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Tag: Philippines

  • AirAsia announces flights from Manila to Bali, Jakarta

    AirAsia announces flights from Manila to Bali, Jakarta

    Budget carrier AirAsia on Thursday announced it will start servicing flights from Manila to Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia starting January 2018.

    In a statement, AirAsia Philippines said it will start flying from Manila to Jakarta, Indonesia starting January 9, and to Bali, Indonesia starting January 19.

    Daily flights from Manila to Bali will have a departure time of 6:40 p.m., and an arrival time of 10:25 p.m. Flights back to the Philippines leave Bali at 11:20 p.m.

    Meanwhile, flights from Manila to Jakarta will have a departure time of 8:00 a.m, and an arrival time of 11:00 a.m. Flights back to the Philippines leave Jakarta at 11:30 a.m.

    In the same statement, AirAsia said it will also start flying to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam starting November 17.

    Flights from Manila to Ho Chi Minh will have a departure time of 10:25 p.m. every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. Flights back to Manila leave Ho Chi Minh at 1:35 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

    With the new routes, AirAsia also on Thursday announced all-in promo fares available from P2,950 available until October 22, with a travel period from November 17, 2017 to April 30, 2018.

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  • Philippines bans companies from forcing female workers to wear high heels

    Philippines bans companies from forcing female workers to wear high heels

    The Philippines has banned companies from forcing women to wear high heels – a move that’s been hailed as a landmark victory against sexism by labour unions.

    The new government order, which came into effect on Sunday, dictates that employers should implement the use of “practical and comfortable footwear” and that workers must not wear heels that are higher than an inch, unless they choose to do so.

    The move will likely be especially welcomed by retail clerks, receptionists, security guards, flight attendants and other professionals who spend a large portion of their day on their feet.

    The government’s labour department said that wearing high heels while standing for prolonged periods of time may cause sore feet and aching muscles but also “hazardous” pressure on joints.

    “It’s a form of torture. It’s a form of oppression and slavery. Imagine having to endure that pain for eight to 10 hours a day,” Alan Tanjusay, spokesman for the Associated Labor Unions told.

    “It’s also a form of sexism because culturally employers say women wearing high heels look taller and sexier and are then more attractive, more effective in selling products. They don’t know the women are suffering,” Mr Tanjusay added.

    The government also said that companies must give workers who spend a long time on their feet rest periods or seats to reduce the time they spend standing or walking.

    In July, researchers at the University of Aberdeen published a study in which they argued that more needed to be done to address the problem of women being forced to wear high heels in certain jobs.

    The academics said that certain footwear increases the chances of developing certain damaging musculoskeletal conditions.

    Earlier in the year the UK Government rejected calls for a blanket ban on enforced high heel wearing.

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  • Malls in Philippines unlikely to follow US stores to extinction

    Malls in Philippines unlikely to follow US stores to extinction

    Malls in the Philippines are unlikely to be replaced by online channels soon, as millennials seeking to spend on experiences drive demand for restaurant space, a property consultant said Monday.

    Food and beverage now account for 40 percent of mall space, compared to 60 percent for retail. The sector used to account for just 20 percent, according to data from Leechiu Property Consultants.

    “These malls in Asia have one thing in common, they are utilitarian malls,” said the consulting firm’s CEO, David Leechiu.

    Malls in the Philippines, unlike in the US, are very accessible to consumers, located in “high-density” areas with office and residential buildings.

    Citing a Credit Suisse study, Leechiu said 20 to 25 percent of malls in the US may close in the next 5 years as online shopping grows.

  • Philippines AirAsia picks Clark airport over NAIA as its main hub

    Philippines AirAsia picks Clark airport over NAIA as its main hub

    Philippines AirAsia Incorporated targets to make the Clark International Airport its main hub for operations, as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has inadequate space for the budget airline’s fleet expansion, its chief said.

    To sustain its operations, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has waived the budget airline’s airport, landing, and takeoff fees, according to Philippines AirAsia chief executive officer Dexter Comendador.

    It was in March this year when Philippines AirAsia returned to its Clark roots. In 2013, the budget carrier had moved its operations to NAIA Terminal 4 in Manila after its then-affiliate Zest Airways Incorporated suffered heavy losses.

