)

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Philippines gives green light to 100,000 electric tricycles in Manila

Electric tricycles on parade in Manila.

The Philippines is to roll out 100,000 electric tricycles in an effort to replace the petrol-powered ones that currently ply its cities, one of the project's financiers said on Tuesday.

The "e-trikes" would provide an alternative to the gas-guzzling, smoke-belching motorised tricycles that now ferry Manila residents through narrow streets not served by buses, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

ADB energy specialist Sohail Hasnie said the lender hoped the e-trikes would eventually replace some of the estimated 3.5 million gas-powered motorcycles and tricycles already in use in the country.

"It will not stop at e-trike. It will expand horizontally to other transports like buses... and once that happens, nationwide, the country's consumption of oil will come down," he said in a video message.

The $500 million project received the green-light on Tuesday but a launch date for the vehicles has not yet been set.

The e-trikes, powered by an electric motor with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, cost only $1.20 (about R10) for a daily charge compared to the $6-8 in fuel a normal tricycle burns every day, the ADB said.

There has been generally favourable reaction to a pilot project of 20 e-trikes that have been in service in one Manila district since last year, the bank said.

The ADB is lending the Philippines $300 million to acquire the vehicles.

The project will also get an $105 million in a soft loan and grant from the United Nations' Clean Technology Fund, which is administered by the ADB, the bank said. The Philippine government will provide $99 million.

The loans will also put up five solar charging stations so the e-trikes can be powered up without drawing on the electrical grid, the ADB said.

Other countries have also expressed interest in the e-trikes, said Hasnie.

The Philippines hopes to eventually become a centre for manufacturing these vehicles, he added. - Sapa-AFP (http://is.gd/uZv1dQ)

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China Ruined the Peaceful Asia and clean hands

Beijing accused the Philippines as "Trouble Maker in Asia" a contrary Claim to the reality

Every time when China raises an accusation to the other country, it always means opposite. When China creates a trouble they will clean their hands and accused the other countries, a proof that their ideology is apparently wrong and must be forbidden from propagating around the world.

China ruined the Peaceful Asia

After the World War II, Japan allowed the peace to rein in Asia by eluding armaments supremacy. The whole Asia is rebuilding while US Military power secured the Asia Pacific with its largest base in Clark, Philippines.

Leftist Filipino ousted the US Military base in the Philippines sometime in the last quarter of 1991 and within few days after the US Military ousted; China invaded the Mischief Reef in Palawan province, a 75 Mile distance from the main Palawan Island, Philippines.

China government used their armed civilians to poached neighboring countries territories from east down south.

North Korea, a close ally of china did not even get an exemption from the illegal Chinese fishermen poaching their waters in the yellow sea which North Koreans detained the Chinese poachers and demand for ransom.

South Korea also braced up by building a new Military base in Jeju Islands after China government pointed out their ownership to the "ieo do" or Ieo Island of South Korea a few miles away from Jeju.

Japan who was once the super power in Asia who lay down their arms for peace is now awaken as china starts invading their Island near Okinawa.

Taiwan the Republic of China is always threatened by the communist People's Republic of china

Vietnam has the highest number of casualties since 1970's when skirmish occurred in the Paracel Islands. The Paracel once governed by Vietnam as it is within its 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone but their defeat forced them to only lobby for an aid from powerful countries to counter china. The China's invasion continues until the present times. The series cutting of exploration cables and establishing of the illegal sansha city of china in the Paracel are recent attack by china to vietnam. The worst is China is even claiming almost all waters of Vietnam as their territory.  The defeat of Vietnam in Paracels pushed them to attack the weak Philippines and speedy occupy the Spratly Islands ousting Filipino Soldier occupying in one island in Kalayaan.

Palau a very far for thousands of Kilometer from China faced a minor squabble resulting to a death of their air force crashed miles away after its surveillance plane's engine failed while ramming with the Chinese poachers invading their waters. Palau successfully detained Chinese fishermen and demanded for fine.

The Philippines suffered most in Asia from the terrible china. The recent Stand-off with china in the Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal near Zambales Province still on-going as china did not honor their words to fall-out their poachers in the Philippines territory.  China already settled the Mischief Reef in the Province of Palawan and setup a Military garrison there. The Recto bank or the Red bank which is just few miles away from Palawan is now claimed by china. The big Issues here are the Kalayaan Group of Islands or the Spratly Islands that was once the territory of the Sultanate of Sulu. The Sultanate of Sulu includes the north Borneo, Palawan and Western Mindanao. China found a massive oil deposit in the Spratly resulting its aggressive claim in the entire territory. The Sultanate of Sulu is now under the Philippine Government including its all territories but Malaysia gained a control in North Borneo through the aid of Britain. The Spratly Islands are now disputed as Malaysia laid its claim base on their control of the North Borneo, Vietnam claimed the Spratly Islands as the Philippines is weak to defend the area, and china Claim the whole territory as their own.

Indonesia is hit a bit by china's cow tongue claim including their waters facing the West Philippine Sea

India the Asia's rising super power is also challenged by china hegemony. India was once defeated by china in their border territory battle. An outrage for some Indians to discover in the Google maps that  shows some undisputed territory of India is now marked as disputed with china which Indian government did not make any comment in it.

Russia one of the Super Power in Asia also face the challenge as china claimed some part of its territory in its border

China's wrong Accusation against the Philippines

As published in the todayonline.com website, China accuses the Philippines has played the role of "troublemaker" in Asia, using "one trick after another" in seeking confrontation with China while coveting territorial waters it is not entitled to, the China Daily newspaper said in an editorial dated December 12, 2012.

Recent comments by Philippines Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario in support of Japan rearming itself were a "pathetic" bid to provoke China, the Beijing-based newspaper said, adding that the Philippines has resorted to "opportunism" to balance "big powers" and will have to shoulder the consequences if it goes too far.

The Philippines and other countries have seen tensions with China rise over its maritime claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Meanwhile, United States and Philippine officials, who met yesterday in Manila, are expected to agree on an increase in the number of US military ships, aircraft and troops rotating through the Philippines. "What we are discussing right now is increasing the rotational presence of US forces," said Mr. Carlos Sorreta, the foreign ministry's Assistant Secretary for American Affairs. A five-year joint US-Philippine military exercise plan would be approved this week, he added.

Officials say there is no plan to revive permanent US military bases in the Philippines - the last ones were closed in 1992 - and that the increased presence would help provide relief during disasters, such as a deadly typhoon last week.

With opinion from Prince Dan We and news from Today Online. For comments and reaction, please contact Prince Dan we through email

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