Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., the leisure arm of tycoon Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), is set to begin construction of two new casino developments worth a combined $700 million in Mactan, Cebu and Boracay in 2026.
The upcoming projects include the $400 million Mactan World Resorts, located in the Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, and the $300 million Boracay World Resorts, situated within the Boracay Newcoast tourism estate. Both properties are being positioned as smaller-scale gaming centers, designed to complement AGI’s existing leisure and hospitality assets.
As cited by the Manila Bulletin, Travellers International President and Chief Executive Officer Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez said the developments are part of the company’s strategy to extend its footprint into key tourism hubs, adding to the portfolio of hotels and lifestyle facilities already being developed by AGI’s Megaworld Corporation in these locations. Unlike the larger integrated resorts in Newport and Westside City, the new projects will be “right-sized” for their respective markets.
The Boracay casino will be designed as a boutique property, catering mainly to domestic visitors. The resort will form part of Boracay Newcoast, a 15-hectare tourism estate featuring an 18-hole golf course, nearly 2,000 hotel rooms, a one-kilometer beachfront, residential projects, and a commercial and entertainment district.
Meanwhile, the Mactan development will serve a broader Asian market. It will be integrated into Mactan Newtown, a 30-hectare township that includes residential buildings, office towers, retail outlets, and two hotels, including the Savoy Hotel Mactan.
While moving forward with these regional casino projects, Travellers International remains focused on completing its flagship Westside Integrated Resort in Entertainment City, Manila. The $1.25 billion project, being developed in partnership with Suntrust Resort Holdings, has so far achieved about 70 percent completion. Rodriguez confirmed that approximately $450 million in additional investment is still required to finish the resort, which is targeted to open in the third quarter of 2026.
“The Westside City development is now full speed ahead,” Rodriguez was quoted as saying by Philistar. He emphasized that completing Westside remains the group’s immediate priority while planning and preparatory works for the Mactan and Boracay resorts are conducted in parallel.
The new investments build on AGI’s wider strategy to strengthen its position in the tourism and hospitality industry. AGI is also on track to expand its hospitality portfolio to 10,000 rooms by the end of 2025, with a goal of reaching 12,000 room keys before 2028 under Megaworld Hotels & Resorts and Travellers.
The company sees its integrated resorts as vital drivers of Philippine tourism, serving as anchors for broader infrastructure within its mixed-use estates. In the same interview, Rodriguez acknowledged the challenges posed by weak international tourism and the rapid growth of online gambling but stressed that land-based properties remain central to the tourism industry.
“Online play is not a substitute for the integrated resort experience,” he said, noting that such properties are essential in anchoring tourism, delivering culture and entertainment, and providing experiences that online play cannot replicate.
He added that the company’s response is to expand its portfolio and raise its standards: “By extending our IR footprint, we are not only scaling up but also creating new experiences for customers and growing the market itself.”
