THE ORIENTAL Hotels and Resorts is expanding in several key tourist destinations in the Philippines, by acquiring old buildings and transforming them into hotels. In a statement, Rebecca Marie Abigail Lee, president and chief executive officer of the Oriental group, said that the company is expanding in top destinations such as Baguio City, Alaminos City, Banaue, and Sorsogon. “The thrust of Oriental Hotels and Resorts is to preserve heritage, evident in the type of buildings we have been acquiring for renovation,” Ms. Lee said. She said the company is also looking to restore Diplomat Hotel in Baguio City, and is set to lease the Banaue Hotel, which is owned by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. This year, the Oriental group is set to open The Oriental Albay in Legazpi City. Next year, the company will open the Alaminos City hotel near Hundred Islands National Park, Pangasinan. It is also planning to establish a low-density luxury resort in Tikling Island in Matnog, Sorsogon. The Oriental group, which is part of Sorsogon-based LKY Group of Companies, opened its first project in Legazpi City, Albay in 2011. Its other properties include Oriental Leyte in Palo, Oriental Luxury Suites in Tagaytay City, Oriental Hotel Bataan in Mariveles, and Swagman Hotel in Ermita, Manila. — V.M.P. Galang
