Gokongwei Group eyes expansion for NUSTAR brand across the Philippines?
The Gokongwei Group is exploring potential new locations across the Philippines to replicate the NUSTAR Integrated Resort model, following its entry into the gaming and leisure industry through its flagship Cebu development. According to the local media, Philippine Star, the initiative forms part of the group’s broader ambition to bolster tourism and offer high-end leisure experiences beyond Cebu.
While discussions are ongoing, the group confirmed that no definitive plans have been made regarding new sites. Lance Gokongwei, who leads the conglomerate, shared that the company is currently reviewing several opportunities but remains focused on consolidating the current project before any expansion is finalised.
The NUSTAR Integrated Resort in Cebu officially opened in May 2022 and has since emerged as a prominent destination for luxury gaming, entertainment, and hospitality in the southern Philippines. The resort is developed and operated by Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc., the Gokongwei Group’s entity dedicated to integrated resort projects.
Grand Summit Hotel to open next year
The report quoted Gokongwei saying the company’s Cebu complex is in its final stages of development, with the Grand Summit Hotel expected to open next year. This will complete the PHP30-billion ($543.8 million) NUSTAR Resort master plan.
Earlier this month, the Gokongwei Group marked another milestone with the launch of NUSTAR Hotel, positioned as the country’s first ultra-luxury Filipino-branded hotel. It joins the Fili Hotel, a five-star local brand that opened in 2022, as part of the resort’s growing hospitality offerings. According to its press release, NUSTAR Hotel features 223 rooms and suites, among the largest in Cebu, ranging from 52 to 225 square metres.
The complex also includes three expansive luxury villas, each with private pools and sea-facing balconies, catering to guests seeking high-end accommodation with maximum privacy.
Online expansion amid shifting gaming landscape
While brick-and-mortar investments remain a priority, the Gokongwei Group is also adapting to the digital shift in the gaming industry. According to Gokongwei, NUSTAR Online has been launched as the resort’s digital extension, complementing the resort’s 21,000-square-metre gaming floor, 1,000 slot machines, and 150 table games.
The online platform supports local payment options such as GCash and Maya, allowing Filipino users easier access. The Gokongwei Group said this move as essential, given the growing competition in the physical 바카라 market and the increasing share of online gaming.
Gokongwei noted that while revenues from physical 바카라s are levelling off, the broader gaming market continues to grow, primarily driven by digital platforms. The shift reflects a wider trend in consumer preferences and technological integration in the leisure sector.
This move comes as the Philippine gaming industry earned PHP104.12 billion ($1.88 billion) in Gross Gaming Revenues (GGR) in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The country’s gaming regulator said the rapid growth of electronic gaming platforms mainly drove this performance.
