Property developer Megaworld Corp. has partnered with France-based hospitality giant Accor to operate select properties under its hotel arm, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, to elevate service standards and strengthen international branding.

In a stock exchange disclosure on Wednesday, the company said the deal will allow Accor to manage certain Megaworld hotels and integrate them into its global reservation platform and loyalty program, ALL ACCOR.

The first to transition is Belmont Hotel Mactan, which will be rebranded as Mercure Mactan Cebu this year. The property is located within the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“We are honored to collaborate with a top-notch hospitality group like Accor, which has established global industry leadership for its diverse and extensive portfolio, strong business performance, strategic growth initiatives, and sustainability practices,” said Megaworld Hotels & Resorts managing director Cleofe Albiso.

“Mercure Mactan Cebu will not only enhance the Mactan Newtown development as a destination of choice but also play a pivotal role in driving tourism growth and stimulating the local economy; opening opportunities for better returns for immediate stakeholders and supporting a thriving local community,” she added.

Accor Chief Development Officer for Asia Andrew Langdon said the move is aligned with their goal to grow the group’s Premium, Midscale & Economy Division in key Asian markets, including the Philippines.

“We are accelerating the growth of our Premium, Midscale & Economy (PM&E) Division with a focused strategy to expand in sought-after destinations across Asia,” Langdon said.

“The signing of Mercure Mactan Cebu is fully aligned with our ambition to meet the growing demand for hotels that serve both leisure and business travelers, driven by the continued rise of leisure travel,” he added.

Megaworld Hotels & Resorts currently operates 13 hotels with around 7,000 rooms. It plans to open seven more properties in the next three years in areas such as Palawan, Pampanga, Bacolod, and Iloilo, which will bring its total to 20 hotels with 9,000 rooms.

The company recently opened the 1,530-room Grand Westside Hotel in Parañaque City, the largest hotel development in the country by room count.