FILIPINO real estate developer Ayala Land is hastening its foray into tourism business through the introduction of a new hotel brand, Kukun, which is targeted chiefly at business travellers.
Derived from the word ‘cocoon’, Kukun hotels will be self-managed by Ayala. Each property will be situated adjacent to a shopping mall development also operated by the group—to capitalise on efficiencies, according to Ayala Land senior vice president, Junie Jalandoni.
“Kukun is what we call an urban lifestylfe brand, and is in the three- to four-star category. We don’t want to compete with the large international brands in the five-star segment,” he explained, adding that average room rates for Kukun would be about US$100 per night.
Ayala currently has four Kukuns in the pipeline—one scheduled to open in Fort Bonifacio in 3Q2012, one each in Davao and Cagayan de Oro, Alabang in 4Q2012, and the last in Nuvali, Santa Rosa, Laguna by middle of next year. Each will offer about 150-200 rooms and a single F&B outlet.
Ayala, which owns the InterContinental Manila and the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, will also be opening the 347-room Holiday Inn & Suites Makati in 1Q2013.