    “We plan to establish Clark as our main hub, because Manila is too crowded. If I have 70 planes in 10 years, I do not have a place to park in Manila,” Comendador told reporters on the sidelines of a briefing in Taguig City last week.

    The local airline is planning to increase its fleet to 17 jets this year from the current 14 to accommodate its new operations.

    70 airplanes

    In the next 3 to 5 years, Comendador said Philippines AirAsia targets to double its fleet. By 2032, it aims to have 70 planes.

    “Since we are opening Clark as a hub, we plan to fly to Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taipei,” Comendador said.

    To spur outbound traffic, the CIAC waived landing and takeoff fees as well as other airport charges for Philippines AirAsia.

    CIAC chief Alexander Cauguiran earlier said discounts on similar fees have been granted to other airlines operating at the Clark International Airport.

    Philippines AirAsia operates a fleet of 17 aircraft with domestic and international flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, Kalibo, and now Clark.

    It flies to Manila, Davao, Cebu, Kalibo, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Puerto Princesa, Clark, Shanghai, Taipei, Incheon, Hong Kong, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, and Singapore.

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  • Simply Shoes step back in time for Henry Sy

    Simply Shoes step back in time for Henry Sy

    Mall billionaire Henry Sy is returning to his roots with a new warehouse-style shoe shop for budget shoppers, Simply Shoes.

    Customers pick out sneakers, sandals and heels from the plain displays that are piled up to the ceiling, as they would in supermarkets and outlet shops.

    Tapping into a middle class that is growing more affluent, Simply Shoes is also a tribute to Sy’s beginnings at the original Shoe Mart in downtown Manila’s Carriedo, the seed of his mall empire, says SM Retail senior VP for shoes and bags Eugene Saw.

    “He got busy with other businesses, but his true love, his true passion is the shoe business, so it’s really going back to the roots,” Saw says.

    “As we grow big, we also want to stay true to ourselves. In fact, that’s one of Mr Sy’s dreams. He said years ago that he wanted to sell a pair of shoes to every Filipino, so it’s part of accomplishing his mission.”

    Two more branches of Simply Shoes are opening this week to join 29 branches, mostly in emerging cities.

    SM has 63 malls in the Philippines and seven in China, where Sy was born.

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  • Jollibee Foods taking acquisition path to China, US

    Jollibee Foods taking acquisition path to China, US

    Fast-food chain Jollibee Foods Corporation is seeking acquisitions to accelerate expansion plans in China and the US.

    Targets could include other fast-food chains as well as fast-casual restaurants like Smashburger, the US franchise of which Jollibee owns 40 per cent, says president Ernesto Tanmantiong.

    “We are looking at the world arena. Acquisition is part of our growth strategy.”

    Jollibee is on track to meet its goal of doubling profit in the five years through to 2019, and Tanmantiong says he now wants it to be one of the five biggest restaurant chains by market capitalisation globally. Its current market value is US$5.2 billion.

    Jollibee runs more than 3500 stores globally, with its best-selling item being Chickenjoy. Three-quarters of its outlets are in the Philippines.

    “We are optimistic with the future of the Philippine market,” says Tanmantiong. “Major pillars will still be the Philippines, China and US, though we don’t close our door to opportunities in other geographic areas.”

    Filipino diaspora focus

    Its expansion plans focus on overseas locations that have a concentration of Filipinos, like California, Florida, Guam and Hawaii. The chain opened its first Florida store in March, making it the 36th outlet in the US.

    Jollibee spent $100 million for its stake in Smashburger in 2015, which had 362 stores in the US at the end of June. The Philippines company has completed 12 deals valued at about $301 million since 2010, according to Bloomberg data, and has considered about 20 potential acquisitions during the past two years.

    While it is reportedly considering a bid for UK sandwich chain Pret A Manger, Tanmantiong says the company hasn’t made any bids in recent months. He became president/CEO in 2014. His older brother, Tony Tan Caktiong, founded the chain as an ice-cream parlor in Quezon City in 1975.

    Jollibee’s Chinese businesses include Hard Rock Cafe and it own outlets in Hong Kong, and on the mainland such brands as Dunkin’ Donuts, noodle chain Yonghe King and congee outlet Hong Zhuang Yuan.

    “China is now one of the highest growth areas in our business,” says Tanmantiong.

    The company also wants to take its Philippine chicken barbecue chain Mang Inasal and its Chinese restaurants global.

