MANILA – All 13 properties of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) have been named 100 percent Muslim-friendly by the Department of Tourism (DOT), making it the first hospitality chain in the country to get all its accommodation establishments certified.

At a ceremony 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 is very much a reflection of our shared commitment, not only for the tourism industry in the Philippines to recover, for that is no longer our perspective, but rather to transform in a manner that is sustainable, resilient, and most importantly, inclusive,” she added.

The certified properties are 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.

On top of an MFAE certification, Hotel Lucky Chinatown and Grand Westside Hotel are also 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,” Cleofe said.

At the awarding, Cleofe also announced that 100 percent of the 13 properties’ regular employees have been fully trained to meet the unique needs of Muslim travelers.

MHR’s recognition as a 100 percent MFAE is a result of its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the DOT, signed on the sidelines of 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.

Muslim-friendly beach

Last September, the DOT and MHR also introduced Boracay’s first dedicated Muslim-friendly beach, along a 300-meter stretch of white sand at Cove 2 in Boracay Newcoast, which provides facilities and amenities tailored to the needs of Muslim families and travelers.

Filipino-Arab influencer and model Shaha Meta, who was able to visit the cove, said she appreciates initiatives like this as these make traveling for Muslims more comfortable and enjoyable.

“I feel that it was really 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.

“Me, as a Muslim, I wear burkini instead of bikini. So, I saw the cove, we really have a separate small area there, where we can enjoy—hindi siya exclusive lang for us (it’s not only exclusive for Muslims), but we can be separated and we can enjoy more, may ganoong (there is that kind of) feeling,” she added.

Certain countries impose strict rules and bans on burkini, a swimwear that covers the head and body.

Both Shaha and her husband Afrim Meta also welcomed the growing number of hotels in the Philippines catering to Muslim guests.

“For us, it's actually very hard to find a hotel, which can welcome us, which can respect our beliefs, respect our food. Normally, when we go to a place like, we’d ask what will we eat or is it okay to pray here?” said Shaha. “So, having something like this is very important for us so that we feel welcome and comfortable and happy din so we enjoy our stay,” she said.

Afrim, for his part, shared: “We have noticed, for example, during our stay in Boracay, when you go inside the rooms, they have prayer mats for us Muslims. So, we can use them while praying."

“They have a Quran placed for us. So, if you need the Quran, we can read it. There's a Qibla, which shows what direction we have to pray. It’s really properly placed for us, that when we enter the room, we feel at home,” he added.

The Philippines now has a total of 17 DOT-certified Muslim-friendly accommodation establishments, including Dusit Thani Hotel Manila, The Farm at San Benito, Grand Summit Hotel General Santos, and Berjaya Makati Hotel.

The DOT is developing the country’s Muslim travel market, with special emphasis on attracting Muslim travelers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

From January to November 2024 alone, tourist arrivals from Muslim-majority countries reached 547,197—reflecting a 9.8 percent increase from 2023—and now account for 10 percent of the Philippines' total international arrivals. (PNA)