Industry News Updates for the Philippine Hospitality and Tourism Industry for the week ending March 14, 2026.
Industry News Updates & Headlines:
- Secretary Frasco Exits The Department Of Tourism
- 136 Filipino Tourists Repatriated From UAE
- NAIA Listed As World’s Most Affordable Airport
- More PH Sports Tourism Developments
- First Filipino Hotel Opens in Europe
- SM Backs Iloilo’s Food Tourism
- 2 PH Restaurants in Asia’s Top 100
- PH Pizzeria’s Make Top 10 Asia Pacific List
- Café Mary Grace Opens In Singapore.
- Three Biggest Hotel Chains Under Investigation
- Travelodge Under Investigation After Guest Assaulted.
- ChatGPT Reverses Plan For Instant Checkout Button
- First ChatGPT Hotel Direct Booking App Launches
Secretary Frasco Exits The Department Of Tourism
News officially broke on March 12 that the Philippines’ Department of Tourism Secretary, Christina Garcia Frasco has been reassigned to a new role by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Media outlets and social media posts had been speculating, at the start of the week, that Frasco had either resigned or been reassigned, after reports that Frasco had said her farewells to her immediate staff team.
On March 12 President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. officially released the news of Frasco’s reassignment to the role of Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities.
This new advisory position will see Frasco overseeing national initiatives related to climate hazards and disruption at a community level.
It was also formerly announced that Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso will temporarily serve as the Head of the DOT in the interim.
The Daily Tribune reported that a number of Tourism stakeholders and Associations have expressed concerns about the future of the many initiatives and partnerships instigated by Frasco during her term.
Concerns were also flagged that the reassignment took place while the ASEAN Tourism Forum initiatives and visits are still ongoing.
136 Filipino Tourists Repatriated From UAE
136 Filipino Tourists, and 360 OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) were repatriated from Dubai and Abu Dhabi this week, as military action continues.
Government funded flights have been organized, along with land transport for stranded tourists and workers who needed to travel across country borders to get to the airport.
A further 300+ OFWs are expected to arrive in the Philippines this weekend from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The repatriation efforts are being undertaken by the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
A number of other agencies are also ready to provide assistance with any livelihood support needs, skills training and psychosocial services.
NAIA Listed As World’s Most Affordable Airport
The Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) Global Layover Index has the Ninoy Aquino International Airport listed as the seventh (7th) Best Airport for Layover Food Options.
Currently NAIA boasts 131 restaurants and cafés, a large percentage of which have opened in the last 2-3 years. The number of eateries and range puts NAIA among the world’s notable airports for layover dining options.
NAIA also ranks sixth (6th) in the Most Affordable Lounge Access Index, with average lounge access coming in at £18.80.
More PH Sports Tourism Developments.
A Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) and Partnership Agreement, which will see further expansion and development of Sports Tourism in the Philippines, was signed just ahead of Secretary Frasco’s departure from the Department of Tourism.
The MOU and Partnership is between the DOT and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), with the intention of securing opportunities with international sports organizations to host and organize sports-related activities and events at BCDA’s sports facilities.
First Filipino Hotel Opens in Europe
Hotel101 Madrid officially opened to the public on March 10, 2026, grabbing the title of the first Filipino-owned Hotel brand to operate in Spain, and Europe.
With 680 rooms, Hotel101 Madrid is also in the Top 5 list of the largest hotels (by rooms) in Spain.
And, if this wasn’t achievement enough – Hotel101 Madrid has also been announced as the official accommodation partner of Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix. For the next 10 years!
The hotel overlooks part of the Formula 1 racing track, and is situated close to Real Madrid’s training ground and the Madrid-Barajas International Airport.
The Hotel101brand is owned by DoubleDragon Corporation.
SM Backs Iloilo’s Food Tourism
Iloilo, which is the Philippines’ first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, has launched two initiatives in conjunction with the SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) and the Iloilo MICE Center.
The two new initiatives are:
- The “Beyond the Plate” program, and
- The “Kusina de Ilonggo: Mga Panubli Nga Sabor.”
According to SM’s Press Release the “Beyond the Plate” program responds to the increasing demand from MICE groups and visiting delegations for more informed culinary coverage. The program is led by experts and professors from across the fields of culture, hospitality, culinary arts, and digital storytelling.
These include
- Dr. Hazel P. Villa, Associate Professor from Western Visayas
- Leah Magallanes, Vice President for Quality and Sustainability at SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation
- Rouel Guanzon, General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo
- Kris Cruz, an award-winning mobile phone photographer
- Chef Cidj Jalandoni, Executive Chef and Business Development Chef for Western Visayas at Nestlé Philippines
Journalists and vloggers were supported to elevate their craft through specialized training in food and wine storytelling, giving them the skills they need to remain competitive and relevant in today’s dynamic content landscape.
Meanwhile, Ani Restaurant – at SMHCC’s Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo, is focusing on transforming every meal into a cultural journey, inspired by heirloom recipes and the culinary traditions of distinguished Ilonggo families.
Through Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo, we proudly stand as a tourism partner in celebrating heritage, empowering local talent, and opening doors to authentic Filipino experiences. – Ms. Leah Magallanes, Vice President for Quality and Sustainability, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation.
2 PH Restaurants in Asia’s Top 100
Two of the Philippines’ recent Michelin Star awardees have made in to the extended Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list.
While the list refers to 50 best restaurants in Asia, it has an extended list covering a further 50 restaurants.
Those restaurants ranking in the 51-100 extended list learned of their ranking on March 12.
Toyo Eatery, which ranked No.42 in the list last year, ranked in at No.71 this year. And Celera took the No.100 spot this year – its first time to feature in the list. Both restaurants were awarded a Michelin Star in October 2025.
The 1-50 rankings for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2026 will be announced on March 25, 2026.