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  • Cebu Pacific Air celebrate 50 years of ASEAN

    Cebu Pacific Air celebrate 50 years of ASEAN

    In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN), Cebu Pacific Air, the Philippines’ largest carrier, is offering a five-day seat sale up to 20 October 2017, or until seats last. The sale offers all-inclusive fares from Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam to four cities in the Philippines*: Bohol, Cebu, Dumaguete and Manila. This sale is valid for travel from 1 January to 31 March 2018, which covers the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays.

    “It is our pleasure to offer this timely seat sale to mark this milestone with ASEAN. We believe in what ASEAN One stands for and the value it brings to the member countries, so what better way to celebrate this milestone than with a seat sale to encourage our neighbours to experience the best of the Philippines,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Distribution.

    Experience nature at its best in Bohol
    One of the loveliest islands in the Philippines, enjoy Bohol’s beautiful coastline and white sand beaches. Bohol is also home to the famed Chocolate Hills, so named as the green grass turns brown during the dry season; as well as the Philippine Tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world. With so much beauty to behold, you may never want to leave.

    Kick back and relax in Cebu
    Home to some of the best dive spots in the country, plunge into the depths of the ocean with the friendly locals, or opt for action water sports like jet skiing or parasailing. After the sunset, explore Cebu’s nightlife at some of the happening bars in the city.

    Be free in Dumaguete
    Known as “The City of Gentle People,” Dumaguete is a popular educational destination because of the presence of seven universities and colleges. Diving, dolphin- and whale-watching are popular activities here—perfect for those wanting to escape into their own underwater adventure.

    Shop till you drop in Manila
    Explore the colourful capital city of Manila on foot, with great street art lining the walls of one the business districts in Manila. Travellers looking for great deals can head to Divisoria, a wholesale shopping mecca, which offers everything from accessories, clothes, homeware, and even industrial products. End the day with an ice-cold beer at Roxas Boulevard and toast to one of the best sunsets the city has to offer.

    CEB currently offers over 100 weekly flights to seven ASEAN country destinations, with 11 weekly flights to Indonesia; 21 weekly flights to Malaysia; 40 weekly flights to Singapore; seven weekly flights to Thailand; 15 weekly flights to Vietnam; five weekly flights to Brunei and four weekly flights to Cambodia.

  • Cebu Pacific ushers in surfing season with direct Manila-Siargao flights

    Cebu Pacific ushers in surfing season with direct Manila-Siargao flights

    An island with lush forest covers, trimmed with fine white sand and a crown of gleaming blue waters—Siargao is indeed another gem in the Pearl of the Orient that both surfers and beach bums dream about. And as more travelers chase the breathtaking giant waves of Siargao, this island paradise becomes more within reach with Cebu Pacific’s special additional flights to the Surfing Capital of the Philippines.

    Starting December 17, 2017, up until March 24, 2018, the Philippines’ leading carrier will be flying direct between Manila and Siargao, six times a week. For as low as PHP2,370, vacationers from the country’s capital may leave the hustle and bustle of the Metro and fly in to Siargao’s haven of cozy resorts and warm and hospital locals.

    Perfect for backpackers and adventure enthusiasts, the island of Siargao boasts of exciting roads that lead to many different spots for a quick dip, snorkeling, sight-seeing and world-class surfing. Traveler favorites are the famed Cloud 9 and General Luna, where beginners learn to paddle then stand on a board, and pro-surfers get to hang ten.

    Nearby islets like Guyam, Daku, and Naked Islands also draw a crowd for an unbridled experience of nature in the South. In these parts, travelers can discover Siargao’s natural heritage and the various facets of local culture as it evolves with the foreigners who now call the island their home.

    The island also boasts of an effervescent food scene and night life, enriched by the fusion of local and foreign influences. With fresh catch of seafood and baskets of fruits readily available in the destination and the positive outlook in the community, Siargao serves the most delectable and satisfying experience from dusk to dawn.

    “There is a clear surge of interest in Siargao, and we’ve seen its great potential for tourism since we began offering flights in 2009. With our special direct Manila-Siargao flights, we are positive that more tourists will discover what Siargao has to offer. Cebu Pacific is glad to make it easier for everyJuan to visit this dreamy island paradise more often, where surfing and sustainable living are a way of life,” says Alexander Lao, President and CEO of Cebgo.

