BIZ BUZZ: Ayala Land in talks to take over New World hotel
Real estate watchers have been buzzing about what may be the next big takeover in the sector, with the Zobel family emerging as the star of the show.
Earlier this week, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) president and CEO Anna Ma. Margarita Bautista-Dy confirmed to stockholders plans to acquire a 500-key five-star hotel in Metro Manila.
Although Dy did not divulge more details, she hinted at “forming new international hotel partnerships” as part of ALI’s grand plans this year.
Biz Buzz sources confirmed that the real estate giant—already with a strong presence in Metro Manila’s key central business districts—was in talks to take over New World Hotel in Makati.
It is unclear when New World Development Co. Ltd. will officially exit the Philippines, since it still has about 14 years of leasehold right, but things have been looking bleak for the Hong Kong-based property firm.
New World reported in February that it had swung to a net loss of $852.45 million in the first half of its 2025 fiscal year covering the July to December period, coming from a net profit of $64.57 million.
Since Ayala already owns the land on which New World stands on, who else can viably take over? It’s now just a matter of how much value the landlord can give to its tenant’s fixed asset.