Last year Gallery by Chele, another Michelin awardee, featured in the extended list, ranking in at No.72.
It is hoped that more of the Philippines’ Michelin-starred restaurants will feature in the top 50 list.
2 PH Pizzeria’s Make Top 10 Asia Pacific List
Crosta and A Mano have made the Top 10 of the 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific 2026 List. The List was released on March 9.
Ranking within the top 15 of the Asia-Pacific list automatically qualifies both Crosta and A Mano for the chance of a spot in the 100 Best Pizzerias in the World List.
The Top 100 winners will be announced on September 15 in Naples.
Crosta has two pizzeria locations in Manila, with one in Salcedo Village, and the other in Greenhills Shopping Center. Crosta has been praised for it’s range of pizza styles and bases, and wine selection.
A Mano has four locations, all in Manila – Power Plant Mall, One Bonifacio, Gateway Mall Araneta and EDSA Shangri-La Plaza. The list lauds A Mano’s light pizza crust, varied Italian menu and its panettone.
Global Industry News Updates
Café Mary Grace Opens In Singapore.
Mary Grace opened its first Café outside of the Philippines on March 13, at 52 Tras Street, Tanjong Pagar in Singapore.
Mary Grace started out as a small home bakery in 1994, and opened its first ever Café Mary Grace in the Philippines in 2006.
The layout and decor of the newest Café Mary Grace follow the brands usual design and style, as does the menu and baked goods. The Café also includes a Take Out counter.
According to the Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore 200,000 to 220,000 Filipinos live and work in Singapore, with approximately 60% working as professionals and skilled workers, while others are employed in household service roles.
Without a doubt Mary Grace is a favorite gift to take back to Singapore when those OFW’s are returning from a vacation, so there will be many Singaporean fans excited to visit the new café.
Three Biggest Hotel Chains Under Investigation
Hilton, InterContinental Hotels (ICH) and Marriot are currently being investigated, along with CoStar, by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The investigation centers on whether the three global chains have been sharing “competitively sensitive” data with each other via CoStar’s STR.
STR is a data analytics and benchmarking tool that many hotels and chains use to assist them to understand market performance, and their competitive positioning. This enables them to set rates in response to occupancy and demand.
Allegations have been made that the three hotel chains, which operate more than 25,000 hotels, could be sharing occupancy, RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room), and ADR (Average Daily Rate) data, via STR.
“This can affect how strongly companies compete because it makes it easier for them to predict what each other will do and coordinate their behaviour.” – Competition and Markets Authority
Ultimately, if the chains were – or are – sharing their data, it removes the drive to offer competitive rates to guests.
If the CMA upholds the allegations the three hotel chains could face fines of up to 10% of their global annual revenue.
Travelodge Under Investigation After Guest Assaulted.
Travelodge, UK is under scrutiny after a guest was raped in her hotel room. The attack occurred at a Travelodge in Maidenhead, UK.
Front Office staff had been told by the attacker that he was the guests boyfriend. But they failed to call and check with the guest before providing her room details and an additional keycard to her attacker.
The attacker had met the victim at the same party they attended that night.
Travelodge’s Chief Executive Jo Boydell issued a statement:
“I am committing to an independent review of our room security policies to learn from this incident and further strengthen our procedures. Our guests deserve to be reassured that their safety and security is of the utmost importance to us.”
Checks on identification, booking details, and directly with the named guest should be standard procedure and policy in any hotel setting.
So, a reader would have to wonder – is it weak policy and procedure?
Or is it an indication that training budgets have been minimized across the industry and employees are not being adequately trained.
The incident took place in 2022 but the attacker was recently found guilty and sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment.
Tech Industry News Updates
ChatGPT Reverses Plan For Instant Checkout Button
OpenAI this week announced that they have pulled the plug on the plan to add an Instant Checkout Button within ChatGPT.
The original intention had been to integrate an Instant Checkout button enabling users to complete their research and comparison journey with a purchase, without leaving ChatGPT.
But both Digital Commerce 360 and The Information reported this week that OpenAI is no longer proceeding with its Instant Checkout plans.
The intention now is to route purchases and bookings through third-party retailer apps that are integrated into ChatGPT.
Alternatively, ChatGPT will redirect users to the brands website to complete the booking.
What do we know about the brands that have already built custom integrations inside ChatGPT?
That Expedia and Booking.com are among the names.
What could have been an opportunity for hotels to pull-back some of their own market and increase their direct booking numbers, has now been handed back to the global OTA’s.
There are some hotel brands that have already developed or began developing ChatGPT integrations.
Hyatt announced its ChatGPT app in February 2026.
Accor launched its ChatGPT ALL Accor app on January 29, 2026.
Both are brand specific hotel Apps so they’re of no benefit to independent hotels.
However, this week Lighthouse launched its ChatGPT integrated The Hotels Network App, which will be of interest to independent hotels – read the next Industry News Updates headline.
First ChatGPT Hotel Direct Booking App Launches
The first ChatGPT direct booking app for hotels has been launched.
Powered by Lighthouse, an AI commercial operating system for the travel and hospitality Industry, the Hotels Network app is the first direct booking app for hotels (of any size) to be launched in ChatGPT.
Hotel subscribers will
- benefit from the ability to control their own brand identity,
- be able to deliver verified content; hotels own up-to-the-moment descriptions of rooms, amenities, facilities and locations,
- feed live direct booking rates and perks
- feed real-time room availability
Potential Guests are routed direct to the hotels website to secure the booking.
There are no booking commission fees, just a flat fee subscription and it works for any size or type of hotel.
If you want to know more about Lighthouse, how to connect your hotel website to AI Answer platforms and how it works in detail, check out this informative short article by Markus Busch at Hospitality Today
