Boracay Island — Since the controversial six-month closure in this resort island last year, the national government has been strict on the opening of hotels as it imposes environmental conservation to the highest standard.

Fortunately for the Boracay New Coast, it has been able to open second of its three homegrown hotel brands in its sprawling 150-hectare property here, the Belmont Hotel.

“Our second hotel under the Belmont Brand offers an exclusive nature experience, as it allows guests to see the island’s panoramic natural scenery from one building to another — from the vast sea to the lush mountains and hills of the island and other nearby islands,” said Raymundo Melendrez, managing director of Luxury Global Hotels and Leisure Inc. which operates Belmont Hotel under the Megaworld Hotels Corporation.

The first hotel, Savoy, was opened in 2017, while the Chancellor Hotel is currently still being constructed. Boracay New Coast’s investment in Belmont Hotel reportedly reached P2.1 billion.

Belmont Hotel Boracay has a 442 rooms that features a wide array of amenities and services that include a swimming pool and in-pool lounge, aqua spa, courtyard, two food and beverage outlets, landscaped gardens, a fitness center with shower and changing rooms, business center, function halls, meeting rooms, a full time concierge, 24-hour in-room service, dining service and complimentary shuttle services.

“Our continuing thrust to help boost tourism in the country is even gaining more momentum as we open more hotels across our tourism township, GERI (Global Estate Resources Incorporated) as the Developer of Boracay Newcoast, remains committed to help build our country through tourism developments,” said Monica Solomon, GERI president.

Belmont Hotel is the second homegrown hotel brand introduced under Megaworld opened in Newport City in 2015. Another Belmont Hotel is set to open in Iloilo Business Park by 2023.

Currently, Megaworld has already opened five homegrown hotel brands — Richmonde Hotels, Belmont Hotels, Savoy Hotels, Twin Lakes Hotels and Hotel Lucky Chinatown with around 3,000 hotel rooms.

In the next five years, the company will also open new homegrown hotel brands in Parañaque, Bacolod, Iloilo, Boracay and Laguna.

During the first quarter this year, Megaworld’s hotel business became the fastest growing segment of the quarter, soaring 56 percent to P574 million compared to last year’s P369 million.