The firm reported revenues of nearly PHP7.0 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a 9.2-percent decline from a year ago. Cost of sales and expenses decreased by 6.2 percent year-on-year, to circa PHP5.3 billion.

That was according to a Thursday filing from the parent, Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc.

The parent said that to “defend profitability amid top line pressures” related with Travellers’ operations, the group “intensified its cost management efforts”. 

Such steps resulted in direct costs and promotional allowances being “scaled back” by 5 percent and 23 percent year-on-year, respectively, “limiting gross-profit margin compression to 44 percent,” it said.

The company said non-gaming revenues rose about 10 percent year-on-year, to PHP2.0 billion, “partially offsetting a 15-percent decline in net gaming revenues to PHP5.0 billion”. 

Travellers reported first-quarter earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of PHP1.7 billion, compared with PHP2.1 billion in the prior-year period.

The parent stated: “Structurally, a resilient mass segment cushioned the impact of overall weakness in VIP gaming, while steady demand lifted performance across the hotels, food and beverage, theatre, cinemas and other service operations.”

In April, Philippines-listed gaming technology provider PhilWeb Corp announced a partnership with Travellers International linked to Newport World Resorts’ online gaming operations as a Gaming System Administrator.

Newport World Resorts (pictured) currently has five international hotel brands: Marriott Manila Hotel, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, Hotel Okura Manila, and Holiday Inn Express Manila. It offers a total of 2,742 guest rooms.

The group said operational execution in the opening quarter of 2026 “remained strong,” with average occupancy rates across the complex’s five hotels “tracking between 83 percent and 95 percent, matching the high baseline established in the same period last year”.

Travellers accounted for 16 percent of Alliance Global’s consolidated revenues and 0.4 percent of consolidated net profit.

Travellers is also involved in the development of the US$1.25-billion Westside Resort in Manila, including a casino.

Kevin Tan, president and chief executive of Alliance Global, said the group had “an optimistic start” to 2026. 

“First-quarter results reflected healthy residential sales, strong leasing revenues, sustained improvement in the hospitality business, and the nascent recovery in spirits sale,” the CEO stated.

“These businesses continued to perform well even against a demanding macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop,” he added.

Mr Tan also said the first-quarter performance was “supported by ongoing cost discipline,” embedded in the group’s operations. “This allowed our group to gain operating leverage, while we continue to implement our aggressive business strategies,” Mr Tan noted.

The deal is linked to Newport World Resorts’ online gaming operations as a Gaming System Administrator (GSA) accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor).

Under the agreement, PhilWeb said it would “provide platform technology, system support, gaming content integration, marketing and operational services for Newport World Resorts’ GSA online gaming platform,” dubbed NWRPlay, “subject to applicable regulatory requirements and approvals”.

PhilWeb said the engagement was “part of the company’s ongoing initiatives to expand its B2B [business-to-business] platform and content initiatives within the regulated online gaming sector”.

Newport World Resorts currently has five international hotel brands: Marriott Manila Hotel, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, Hotel Okura Manila, and Holiday Inn Express Manila. It offers a total of 2,742 guest rooms.

Travellers International is a unit of Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc. The business has plans to develop a 157-room The Narra Palm Hotel and Villa at the complex.

Travellers International is also involved in the development of the US$1.25-billion Westside City casino resort in Manila.

PhilWeb, which earlier this month saw completion of a management-led buyout, has recently announced partnerships with organisations including the Okada Manila casino resort in the Philippine capital; the Hann Resorts complex, a development with casino business at in Clark, central Luzon; and gaming machine supplier-entity FBM Philippines.

The casino industry trade show and conference presented by RX (formerly Reed Exhibitions), is to be held at the  Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts in the Philippine capital Manila, on December 10 and 11.

Mr Tengco will speak in the morning of day one. A highlight of day two is a presentation by Ricardo Banaag, president and CEO at DFNN Inc, one of the Philippines’ leading providers of gaming parlour- and Internet-delivered gaming entertainment.

Scheduled for the first day, is a post-lunchtime segment with Greg Hawkins, president and chief operating officer (COO), at Bloomberry Resorts Corp, the operator of Solaire Resort & Casino in Entertainment City, and Solaire Resort North in Quezon City. Mr Hawkins was also the launch president for City of Dreams in Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd’s flagship Cotai property.

