HOMEGROWN property developer AppleOne Group said demand for its newly launched hotel and mixed-use development in Mactan, Cebu remained steady despite global uncertainties, including the ongoing war in the Middle East that could significantly disrupt travel demand.
During a media briefing, executives of the Cebu-based firm said Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan was seeing stable occupancy, supported by a mix of business and leisure travelers.
“It may not be fair for me to say that we have been highly impacted,” said Dottie Würgler, the hotel's general manager.
“But I would say that since we opened, we actually have experienced still a steady level of occupancy. ... It's been a steady rise."
The hotel forms part of Mahi Center, an integrated development that combines retail, office and hospitality components designed to capture multiple demand streams.
Leif Bajarias, executive vice president at AppleOne Group, told reporters the company continued to focus on developments anchored on real demand.
“We want to do mixed-use developments, integrated types of developments. We want to be where real demand is present,” he said. “If you have various streams of demand that are already present, we like to be in that environment.”
Executives said the Mactan project was benefiting from its proximity to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, allowing it to tap both business travelers and transit passengers requiring short stays.
The hotel caters to corporate guests, domestic tourists, expatriates and foreign visitors while also serving local demand for meetings and social events.
AppleOne said the office component of the development was also gaining traction, with about 60 percent already contracted, largely from business process outsourcing and shared services firms.
“These types of tenants are less volatile. They are not discretionary ... so they’re there to stay,” Bajarias said.
The company said it remained optimistic about the hospitality sector, citing improving travel activity, noting that passenger traffic at Mactan airport had already surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
“Resilience is the name of the game,” Bajarias said, adding that the group was focused on attracting consistent and repeat users.
AppleOne is also advancing projects outside Cebu, including a planned JW Marriott Panglao Island resort and another mixed-use development in Cagayan de Oro, as it expands its regional footprint. NAZYLEN JOY MABANGLO
