Nustar Hotel in Cebu Lands on Michelin Guide Hotel List
Nustar Hotel and Resorts in Cebu, which dubs itself as the Philippines’ first local ultraluxury hotel brand, has earned a recommendation from the prestigious Michelin Guide list of hotels.
The Michelin Guide Hotel Selection releases a yearly curated list of more than 6,000 hotels in more than 130 countries based on value for money, fair pricing and service. A group of inspectors consisting of seasoned travellers and experts in design, service and hospitality is tasked to handle the selection and assessment of hotels for inclusion in the list.
In a statement, Nustar Cebu said the distinction places the hotel among an elite company worldwide, each recognized for excellence in design, architecture, service, personality, and exceptional guest experiences.
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Nustar Resort and Casino Cebu Chief Operating Officer Sean Knights said the hotel’s inclusion is also a significant milestone for Cebu and the entire Philippine hospitality industry.
“This recognition affirms our unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional hotel product, allowing us to promote world-class experiences that celebrate Filipino culture, elevate service excellence and redefine the boundaries of luxury in the region,” he said.
The Department of Tourism and the Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc. is trying to close the Philippines’ hotel room accommodations gap of 120,463 by 2028.
Last year, tourism receipts topped P760 billion, which was a 9.04 percent increase and higher than the pre-pandemic 2019 level of P600.01 billion.
Based on data from the World Travel and Tourism Council, the DoT global visitor spending in the Philippines averaged about $2,043 per capita.
Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan, another Cebu property, has also been consistently recognized as a Michelin Guide-listed accommodation for a number of years.
Nustar Hotel in Cebu opened earlier this year as the second hotel in the integrated resort and casino property. Fili Hotel opened in 2022. The resort complex is operated by Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc., JG Summit Holdings, Inc.’s (UHRI) hospitality and development arm.
Nustar boasts 223 spacious rooms and suites with three sea-facing villas, with its featured personal butler service from the prestigious Heilbron Hospitality group.
Nustar Hotel's signature seaview room
In 2024, about 5.95 million international visitors were logged in the Philippines, which was up 9.15 percent from a year earlier but fell short of the 7.7 million target set by the Tourism department.
“This recognition by the Michelin Guide resonates beyond the hotel itself, heralding a breakthrough for Philippine tourism and the country’s confidence and readiness to welcome discerning luxury travelers seeking authentic and meaningful travel experiences delivered with genuine Filipino warmth,” Nustar said.
The Michelin Guide has recognized a total of 11 Philippine hotels, with six initially recognized in 2024 and five more added in 2025. The initial six hotels are: Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery, Amanpulo (Palawan), Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan (Cebu), Hotel Okura Manila, Nay Palad Hideaway (Siargao), and The Peninsula Manila. The five hotels added in 2025 are: Fairmont Makati, Marriott Hotel Manila, Raffles Makati, Shangri-La The Fort Manila, and Solaire Resort Entertainment City.
