MANILA — Iloilo’s blend of heritage, modern infrastructure, gastronomy, and growing meetings and events sector is making it one of the country’s most compelling destinations, according to tourism and hospitality leaders gathered during the launch of Belmont Hotel Iloilo.
During a panel discussion held as part of the hotel’s media unveiling at Kingsford Hotel Manila, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) executives shared why Iloilo continues to attract significant investments and why travelers should place the city high on their travel bucket lists.
For Arturo ‘Art’ Boncato, Jr., Group General Manager of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, Iloilo offers a rare combination of history and progress.
“Iloilo is one of the most complete and most efficient destinations to visit in the Philippines,” Boncato said. “We often talk about what is inside a hotel, but visitors should look at the destination itself. Iloilo is like opening a gift package. You are constantly surprised by what you discover.”
Known for its heritage churches, ancestral houses, and rich cultural history, Iloilo has also emerged as one of the country’s most progressive regional cities.
“There was a time when we described Iloilo as a place where the past is always present,” Boncato said. “Today, I would add that the future is also present in Iloilo.”
He cited the city’s modern airport, road network, river rehabilitation projects, and urban developments such as Iloilo Business Park as examples of how growth and heritage have successfully coexisted.
Boncato also emphasized the role of MICE tourism in shaping the city’s development.
“MICE is one of the greatest ways for travelers to understand a destination,” he said. “When you bring thousands of delegates to a city, they discover the destination, contribute to its economy, and take home a deeper appreciation of its culture and people.”
Supporting this growth is Megaworld’s continued investment in Iloilo through its portfolio of hotels inside Iloilo Business Park.
Belmont Hotel Iloilo is the third Megaworld Hotels & Resorts property within the Iloilo Business Park township and the 16th hotel in the company’s growing portfolio.
Cluster General Manager Avinash Menon said the company’s confidence in the destination is driven by three factors: momentum, diversity, and capacity.
“Iloilo’s growth is clearly visible through increasing investments, tourism activity, meetings and events, and business development,” Menon said. “Hospitality follows growth, and our expansion reflects the confidence we see from both the public and private sectors.”
Menon noted that Iloilo attracts a wide variety of travelers, from business executives and government delegates to food enthusiasts, students, families, and leisure tourists.
“A growing destination requires more than one hospitality solution,” he said. “It requires the right hotel for the right traveler at the right moment.”
The addition of Belmont Hotel Iloilo’s 405 rooms further strengthens the city’s accommodation capacity and ability to host larger events and conventions.
For MHR Managing Director Cleofe Albiso, investing in regional destinations such as Iloilo goes beyond business growth.
“We believe that the only way to create resilience in the Philippine economy is to make regional destinations resilient as well,” Albiso said.
She added that hotel developments create opportunities not only for tourism but also for local employment and talent retention.
Many of the hospitality professionals hired for Belmont Hotel Iloilo are Ilonggos who have spent years working overseas or in other parts of the country and are now returning home to continue their careers.
“When we open hotels, we create opportunities for people to come home,” Albiso said. “They bring back years of experience and knowledge that can be shared with the next generation of Filipino hospitality professionals.”
The discussion also highlighted Iloilo’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Belmont Iloilo’s General Manager Joy Alonte shared how their dining concepts continue to showcase locally sourced ingredients and regional flavors, supporting local producers while strengthening the city’s culinary identity.
With 405 guestrooms that offer 25 to 48 square meters, the property becomes the largest hotel in Iloilo and contributes to Megaworld’s growing presence in the destination. According to Alonte, the company’s portfolio now accounts for approximately 25 percent of the city’s hotel room inventory.
Designed as a four-star hotel with an accessible mid-market positioning, Belmont Hotel Iloilo caters to business travelers, event delegates, families, and leisure guests seeking quality accommodations at practical price points. The property also features a ballroom which can accommodate up to 300 guests, a dipping pool, and gym and wellness center.
As tourism stakeholders continue to position Iloilo as a leading destination for leisure and business travel, industry leaders believe the city has become a model for how regional destinations can grow while preserving their unique character.
For Boncato, the message is simple.
“If you have limited time to discover the Philippines, Iloilo should be one of your first stops,” he said.