According to conference materials in the official website, day one of G2E Asia @ the Philippines 2025 will also see discussion with John Lucas, chief hospitality officer at Newport World Resorts, and Samuel Wilkes, vice president for F&B business development and strategy for Solaire resorts, on the topic: “Beyond the Casino Floor: Redefining the Integrated Resort with Non-Gaming Innovation”.

Day two sessions include “Innovations in Responsible Gaming and CSR,” with contributions from Vina Claudette Oca, assistant vice president for gaming licensing and development at Pagcor.

Also on that panel is Erick Su, leader at ArenaPlus, a sportsbook platform of DigiPlus Interactive Corp, the firm behind the  BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone digital entertainment brands in the Philippines. Further providing expert insights is Nerie Aquino, director of gaming compliance, legal and compliance at Okada Manila, one of Entertainment City’s leading integrated resorts.

Later during day two, Michael Grimes, a principal at GGRAsia, will lead industry experts in a discussion on “Opportunities for Casinos in Asia to Lead in Slots and ETG Technology”.

Contributing will be Vincent Tang, vice president of sales Asia Pacific at  Interblock Asia Pacific Pty Ltd; and Eddie Au, COO at LT Game Ltd.

That was according to a Thursday filing from the parent, Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc.

Travellers International achieved EBITDA of PHP2.5 billion (US$44.1 million) in the three months to June 30, “a significant 21-percent quarter-on-quarter improvement”. 

The firm’s gross revenues stood at PHP9.2 billion in the second quarter, as gross gaming revenues (GGR) reached PHP7.5 billion, “on the back of the steady growth in mass business,” stated the parent in a filing to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Non-gaming revenue – mainly from its hotels and its retail operations – amounted to PHP1.7 billion, “amid stable hotel occupancy of 90 percent as the Newport World Resorts complex continued to enjoy healthy foot traffic,” according to the announcement. 

During the reporting period, Travellers “significantly reduced” its overall costs and expenses, “beefing up its attributable income which grew by more than double quarter-on-quarter” to PHP217 million. 

“Travellers intends to continue with its cost management efforts to allow the company to further enhance its operating efficiency moving forward,” noted the parent.

Travellers International’s first-half EBITDA grew by 11 percent year-on-year, to PHP4.5 billion. Attributable income to the parent in the first six months this year stood at PHP315 million, on gross revenues of PHP18.9 billion.

Newport World Resorts currently has five international hotel brands: Marriott Manila Hotel, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, Hotel Okura Manila, and Holiday Inn Express Manila. It offers a total of 2,742 guest rooms.

Alliance Global said in June that it plans to allocate PHP5 billion this year to Travellers International, for “ongoing expansion projects” at Newport World Resorts. That includes the development of a 157-room The Narra Palm Hotel and Villa.

In May, Newport World Resorts said it was “strengthening its online gaming system and platform to be able to compete in the online gaming segment of the Philippine gaming industry”.

As part of the property’s gaming operations and marketing team, Mr Chua’s “expertise will be a valuable asset” as the company tries “to develop and deliver newer and exceptional experiences” to its guests, the venue promoter said on Tuesday in a post on social media platform LinkedIn.

Mr Chua is described as a “seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience”. He most recently served as vice president for information technology at Inspire Entertainment Resort, a South Korea tourism complex with a foreigner-only casino.

His previous roles were as chief information officer at Singapore-based Capital C Corp, and as vice president and chief information officer at Solaire Resort & Casino, a complex in the Philippine capital Manila run by Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Mr Chua also served as a project manager and IT business analyst at Marina Bay Sands, a casino complex in Singapore.

Newport World Resorts is run by Travellers International Hotel Group Inc, also a unit of Alliance Global Group Inc.

Alliance Global said in June that it plans to allocate PHP5 billion (US$87.8 million) this year to Travellers International, intended to the “ongoing expansion projects” of Newport World Resorts. That includes the development of the 157-room The Narra Palm Hotel and Villa.

The statement was issued by: Bloomberry Resorts Corp, which runs Solaire Resort & Casino at Entertainment City in Manila, and Solaire Resort North complex in Quezon City; Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc, operator of the Okada Manila property; and Travellers International Hotel Group Inc, owner of the Newport World Resorts casino complex.

