ALI unit, Anflocor tie up for Davao boutique hotel

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala Hotels and Resorts Corp. (AHRC), a unit of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), has forged a joint venture with Anflo Management and Investment Corp. (Anflocor), a leading Mindanao conglomerate, for a 148-room boutique hotel in Davao City to form part of the 10-hectare Abreeza complex.

Situated on JP Laurel Avenue in Davao, Abreeza is a mixed-use development that includes a shopping mall, an office building catering to business process outsourcing firms and traditional offices as well as a residential tower, set for ground-breaking by mid-2011.

It will offer studios, one- and two-bedroom condominium units.

Junie Jalandoni, vice president and group head of AHRC, said “the Abreeza complex, which will be complemented by the new hotel,” will draw from the successes of Ayala Center, the Cebu Business Park and other self-contained Ayala Land developments that provide those who reside and work there a harmonious live-work-play environment.”

The nine-story hotel is targeted for completion in mid-2012, featuring well-designed facilities, gym and swimming pool, said Ellen Escobido, project development manager of the hotel.

At the groundbreaking of the new hotel, Alex Valoria, president and chief executive officer of Anflocor, said visitor arrivals in Davao City have been steadily growing with a number of BPO firms scheduled to begin operations in the metropolis.

“Like Metro Manila and Cebu, Davao needs more hotels to serve the increasing number of tourists and business travelers. We wish to support the city’s growth by providing visitors key amenities such as hotels that provide the quality they seek at the price level they most appreciate,” Valoria said.

Escobido said the hotel will cater to a growing market of travelers that are exposed to global standards but at the same time want best values “We’re realizing that more travelers put a great premium on accessibility, style and getting their money’s worth,” she said.

The new hotel is the second boutique hotel to be developed by ALI in key cities of the country. The first one broke ground in Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila and is expected to be completed also in 2012.

The next string of hotels will rise in in Cagayan de Oro, Alabang and Quezon City.