HBA Manila broadens footprint through landmark hospitality projects
HBA Manila validates its place in global luxury hospitality design as it adds two more projects to its steadily growing portfolio in the Philippine hospitality scene.
Lifestyle hub in Cebu
One would be the newly opened Radisson RED Cebu, a lifestyle hub designed to be a social destination from the very beginning, said HBA partner Norman Agleron.
“This was the first Radisson RED in the Philippines, so there was no local benchmark. That gave us the opportunity to define how the brand translates in this market. Unlike more traditional or resort-driven projects in Cebu, this required a more urban, lifestyle-focused approach—less about formality, more about energy, interaction, and personality,” Agleron explained.
Mathias Bergundthal, Cebu Landmasters director of Assets/Hospitality, said they “chose to work with HBA for the Radisson RED Cebu project because we wanted a design partner that could bring both strong international hospitality experience and a bold, lifestyle-driven creative approach that matched the Radisson RED brand.”
“They understood how to translate the vibrant, playful, and contemporary personality of Radisson RED into a design that would resonate with today’s travelers. At the same time, they were able to incorporate local Cebuano character and energy into the project, making the hotel feel globally relevant yet locally connected,” Bergundthal added.
Connected, open experience
Agleron said the ground floor was designed as a connected, open experience where the lobby, lounge and bar flow into one another rather than operate as separate zones.
The bar anchors the space, naturally drawing people in. This creates energy and interaction, while lighting, materials and artwork allow the space to shift throughout the day, from relaxed to more dynamic in the evening. At its core, the design makes the public areas active, flexible and engaging.
True to HBA Manila’s approach, the design keeps Cebu’s culture at the center while giving it a more current edge. Local references were integrated through features such as the jeepney-inspired installation, graphic layers influenced by local patterns, and subtle nods to the island’s natural landscape.
At the same time, the spaces remain clean, contemporary and highly visual to appeal to a younger, more design-aware audience. The result is a balance between global brand energy and a distinctly Cebuano lens.
Five-star hotel in Zamboanga
Another team under HBA project director Ice Lagman is meanwhile nearing the completion of a new restaurant inside the anticipated re-opening of the Zamboanga Plaza Hotel of the 1970s to hotel Dusit Plaza de Zamboanga.
Poised to become the first international five-star hotel in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region, the property marks a major milestone for the area. HBA Manila’s restaurant design lives up to the firm’s global reputation for impeccable work, while contributing to the transformation of a legacy property into an internationally branded destination.
Since the ongoing adaptive redevelopment involves an old building, “structural integrity is a main concern,” Lagman said.
Working around the existing columns and beams, the team carefully considered the additional MEPF requirements needed for the project.
“We want to respect the history and heritage of the site. By retrofitting, we are bridging the past to the future through a culturally inspired design with a modern vision,” he explained.
HBA Manila’s design concept was inspired by Mascota de Zamboanga, the traditional costume of the region. The concept and planning, interior elements and details, as well as the furniture, fixtures, and equipment were carefully curated for this project, Lagman added.
