Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., the leisure division of Alliance Global Group Inc., in partnership with Suntrust Resort Holdings Inc., has committed up to $450 million to finalize the $1.25 billion Westside City integrated resort development in Parañaque, Philippines. According to Travellers International president and CEO Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez, the development, which is approximately 70% complete, will require additional capital to meet its final construction phase.
Project Features and Unique Customer Experience
According to Philstar Global, Rodriguez stated, “The $1.25-billion Westside City development is now full speed ahead, with an opening targeted for the third quarter of 2026. The focus now is completing Westside and operating it as soon as we can.” This massive resort aims to reshape the tourism and leisure landscape, offering an array of top-tier accommodations, dining options, entertainment, and a vast casino complex.
Once completed, the Westside City resort will boast more than 2,500 hotel rooms spread across three brands, catering to a wide range of customer preferences. The resort will also feature over 2,000 gaming machines and tables, including a state-of-the-art casino designed to compete with international resorts. Beyond gaming, Westside will host a curated selection of restaurants and lifestyle concepts, aimed at providing an all-encompassing leisure experience for visitors.
A standout feature of the development is the planned theater district, which will include world-class entertainment venues like the Apollo Theater and the Grand Opera House. According to Rodriguez, “Westside City will be more than a destination — it is a commitment to Filipino talent and world-class entertainment, designed to strengthen tourism and position the Philippines on the global stage.”
Rodriguez also emphasized that the Westside City project is aimed at providing a customer experience comparable to international resorts such as Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands or Macau. He noted, “It will get you closer to what you see in Marina Bay Sands or Macau. It’s that type of experience. It’s something that, hopefully, we know is not yet in the market today.”
Suntrust Strategic Investment and Role in Development
Suntrust Resort Holdings, the Philippine subsidiary of Hong Kong’s LET Group, has increased its stake in the Westside City project. The company recently subscribed to 400 million common shares of Westside Bayshore Holding Corp. (WBHC) for PHP3.2 billion ($56 million), effectively acquiring a 40% stake in the company. As a result, Suntrust now holds an indirect 20% interest in Entertainment City Resorts Corp. (ECRC), a subsidiary of WBHC responsible for overseeing the project’s development and operations.
Through this partnership, Suntrust aims to expedite the completion of the integrated resort, which will operate under the gaming license of Travellers International. Suntrust’s involvement in the project is part of a broader strategy to focus on tourism and gaming opportunities in the Philippines, a rapidly growing market for both sectors.
While online and electronic gaming have surged in the Philippines, Rodriguez believes land-based integrated resorts remain vital to the country’s tourism ecosystem. He stated, “Our role is not diminished but redefined — to anchor tourism, to deliver culture and entertainment, and to provide the human connection and experiences that online play can never replicate.” Rodriguez further emphasized that by expanding its portfolio of integrated resorts, Travellers International aims not only to scale up its operations but also to create new experiences for customers and grow the market.
Rodriguez’s comments reflect the company’s commitment to maintaining the relevance of physical casinos amid the growing popularity of online gaming. The Westside City resort is expected to serve as a critical anchor in the Philippines’ broader tourism strategy, offering both international visitors and local tourists a premium, integrated entertainment destination.
