First Look: Nustar Hotel, the Country’s First Ultra-Luxury Filipino Hotel Brand, is Opening in May
Some of the country’s largest conglomerates have expanded their portfolios to include hospitality units to take advantage of the country’s nascent tourism industry. While these companies have introduced homegrown hotel brands over the years to compete with larger and more well-known international hospitality brands, most have zeroed in on the low to mid-priced category hotels in strategic locations around the archipelago. No local company has offered a hotel concept targeting the luxury market. Until now.
The facade of the Nustar Resort featuring Fili Hotel and the new Nustar Hotel
On May 8, 2025, Nustar Resort and Casino is finally opening the doors to its flagship Nustar Hotel in Cebu City. The second of three hotel brands to open in the integrated resort and casino property, Nustar Hotel promises a blend of “refined luxury, world-class accommodations, and authentic heartfelt service.” The first to open was Fili Hotel back in 2022.
Nustar Resort and Casino is owned and developed by Universal Hotels and Resorts Incorporated (UHRI), the development arm of JG Summit Holdings Inc. of the Gokongwei family.
In an emailed release to Esquire Philippines, Nustar Hotel said HKS Singapore, which designed Nustar, wanted the resort to dominate the South Road properties waterfront. Indeed, the Fili Hotel and Nustar Hotel towers rise above the integrated casino and luxury mall complex with spectacular oceanfront or Cebu skyline views. HKS Singapore also pays tribute to Cebu’s rich maritime history as an international trading port in Asia, with the towers serving as beacons or landmarks helping travelers find their way.
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With 26 stories and 223 rooms, Nustar Hotel also features a glass-floored cantilevered viewing deck that will open later this year. This open-air Skydeck is expected to attract visitors as a must-visit tourist destination.
The Signature Seaview King bedroom at Nustar Hotel
The hotel’s entrance draws inspiration from the architectural style of Compania Maritima, a neoclassical heritage building at the nearby South Cebu port area. The entrance itself opens to a grand hallway with crystal chandeliers leading to a cavernous lounge with tall colonial columns and arches, cream-toned marble floors, antique-finish bronze mirrors and 10-meter-high windows with sweeping ocean views.
An eye-catching art installation made of handblown glass corals made by Czech artist Petra Soš?áková in ruby tones is called Coral Reverie. The lounge also features a luminous rare blue onyx wall and lace-inspired columns of light from custom-designed Ferruccio Laviani lamps, helping to turn the space into a dazzling but elegant see-and-be-seen meeting point for Cebu’s elite.
The guest rooms at the new Nustar Hotel, meanwhile, are the largest in the city, according to officials, with signature rooms starting at 52 square meters and suites ranging from 77 to 225 square meters. All feature full-length windows that frame stunning views of the ocean or city. There are marble bathrooms bathed in natural light and feature a deep soaking tub, Guerlain hair and skin care products, as well as intelligent facilities.
The Bayview Suite Bathroom at Nustar Hotel
The bedrooms, meanwhile, have a soft palette of honey-toned wood offset by light earth colors and deep maroon accents, reflecting the hues of both the sea and the sunsets in Cebu.
A unique feature of the Nustar Hotel is the dedicated butler service for all guests. Butlers trained by one of the world’s most respected training institutions for hospitality service, Heilbron Hospitality, can assist guests with everything from dining reservations, valet and transport services to tailored itineraries.
Just like Fili Hotel, Nustar Hotel also has three luxury villas that offer unparalleled comfort, modern aesthetics and timeless elegance. Ranging from 435 to 670 square meters, each villa features expansive interiors, a private sea-facing pool and a garden balcony.
“It is with great pride that we unveil Nustar Hotel to usher a new standard of luxury hospitality in Cebu,” said Mr. Sean Knights, COO of Nustar Resort and Casino. “We aim to deliver a distinctive guest experience that brings the Nustar brand to life, blending worldclass gaming with premium accommodation, creative dining concepts and the renowned Cebuano flair for being natural hosts.”
The Nustar Lobby Lounge
The opening rate for the new Nustar Hotel is P12,750++ per night, which is 25 percent off from the actual rate, from 8 May to 31 July 2025. It comes with full benefits including butler service, breakfast and club lounge privileges throughout the stay. For reservations and key information, visit the hotel’s new website or call +63 32 888 8282.
Esquire Philippines is published by Summit Media, which is a unit of the Gokongwei Group.