    Aside from Manila, Cebu Pacific also flies direct to Siargao from Cebu twice daily, with the lowest year-round fare of PHP 2,104. Travelers also visit the island by taking a connecting flight from Manila via Cebu to Siargao.

    Discover the mesmerizing beauty of Siargao, the elusive coast for surfers and beach lovers, by flying in with Cebu Pacific. Checking in sports equipment like surf-boards are also available in these flights, and can be added to flight bookings up to four hours before scheduled times of departure.

  • LuLu Group may invest in Philippines

    LuLu Group may invest in Philippines

    Supermarket chain LuLu Group, based in Abu Dhabi, has been looking at investment opportunities in the Philippines.

    It is part of its plans to expand in Southeast Asia, says director general Charito Plaza of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), following a visit from LuLu Group executives. Initially it aims to establish a warehouse for food products it will export to the Middle East and other markets where it has a presence. It has 138 retail stores in 21 countries.

    “They will be building in Malaysia and Thailand, then also in the Philippines,” says Plaza.

    She says the group will be setting up warehouses and seeking to grow vegetables and other crops, as well as establish food-processing factories. The LuLu delegation visited an economic zone in Angeles, Pampanga, as a possible warehouse site.

    Aside from this, the group is also thinking about building malls and supermarkets in the Philippines.

    Plaza says Qatar is also looking at sourcing food products from the Philippines.

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  • Cebu Pacific honors 20% discount for senior citizens

    Cebu Pacific honors 20% discount for senior citizens

    Gokongwei-led budget carrier Cebu Pacific upgraded its systems to implement the 20% discount on domestic flight tickets for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), even for bookings made online.

    The discount comes on top of the exemption from 12% value-added tax (VAT) provided by the government.

    Senior citizens and PWDs who book Cebu Pacific domestic flights, whether via ticket offices, online through the airline’s website, or through the mobile app, will now see the discounts reflected in the base fare.

    “Through this system upgrade, we hope to be able to better serve the traveling public and make it easier for our senior citizens and PWDs to avail of the discounts,” said Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs JR Mantaring in a statement on Friday, September 22.

    “We also recognize the efforts of the House committee on transportation, the Department of Transportation, and the Civil Aeronautics Board in drafting these guidelines that would govern the granting of discounts for senior citizens and PWDs on online transactions as these have been seen growing exponentially over the past years,” he added.

    The 20% discount offered to seniors and PWDs is for airfare only and does not include other services such as food, baggage allowance, and seat selection.

    Steps to follow

    In order for eligible passengers to obtain the discounts through online booking, Cebu Pacific said they need to input their details, including their birthdate or the number stated on their identification cards (senior citizen’s ID or PWD ID).

    The total discounted amount can then be found both in the “booking summary” portion of the website, as well as the “fare breakdown” or “payment details” portion of the itinerary receipt.

    Upon check-in, passengers who obtained the discount are required to present their senior citizen’s ID or PWD ID.

    Passengers who do not have those IDs may also present other valid government-issued IDs that show their nationality and birthdate, such as their passport, driver’s license, voter’s ID, SSS/GSIS ID, PRC card, or postal ID.

  • CEO confirms Ikea Philippines expansion

    CEO confirms Ikea Philippines expansion

    The first Ikea Vietnam store is in planning, with the Swedish furniture and homewares retailer revealing the country as one of its next two Asian markets.

    In an interview with Bloomberg, Inter Ikea CEO Torbjorn Loof said expansion in Southeast Asia and South America are priorities for the brand, which already has stores in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand in this part of the world.

    Philippines is the other country he named in Asia. Both countries will host Ikea stores within five years.

    Ikea is not currently in South America, but the company sees the continent as “an important growth market” in the long term. Bloomberg named Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Chile as the most likely priority countries in South America for Ikea.

    “We haven’t zoomed in or decided on any particular markets, but we’ve said that within the next five years we should have opened our first Ikea in South America,” Loof said. “When we open in South America, because it’s a new continent and a new region, we can’t just open one warehouse.”

    The expansion plans follow Ikea’s entry into India and Latvia this year as it continues its slow global roll-out. After opening 22 new stores this year – eight more than last year – Loof said it expects to open about 25 a year moving forward.

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  • Smart to double LTE capacity in two cities

    Smart to double LTE capacity in two cities

    The Philippines’ Smart Communications plans to upgrade its cell sites in Marikina and Quezon City in the latest phase of its network expansion and modernization program.

