All 13 properties of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) have been officially recognized as 100% Muslim-friendly by the Department of Tourism (DOT), making it the first hospitality chain in the Philippines to achieve this milestone.
At a ceremony on Wednesday night, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco awarded the Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishments (MFAE) certificate to MHR Managing Director Cleofe Albiso. “The awarding of this certification for Megaworld is a significant milestone for our collective efforts to provide inclusivity in the tourism industry,” Frasco said. “This reflects our shared commitment to not only recover the tourism industry in the Philippines but to transform it in a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive manner.”
The certified properties include Belmont Hotel Manila, Belmont Hotel Boracay, Belmont Hotel Mactan, Savoy Hotel Manila, Savoy Hotel Boracay, Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Kingsford Hotel Manila, and Twin Lakes Hotel. Additionally, Hotel Lucky Chinatown and Grand Westside Hotel are on track to receive their halal certifications in the coming year.
The kitchens at Kingsford Hotel Manila, Savoy Hotel Boracay, Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, and Belmont Hotel Mactan have been certified as Halal by the Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines. “This achievement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to creating spaces that embrace inclusivity, allowing our guests to feel comfortable and at home. By incorporating Halal-certified kitchens, prayer rooms, and Muslim-friendly amenities, we aim to foster an environment that reflects our Filipino values of warmth, hospitality, and respect,” Albiso said.
Albiso also announced that 100% of the 13 properties’ regular employees have been fully trained to meet the unique needs of Muslim travelers. MHR’s recognition as a 100% MFAE is a result of its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the DOT, signed at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai last May.
Following the MOU, MHR actively participated in key trade shows such as the SALAAM: The Halal and Trade Expo, the 31st Travel and Tour Expo VisMin Edition in Cagayan de Oro City, and the Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism Summit. Last September, the DOT and MHR introduced Boracay’s first dedicated Muslim-friendly beach along a 300-meter stretch of white sand at Cove 2 in Boracay Newcoast, providing facilities and amenities tailored to the needs of Muslim families and travelers.
Filipino-Arab influencer and model Shaha Meta, who visited the cove, expressed her appreciation for such initiatives, stating that they make traveling for Muslims more comfortable and enjoyable. “I feel that it was amazing because I’ve been traveling to many Muslim countries, where there is also a Muslim cove. So, seeing that in the Philippines, I am super proud and super happy that Muslims can also go there and enjoy it here in the Philippines,” she said in an interview.
Meta, who wears a burkini instead of a bikini, noted the importance of having a separate area where Muslim women can enjoy the beach comfortably. Certain countries impose strict rules and bans on burkinis, swimwear that covers the head and body. Both Shaha and her husband Afrim Meta welcomed the growing number of hotels in the Philippines catering to Muslim guests. “For us, it’s very hard to find a hotel that can welcome us,” they said.
