Discovery plans projects in Palawan, Benguet
THE DISCOVERY Leisure Company, Inc. (TDLCI) is developing two new properties in Palawan and Benguet as the Tiu- led company diversifies its portfolio beyond hotels, a top executive said.
“The two upcoming projects of Discovery are more about the diversification of the current portfolio. We’re creating a new community,” said Jun Parreno, TDLCI chief operating officer, during a June 2 interview at their Discovery Shores Boracay property.
“It’s a new business venture because we’re not just limited to hotels — we’re going to retail, we’re going to business markets which are very new for us,” he added.
The hotel management arm of the JTKC Group of Companies last year acquired a five-hectare property in El Nido as well as a 57-hectare property in La Trinidad, Benguet.
The El Nido property, according to Mr. Parreno, will include a 118- room hotel, a retail space and a beach club. The project is expected to be completed by 2019.
“It will be a very dynamic community. We are going to cater to the people in town and those who are island-hopping. So we would like the Discovery property there to be a destination for everybody to stop over,” Mr. Parreno said.
The Benguet property, which is situated atop a mountain, will house a 124- room hotel and a mid-rise condominium.
TDLCI currently has five properties in the Philippines: Discovery Suites in Ortigas, Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay, Discovery Primea in Makati, Club Paradise in Coron and Discovery Shores in Boracay.
Discovery Shores will add 11 new rooms this year as the accommodations called estates are set to be completed in September after more than three years of construction.
Mr. Parreno blamed the delays on the lack of manpower as many properties are rising in the island.
The estates will include a sitdown Italian restaurant called Osteria Forno and a rooftop bar.
He added that Club Paradise also introduced four new suites and has acquired two new islands suitable for day trips.
Aside from the Benguet and El Nido properties, Mr. Parreno revealed the company is keen on developing a property in Siargao, Surigao del Norte.
The island is known as a surfer’s haven and is home to the famous “Cloud Nine” wave.
“Siargao is already an established destination,” he said, adding that other tourist spots include Sohoton Cove and Daku Island.
But Mr. Parreno admitted that current tensions in Mindanao are being taken into consideration as the Siargao property is scheduled to be developed in three to four years as the company waits for the market “to mature.”
“We’re waiting for more direct flights other than SkyJet,” he explained.
Cebu Pacific offers flights to Siargao but only operates it from Cebu.
“The completion of the new wing of Mactan International Airport ( in Cebu) will bring in more international chartered flights so Cebu will become the gateway to Siargao,” he said.
The new 4.5-hectare Mactan Airport terminal is set for completion in June 2018.
The Siargao Discovery property, like the Benguet and El Nido ones, will be mixed-used with a hotel and an apartment.