THE Bellevue Hotels and Resorts Group is building a P1 billion integrated commercial and residential project in Panglao, Bohol as it bets big on the island’s tourism boom.
Bim Sebastian, project development consultant at Bellevue, said the first phase of the four-hectare Bellemar development, which will feature nine commercial pavilions, is eyed to be completed by 2021.
He said the firm is eyeing to bring in national retail brands to Panglao, which is home to Bohol’s new international airport and is a key tourist attraction of the province.
The hotel operator has designed the project to become a commercial hub in the island, housing a variety of local and global brands including food and beverage, supermarket, technology, amusement, services, lifestyle and specialty wellness and government satellite offices.
Sebastian noted that the company is betting on Panglao’s projected tourism growth moving forward.
“(We believe in) the future of tourism and development of property,” he told SunStar Cebu, following the project’s groundbreaking on Oct. 26, 2019.
There is currently no major commercial center in Panglao, he said. That’s why the company decided to expand its commercial portfolio in the tourist hub.
Bellemar is about 800 meters from the Alona beach shoreline and 600 meters from the commercial center of Alona.
It will boast of architectural aesthetics inspired by the Philippines’ Spanish heritage.
The integrated project will be the first to have a full mall establishment in Panglao’s vicinity, wherein the supermarket alone will have an area of 2,000 square meters, targeting to bridge the “commercial gap” in the place.
The second phase of the project will involve the opening of its fifth hotel in the country.
Currently, the company manages four deluxe and standard hotels, including the five-star Bellevue Bohol. (CSL)