    The PLDT subsidiary plans to double its LTE cell sites in the two areas, and aims to boost the coverage of its 700-MHz and 1800-MHz based network to both improve indoor coverage and enhance each cell site’s capacity.

    Smart has to date finished its LTE rollout in major urban hubs Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, in the island resort of Boracay, and in Rizal province. Deployment is underway in Metro Manila, and the operator plans to speed up its LTE network deployment to cater to growing demand.

    Smart is conducting the upgrade in stages to minimize disruption, according to PLDT and Smart SVP for network planning and engineering Mario Tamoyo.

    “By continuously upgrading our networks, we are leading the way toward improving internet and digital services for Filipinos,” he said.

    “From the work that we’ve already completed, our customers are already reporting much improved LTE and 3G experience. They will enjoy progressively better mobile data services in the next few months, particularly for those using LTE devices.”

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  • Jollibee Foods knocking on door in UK

    Jollibee Foods knocking on door in UK

    Jollibee Foods may open its first store in the UK by next year, says British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce.

    This followed him visiting Jollibee’s 1000th branch in a “show of support” for plans by the Philippines’ largest fast-food company to expand to the UK, where tens of thousands of Filipinos are living.

    The Philippine company has already sealed a deal with Singapore’s Blackbird Holdings which will see it enter continental Europe, starting with Italy.

    Jollibee is also reportedly in talks to acquire a stake in British-based sandwich and coffee chain Pret-A-Manger.

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  • FamilyMart Philippines chain up for auction

    FamilyMart Philippines chain up for auction

    FamilyMart Philippines convenience-store chain, partly owned by the Ayala and Tantoco groups, is up for auction.

    With about 70 stores, the Japanese chain has been offered to prospective investors in the past few months.

    Ayala Land and the Rustan’s group, via their equally owned JV firm Sial CVS Retailers, in 2012 signed a deal with FamilyMart and Itochu Corporation to develop and run FamilyMart convenience stores in the Philippines.
    FamilyMart has been closing unprofitable stores over the past 12 months.

    In the convenience store market in past six years, new brands have been challenging 7-Eleven and MiniStop, respectively run by Philippine Seven Corporation (PSC) and Robinsons Retail Holdings.

    Aside from FamilyMart, the Puregold group also brought Japan’s Lawson into the market while the SM group introduced Indonesian brand Alfamart. Meanwhile, real-estate magnate Manuel Villar has also built his own convenience-store network, All Day.

    To date, the two original brands still lead the market, with 7-Eleven surpassing 2000 outlets while Mini-Stop has at least 500 stores.

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  • Michael Kors reopens Makati flagship store

    Michael Kors reopens Makati flagship store

    Affordable luxury leather goods brand Michael Kors has finished renovating its flagship store in Manila, reopening to the Filipino customer in October 2017.

    Located at Greenbelt 5, the improved Makati store unveils a new play on metal accents — as seen on shelves and fixtures – for the US brand.

    The New York handbag and accessories retailer is locally distributed in the Asian nation by Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI), and is looking to ramp up sales in the Philippines.

    “Michael Kors has contemporary styling and great value. It is very up to date with trends interpreted in a way that resonates with every kind of style,” SSI Group president Anton Huang, told local media.

    According to Huang, Michael Kors bags, accessories and footwear remain the Philippines’ most sought after item.

    However, Michael Kors Philippines has witnessed an increase in sales for ready-to-wear lines, adding the brand’s success is rising as more customers adopt a sophisticated lifestyle.

    “Ready-to-wear apparel has become more important to our customers. It  is been successful. For apparel, there’s growth season after season.”

    In addition to the newly reopened Makati flagship, Michael Kors has other stores in the Philippines located at Central Square on Bonifacio High Street, Newport Mall, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

    Kors had been grappling with declining sales in recent quarters as more people shop online. The firm has faced over-distribution of its products and a reliance on promotions to boost sales also eroded some of Kors’ brand value and its appeal.

    However, in August 2017, Michael Kors Holdings reported better-than-expected profit for the first quarter as it cut down on promotions and sold more premium handbags, it said.

    Looking ahead, the company expects fiscal 2018 revenue of about $4.28 billion, slightly higher than its earlier forecast of $4.25 billion.

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