Accor’s Mercure brand has entered the Philippine market with the opening of Mercure Mactan Cebu, expanding its presence into Cebu through a 550-room property located within Mactan Newtown, a master-planned coastal township. The opening introduces the brand to the country while establishing a hotel positioned close to business, convention, leisure, and event facilities in Mactan.
Mercure Mactan Cebu is located approximately 15 minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport and directly opposite Mactan Expo, identified as the area’s largest convention facility. The property’s location places it near several destinations and infrastructure serving visitors to Cebu, including the historic Mactan Shrine and island-hopping experiences across the region’s waters.
The hotel’s opening forms part of Mercure’s expansion in Asia, with the brand introducing its locally inspired hospitality concept to the Philippine market for the first time. Garth Simmons, Chief Operating Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division for Accor in Asia, described the opening as a strategic expansion for Mercure as Cebu continues to emerge as a gateway for travellers seeking culturally rich experiences.
For the hospitality business, the property’s location provides a direct connection to the meetings and events infrastructure surrounding Mactan Newtown. Mercure Mactan Cebu offers meeting rooms and flexible event spaces capable of accommodating gatherings ranging from 30 to 180 guests. Its position opposite Mactan Expo further connects the hotel with a convention facility featuring a 3,000-seat theatre.
The combination of accommodation and event facilities gives the property a role within Cebu’s corporate and MICE infrastructure. Delegates attending conventions and exhibitions at Mactan Expo can access the hotel directly across from the venue, while the property itself provides spaces for corporate meetings, celebrations, and social gatherings.
Beyond its meeting facilities, Mercure Mactan Cebu also provides access to Mactan Newtown Beach. The beachfront offering includes a Ceremony Garden for intimate occasions and a Glass Pavilion overlooking the sea for larger celebrations and weddings, extending the property's event infrastructure beyond its indoor meeting spaces.
The hotel comprises 550 guestrooms and suites across Standard Rooms, Privilege Rooms, and a Presidential Suite. The accommodation design incorporates locally inspired elements, curated artwork, and vibrant accents reflecting Cebu’s colours and creative character. Interior details draw from local craftsmanship and storytelling, including a geometric mural depicting Lapu-Lapu, the local hero associated with Mactan.
The property’s design forms part of Mercure’s established “glocal” approach, which combines the brand’s international hotel platform with elements drawn from local destinations. Since its establishment in 1973, Mercure has focused on experiences shaped by neighbourhood culture, community life, and local stories. The brand now has more than 1,000 hotels worldwide.
At Mercure Mactan Cebu, the local positioning also extends to its food and beverage operations. Pulô serves Filipino and Cebuano cuisine through an ocean-to-table approach, with interiors influenced by solihiya weaving, abaca craftsmanship, and the Sinulog Festival. The hotel also operates Lingaw Pool Bar, offering cocktails, local brews, and light bites, while Zabana Bar and Lounge provides an evening setting complemented by handcrafted Cebu guitars.
The property's broader facilities include a fully equipped fitness centre, separate steam and sauna facilities, spa treatments, a Garden Lounge, and a swimming pool. These facilities complement the accommodation and event components within the property.
The opening also brings Mercure’s loyalty ecosystem into the Philippine operation through ALL Accor, Accor’s lifestyle loyalty programme. Guests can enrol in the programme free of charge and access privileges across its network of destinations.
The development is led by Mercure under Accor, with Gwen De La Cruz serving as General Manager of Mercure Mactan Cebu. De La Cruz highlighted the role of Cebuano hospitality and local connections in shaping the guest experience at the property.
The hotel’s location within Mactan Newtown places it within an established mixed-use environment while maintaining proximity to the airport and major convention infrastructure. Its access to Mactan Expo, combined with its own meeting rooms and event spaces, establishes several operating touchpoints for business and event-related stays.
For Accor, the opening marks Mercure’s first property in the Philippines and adds a 550-room operation to the brand’s international network. The company’s expansion into Cebu brings the brand’s localised hotel model into a market where the property is connected to airport access, convention facilities, business hubs, beachfront facilities, and destination attractions.
Mercure Mactan Cebu therefore enters the Philippine market with accommodation, meetings and events, dining, wellness, and beachfront facilities integrated within a single property. Its opening expands Mercure’s geographic footprint while positioning the brand within Cebu’s business and hospitality infrastructure.