Image via WikipediaRobinsons Land Corporation expands its robust property portfolio across the country as it disclosed plans to develop the first master-planned condo-resort community in Mactan, Cebu.The country’s second largest diversified real estate company recently acquired a prime 5-hectare property with a 170-meter beachfront in Punta Engaño district in Mactan, Cebu. It shall be designed to be the first leisure community development of Robinsons Land.
Tourism and business hub of the South
Cebu’s tourism potential and its being the investors’ preferred headquarters in Southern Philippines add to Robinsons Land’s high hopes for its new project and the region itself.
The historic province of Cebu, touted as the gateway to two-thirds of the country’s major islands, has been recording upbeat tourism figures lately. Total foreign arrivals and domestic travels in the first half of the year show substantial growth of 20%, as against last year’s records for the same period. The first six months of the year saw Koreans topping the island’s foreign guest list, followed by the Japanese and the Americans.
Similarly, the local government has recognized Cebu’s tourism potential and has been actively formulating marketing strategies to achieve targets for its 5-year tourism plan, such as tourism missions in Europe. It is also counting on the emerging markets of China, Russia, India, and fellow ASEAN countries to boost its foreign arrivals.
Cebu has also been regarded as a premier business destination in the South, having been part of the Philippine Cyber Corridor masterplan that runs through Baguio, Manila, and Davao. The said vision crafted by the national government aimed to boost telecommunications and technology, and included empowering regions to provide information technology (IT)-related services. Multinational information technology firms and contact centers have likewise found their new homes in Cebu in the recent years, thereby attracting talents also from its neighboring provinces. The development of Cebu’s business parks also serves as a testament to the business-friendly environment of Cebu.
Robinsons Land’s top executives are confident that the organization is ready to maximize the company’s expertise in developing mixed-use communities in promising areas outside Metro Manila. The abounding possibilities in Cebu affirm Robinsons Land’s move to explore opportunities in the Queen City of the South.
Homegrown business
Mixed-use communities, composed of hospitality and residential developments, have been Robinsons Land’s strength. President and Chief Operating Officer Frederick D. Go notes, “Robinsons Land Corporation has gained its formidable status and esteemed name with its strategically located residential condominiums, hotels, and commercial centers that are of world-class quality. Having accomplished this feat, we will now build a landmark five-star condo-resort project in Cebu.”
Go cites that Robinsons Land’s mother company, JG Summit Holdings Inc., traces its roots to Cebu, as founder John Gokongwei, Jr. began his post-war trading business in his hometown. The humble trading activity ventured into by the young Gokongwei in local sailboats over five decades ago has paved the way for the birth of J.G. Summit Holdings Inc., which is now among the Philippines’ largest conglomerates. It holds diverse interests in branded consumer foods, agro-industrial and commodity food products, textile, telecommunications, petrochemicals, air transportation and financial services. This same entrepreneurial spirit of Gokongwei has eventually led him to be one of the country’s only seven billionaires.
Today, Robinsons Land Corporation is among the most profitable businesses of J.G. Summit Holdings Inc., with its 18 malls, 23 residential subdivisions, 22 residential condominiums, 6 office buildings and 4 hotels. It has pioneered several developments in key cities, where it launched its other notable projects such as Galleria Regency, East of Galleria, The Trion Towers, Fifth Avenue Place, Adriatico Residences, and One Gateway Place. With the timely completion and delivery of its residential condominium projects, Robinsons Land Corporation remains today’s property developer of choice of investors and end-users, both local and foreign alike. On the other hand, its status as the top office landlord of business process outsourcers and multinational firms is credited to its development of centrally located office buildings across the metropolis.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 27, 2007
http://www.robinsonsoffices.com/Oct-dec2007.html
