Hospitality Industry News Updates brought to you by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine for the weeks 4 – 18 July 2025.
Our Industry News Headlines:-
- PH Tropical Storm “Crising” brings Flight Disruptions
- PH Nominated across Wanderlust Reader Travel Award Categories
- Boracay’s Airport Terminal build Underway
- Cebu Airport Launches Jet-to-Ferry Transfers
- Siargao hosts first ever Food & Wine Festival
- P20Million Loan program for MSMEs launches
- Legal action against Australian Restaurant for underpaying Filipino workers
- American Tourist Arrivals drops to 80% of 2019 levels
- Gen AI’s Now Top Travel Search & Decisions Channel
Tropical Storm “Crising” Flight Disruptions 18-19 July
A number of domestic and international flights have been delayed or cancelled entirely as high winds hit the Philippines.
Tropical Storm “Crising” brought with it gale-force winds on the 18th July, affecting Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, Quezon, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Sarangani.
19th July sees the storm over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.
With Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Northern Samar facing impacts on Sunday 20th.
NCR – Tourism Frontline Service Unit is a great page to follow on facebook, to get up to date information regarding affected flights out of NAIA.
Philippines nominated for Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards
The Philippines has received nominations in three categories of the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.
- Most Desirable Country (Worldwide) – The Philippines
- Most Desirable Region (Worldwide) – Cebu
- Most Desirable Island (Worldwide) – Palawan
There are additional categories under Most Desirable Country, where The Philippines also has a shot at an award
- Culture and Heritage
- Nature and Wildlife, Adventure,
- Gastronomy, and Sustainability.
Intramuros is in the running for Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction too.
The Awards are voted on by Wanderlust Readers. To be considered a reader people need to complete the form found at https://wanderlusttravelawards.com/ and follow the Wanderlust Facebook and Instagram pages.
Voting is open until 27 October 2025, with the awarding ceremony set to take place at the National Gallery, London – UK on November 5.
Boracay’s Modern Airport Terminal Underway
After what feels like several years of arriving at, and collecting luggage from, an airport hanger, a modern airport terminal is finally being built for Boracay Island.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony took place at Caticlan Airport, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Ramon Ang, Chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation in attendance.
It is hoped that the build will be completed within 24 months, with an official opening sometime in 2027. The build project has previously experienced delays as a result of land acquisition and Right of Way issues involving a number of families and communities.
Cebu Airport Launches Jet-to-Ferry Transfers
More airport news! Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has launched a seamless air-to-sea transfer service as part of the Cebu+ program. Travelers can now book and buy ferry tickets at the airport, or prebook via OTA Klook.
The tickets include a “5-minute” shuttle service that delivers them direct to the Mactan Marina Wharf, where they then board the waiting Supercat ferry services for nearby islands Bohol, Siquijor, and Camotes.
Plans are underway to expand this connection service to Malapascua, Bantayan and Dumaguete.
Siargao set to host its first ever Food & Wine Festival
The Facebook account Siargao Town Center announced this week that the first-ever Siargao Food and Wine Festival will be held 14-20 August. In the page’s own words, the festival will be:-
A week of culinary magic, world-class wines, local flavors, and unforgettable island energy – all in one iconic destination
Expect to find, curated wines and bold flavoursome food from the island’s resident chefs, live entertainment and beach celebrations.
Follow their Facebook Page for updates.
Turismo Asenso launches P20Million Loan program for MSMEs
Turismo Asenso launched a P20Million loan program for MSMEs (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises) this week. The program, offered under its Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) arm, is available to MSMEs looking to scale business operations and improve services to tourists.
Qualified applicants can borrow up to PHP20 million, with 1% interest per month over a 5 year period. Applicants looking for non-collateral loans can borrow up to 3Million, while those with an existing loan may be able to apply for a 5Million loan.
Requirements for consideration:
- Filipino-owned registered business, or with at least 60% Filipino ownership
- Business has existed for at least one year
- With a value of less than P100Million (not including the land/lot)
- No negative credit findings
- No past unpaid SBCorp loans or accounts (arrears).
Apply via https://brs.sbcorp.ph
Global Hospitality Industry News Updates
Aussie Restaurant faces legal action for underpaying Filipino workers
The Australian Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is taking legal action against a Japanese restaurant, Yakiniku Kosu (under the Kosu Group), for allegedly underpaying two Filipino nationals employed as an F&B Attendant, and a Sous Chef.
The two Filipinos were recruited from the Philippines by the company, and traveled to Australia. Once there they found themselves working up to 128 hours a fortnight, whilst being paid significantly below the national minimum wage.
The restaurant also stands accused of Falsifying Records. They allegedly provided inaccurate or misleading time and wages records, and pay slips to the FWO Inspector, breaching Australia’s record-keeping and pay slip laws.
“Allegedly paying workers only about one-third of their total owed wages will not be tolerated. We are committed to taking action to protect vulnerable workers in this country and ensure that employers who breach the law are held to account,” said Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth.
“Migrant workers have the same workplace rights as all others, and any workers with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance.”
The FWO allege that the two Filipino workers had been underpaid by almost $100k AUD, and that they each received only one-third of their total owed wages. More details available at FWO
American Tourist Arrivals drops to 80% of 2019 levels
Attributed to broader economic and geopolitical turbulence in the country, America’s inbound tourism arrival numbers have continued to fall. The country is now seeing arrival figures that are just 80% of arrivals seen in 2019.
According to figures released by the National Travel and Tourism Office, the numbers of overseas visitors to the U.S. is down by 3.4% year-over-year. And June 2025’s figure of 2.8 million inbound overseas visitors represents only 80% of 2019 arrival levels.
With a hospitality industry said to be already struggling as a result of tightening up on the issuance of Migrant worker visa’s, the news just keeps getting worse.
GenAI’s Now The Top Channel For Travel Search & Decisions
You can’t have missed the hot topic of the last 18 months; the rise of AI. And now, Accenture’s latest Consumer Pulse Survey 2025 highlights a significant shift in the way travelers are searching when planning their trips and vacations.
Gen AI (Generative AI) is now the top channel that travelers use for researching, planning AND booking their travels. A significant 80% of them are using Gen AI tools for part or all of the process.
With it’s ability to draw on past search behavior – whether travel related or not – emotional preferences, real-time events, and loyalty data, Gen AI has an unnerving ability to pull together perfect, personally tailored experiences.
Its tailored recommendations are also increasingly supported by the ability to book and pay without leaving the platform.
Now is not the time for “wait and see” – if your hotel, tour or travel business is not already showing up in AI Overviews, or AI search and answer platforms (e.g. Perplexity AI, Bing AI, You.com) this needs to become a priority focus. And, it’s not always that complex a shift to achieve.
Cendyn has a useful download Guide on preparing for GenAI – the ‘new’ search. It provides step-by-step tips for optimizing your hotel and resort website so it is visible to the search-and-answer platforms.
Search Engine Journal is also running a webinar on 23rd July (11am ET) The New SEO Playbook: How AI is Reshaping Search & Content. You can sign up and, if you’re not able to attend this webinar, receive a recording of it a few days later.
Mixed our previous Hospitality Industry News Updates? You can just visit our 2025 News Page and catch up!
