Shangri-La Santelmo Cove, set to open in 2031, will feature approximately 40 villas and 50 rooms and suites.
SM Hotels & Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), the hospitality arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is expanding further into the Philippines’ leisure tourism market through a partnership with Shangri-La Group to develop Shangri-La Santelmo Cove at Hamilo Coast, south of Manila.
Slated to open in 2031, the new resort will feature approximately 40 villas and 50 rooms and suites, offering an upscale coastal retreat designed around the natural terrain and ocean views of Hamilo Coast.
The development marks SMHCC’s entry into the premium island and coastal resort segment, broadening its hospitality portfolio beyond city hotels, convention facilities and existing leisure properties.
Shangri-La Santelmo Cove will be developed within a coastal environment known for its marine biodiversity, with the resort envisioned to integrate its hospitality offering with the surrounding natural landscape.
“Shangri-La Santelmo Cove marks an important milestone in SM Hotels’ portfolio as we venture further into the island and leisure tourism landscape,” said SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy E. Angeles.
“Our partnership with Shangri-La Group brings together two organizations with extensive experience in creating distinctive hospitality experiences in the Philippines. Together, we look forward to developing a destination that not only showcases the extraordinary beauty of Hamilo Coast, but also demonstrates how luxury and responsible tourism can thrive alongside one another.”
For Shangri-La Group, the project extends its presence in the Philippines, where the group has operated hotels and resorts in Manila, Boracay and Cebu.
“Shangri-La Santelmo Cove presents a unique opportunity to celebrate the Philippines’ natural and cultural treasures,” said Sunny Paw, Group Chief Operating Officer of Shangri-La Group.
“For more than two decades, Shangri-La has built a strong legacy in the country through our hotels and resorts in Manila, Boracay, and Cebu. The Santelmo Cove project is a natural and exciting extension of this journey across the archipelago, allowing us to introduce a new chapter of sustainable, nature-led luxury that reflects both the spirit of the destination and the values of our brand.”
The partnership combines SMHCC’s experience in developing and growing hospitality destinations in the Philippines with Shangri-La Group’s international resort and hotel operations expertise.
For SMHCC, the development is also positioned as part of its broader strategy to create tourism destinations that generate long-term value while considering the environmental and community context of the locations where its properties operate.
“This project represents more than the addition of a new property to our portfolio. It is an opportunity for SM Hotels to help shape the next generation of Philippine leisure destinations,” Angeles added.
“We are proud to partner with Shangri-La in creating a resort that allows guests to experience the beauty of the Philippines in a way that is both exceptional and mindful of its surroundings.”
Once completed, Shangri-La Santelmo Cove is expected to add a new luxury resort offering to Hamilo Coast and further strengthen the destination’s positioning at the intersection of hospitality, nature and leisure tourism.
