Pasay City, Philippines — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) actively participated in the Philippine Hotel Connect 2025, held on 24-25 July 2025 at the Manila Marriott Hotel. Co-presented by TIEZA, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the event served as a significant platform to stimulate growth and investments in the Philippine tourism and hospitality sectors.
The event opened with the Welcome Remarks delivered by Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) President Arthur Lopez, underscoring the vital role of collaboration in shaping the future of Philippine tourism. In a strong show of inter-agency support, DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano delivered a message emphasizing the DOT’s commitment to enabling business environments conducive to sustainable and inclusive tourism development. PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Mr. Alejandro Tengco also expressed PAGCOR’s continued support for tourism and hospitality investments, stressing the agency’s contribution in promoting integrated tourism estates and gaming-related infrastructure.
On the first day of the event, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark T. Lapid expressed strong support for the hospitality industry. In his message, he emphasized TIEZA’s commitment to building the foundation of a robust tourism ecosystem—developing critical infrastructure that enables business expansion and tourism mobility, ultimately driving demand for hotel accommodations across the country.
“TIEZA is your ally. This is why we value platforms like PHConnect. It’s a space where public and private sectors can converge, collaborate, and craft solutions for a stronger tourism future. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities,” COO Lapid shared.
The second day featured an engaging presentation by Assistant Chief Operating Officer for Tourism Enterprise Zone Management Sector, Atty. Karen Sarinas-Baydo, who provided an in-depth discussion on how hotel investors can leverage government incentives through TIEZA.
Atty. Sarinas-Baydo highlighted TIEZA’s vital role as an enabling partner for tourism development. She presented a comprehensive overview of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives available to TIEZA-registered enterprises, including:
- Fiscal incentives such as income tax holiday, enhanced deductions, and duty-free importation of capital goods and equipment, depending on project location and classification.
- Non-fiscal incentives, including eligibility for special investor’s resident visa, long-term land lease rights, repatriation of investments, and assistance in hiring foreign nationals.
In addition to these incentives, ACOO Atty. Sarinas-Baydo discussed the streamlined registration process, aiming to encourage the enterprises present at the event to register with TIEZA. Overall, her presentation showcased the extensive support and appealing conditions that position the Philippines as an attractive destination for tourism investments.
Throughout the two-day event, a dedicated TIEZA booth provided one-on-one assistance to participants, offering information on the registration process, investment opportunities within Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zones (FTEZs), and other TIEZA-managed assets across the country.
TIEZA’s presence at Philippine Hotel Connect 2025 reaffirmed its commitment to enabling sustainable and inclusive tourism development by forging stronger partnerships with key industry stakeholders.
For more information on investment opportunities and registration with TIEZA, visit www.tieza.gov.ph.