PH’s first pure Outlet mall to rise in Tagaytay

Cathay Land, Inc. in joint venture with British outlet mall specialist developer and operator Freeport Retail is investing R2.5 billion into the Philippines’ very first pure Outlet mall called Acienda Designer Outlet to be located in Tagaytay, 69 kilometers away from Manila.

Jeffrey Ng, Cathay Land president, said the Outlet mall is being constructed on a 20-hectare property, which is just 10-minutes drive from Tagaytay City Rotunda along Km 48 Aguinaldo Highway.

“Partners can expect their units to be turned over for fit-out starting this March and full opening on August 2 this year,” Ng said.

The mall will feature designer finds in four themed sections: Italian, French, New England and Spanish. In between shopping rounds, they can gas up at a French-style food & beverage section with a windmill as the central icon. Theatrical lighting, water features and live performances are also planned for their enjoyment.

In constructing the Outlet mall, Ng noted that most of the major capital cities worldwide have outlet malls but Manila with over 12 million population is an exemption.

“With the construction of the CaviteLaguna Expressway in full blast… our Acienda Designer Outlet will only be 30 minutes away from NAIA and the Entertainment City. Thus, now is the right time to introduce a world-class Outlet experience to Manilans and the nearby provinces,” he added.

The location of Acienda boasts a 90minute catchment area of 16.5 million locals and tourists with above average incomes and a high level of fashion consciousness.

“With Tagaytay City being a popular tourist destination among locals and tourists, we are confident that they will all enjoy our promise of high quality Outlet shopping at par with what they experience abroad,” Ng added.

“We expect that phenomenal growth of world class outlet malls to be duplicated here in

the Philippines mainly due to rising incomes locally, remittances from abroad and tourist arrivals that will hit 10 million a year in the next few years.”

This bullishness has led the joint venture to plan for their next Outlet mall. Freeport Retail is now identifying strategic locations for a second Outlet mall with target opening date in three years.

Chris Milliken, co-founder and Commercial Director of Freeport Retail, expressed confidence in their new commercial development, saying: “Over the past decade the Outlet format has been hugely successful with massive sales growth worldwide. For instance, Kuala Lumpur has three Outlets now but had zero a few years back.” (BCM)