The three casino firms also run online gaming operations, including remote gambling and digital gaming platforms. In June, Bloomberry launched its online gaming platform, dubbed “MegaFUNalo”.

“Our online gaming operations are a regulated and responsibly managed extension of our operations – designed to complement our primary offerings,” said the three operators in the statement.

“We prioritise ethical business practices and promote responsible gaming under the robust regulation of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor),” they added.

The joint statement was issued amid a growing chorus of voices in the Philippines calling for changes to the online gaming sector, ranging from tighter restrictions on access to digital gambling platforms, to additional taxes, and a ban on the use of electronic wallets (e-wallets) for gambling purposes. There have even been calls for a complete ban.

The three casino firms said they respectively “hold all necessary licences and accreditations” from Pagcor, “meeting stringent legal requirements for gaming operators and system administrators”.

“We also strictly enforce Pagcor’s geographic restrictions, employing advanced geofencing and IP-filtering technologies to prevent player registration and betting from outside the Philippines,” they stated.

The firms additionally said their online platforms adhere to anti-money laundering regulations via comprehensive know-your-customer (KYC) procedures and player verification measures.

“We actively promote responsible gaming through tools such as self-exclusion, deposit limits and account restrictions. We strictly prohibit minors from accessing our platform through our stringent age-gating system and verification,” the statement read.

“We likewise offer resources for individuals seeking assistance with gambling-related issues,” the firms added.

The casino operators also pointed out that all their gaming equipment and games undergo rigorous evaluation and receive approval from the nation’s regulator. Certified random number generators (RNGs) “ensure fairness and transparency,” they said.

The companies observed that their promotional materials “undergo thorough review and approval from Pagcor and the Advertising Standards Council, ensuring ethical communication and social responsibility”. 

Last week, the head of Pagcor, Alejandro Tengco, suggested that the answer to concerns about online gambling within the country was tighter control, not a total ban. The agency nonetheless has ordered the removal, by August 15, of all billboards and other out-of-home advertisements related to gambling activities.

In mid-June, Pagcor launched its “PAGCOR Guarantee” website, where the public can check the legitimacy of the online gaming platforms they are accessing.

The promoter of the City of Dreams Manila complex in the Philippine capital, a unit of global casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, does not run online gaming operations in the country.

Land-based Newport World Resorts also operates online gaming aimed at domestic players and tied to physical casino inventory, via a Philippine Inland Gaming Operator (PIGO) licence. The online platform is branded “Newport World Casino” and, according to information from the country’s casino regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), includes slot games and live baccarat.

Alliance Global noted in its update: “The [country’s] online gaming segment, based on reported first quarter 2025 performance, is estimated to reach PHP200 billion [US$3.59 billion] in gross gaming revenues (GGR) this year.”

The e-games and e-bingo segment contributed PHP51.39 billion, or 49.4 percent of the total first-quarter GGR produced by the Philippine gaming sector, according to data from Pagcor.

Travellers International Hotel Group Inc operates the Newport World Resorts casino and leisure complex. Travellers International is controlled by Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global.

Travellers International reported core revenues of PHP7.69 billion for the first quarter of 2025, up 7.8 percent year-on-year. It recorded a segment profit of PHP101.4 million, compared to PHP12.8 million in the same period last year.

The firm’s GGR for the opening three months of 2025 rose by approximately 6 percent to PHP7.9 billion, “on the back of a recovery in the VIP segment amid better hold rate,” parent Alliance Global stated in a filing last week.

In its latest disclosure to the Philippine bourse, Alliance Global confirmed that Newport World Resorts was working on a “new version” of its online offering, in order to provide clients with “an enhanced and strengthened gaming system and platform.”

The parent added: “Newport World Resorts’ improved gaming revenue from online gaming will positively impact overall revenue of Travellers International and Alliance Global.”

That was according to a Friday filing from the parent, Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc.

Travellers International recorded a 42-percent year-on-year increase in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to PHP2.1 billion, underpinned by “intensified cost management efforts”, the parent said in a press release. The firm’s direct costs for the January-March 2025 period were down circa 2 percent year-on-year, to PHP4.1 billion.

Travellers International’s gross gaming revenue for the opening three months of 2025 rose by circa 6 percent to PHP7.9 billion, “on the back of a recovery in the VIP segment amid better hold rate,” Alliance Global stated.

The non-gaming segment recorded a year-on-year growth rate of approximately 4 percent, to PHP1.8 billion. Such performance was “driven mainly by the hectic domestic and international tourism which allowed for higher hotel occupancy rates and improved retail spending.”

In Friday’s filing, the parent said promotional expenses at Travellers International decreased by circa 3 percent year-on-year, to PHP2.1 billion “due to lower gaming points issued and reduced revenue sharing arrangements.”

Newport World Resorts currently has five international hotel brands: Marriott Manila Hotel, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, Hotel Okura Manila, and Holiday Inn Express Manila. It offers a total of 2,742 guest rooms.

Occupancy rates across the five hotels “ranged from 85 percent to 95 percent,” Alliance Global stated, noting the range represented an improvement from a year earlier.

Travellers International’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) stood at PHP7.7 billion in the three months to December 31, down 7.2 percent from a year earlier, and 2.5-percent lower than in the preceding three months. That was according to a Tuesday filing from the parent, Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc.

Mass-market GGR for the reporting period stood at PHP4.3 billion, flat sequentially, but down 4.4 percent year-on-year. The VIP segment in the October to December period recorded PHP3.3 billion, a decline of 13.2 percent from a year ago, and down 8.3 percent sequentially.

The amount of promotional allowances in the last quarter of 2024 stood at PHP1.8 billion, down from PHP2.1 billion a year earlier, and compared with PHP2.3 billion in the third quarter of 2024.

In Tuesday’s filing, the parent said net revenues at Travellers International were “steady” as promotional expenses “were contained while GGR declined”.

“Continued expansion in mass GGR – due to increases in volume and steady hold rates – cushioned weak VIP GGR, amid lower rolling volume and VIP win rate,” stated the update.

Travellers International recorded earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation (EBITDA) of PHP3.2 billion, up 45.5 percent from the prior-year period. Such EBITDA was up 60.0 percent sequentially.

For full-year 2024, Travellers International’s GGR stood at PHP32.0 billion, a 6.4-percent decline from the previous year. About PHP17.4 billion derived from the mass-market segment, according to Tuesday’s announcement.

Net revenue stood at PHP31.3 billion in 2024, compared with PHP31.5 billion in the previous year. EBITDA reached PHP9.2 billion last year, up 12.2 percent from 2023.

Newport World Resorts currently has five international hotel brands: Marriott Manila Hotel, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, Hotel Okura Manila, and Holiday Inn Express Manila. It offers a total of 2,742 guest rooms.

The casino at the complex had 2,383 slots and 495 VIP and mass gaming tables as of the end of December last year.

In June, Alliance Global confirmed a leadership change at Newport World Resorts, attributing it to the conclusion of a “year-long transition plan”.

Fabian Tan Kian Wee (pictured left) has been chosen for the “business development – international” setup. Alvin Teo (pictured right), has been selected for the “international marketing – junket operations” team.

Mr Tan is described as a professional with “over 20 years” of experience in the gaming and hospitality sector, with expertise in “managing teams, developing international business strategies, and leading cross-functional projects”.

Prior to his current job, he had held “senior key positions” at Resorts World Genting, the sole casino resort in Malaysia.

Mr Teo is described as having “over 15 years” of experience in casino and international marketing. Previously, he had been vice president of VIP services and casino marketing at The Grand Ho Tram Resort, in Vietnam.

Mr Teo was also said to have held “senior key positions” at Hoiana Resort & Golf, a casino resort complex on Vietnam’s central coast; as well as at Solaire Resort & Casino, a gaming complex in Manila’s Entertainment City.

In its post on Mr Teo, Newport World Resorts said Mr Teo had “instrumental roles” for the pre-opening phase and launch of several integrated resorts.

The updates on both men, said Newport World Resorts thought their “expertise will be a valuable asset as we aim to develop and deliver newer and exceptional experiences to our guests”.

Newport World Resorts is run by Travellers International Hotel Group Inc, which is tied to Philippine business conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc.