Newport World Resorts (NWR) operator Travellers International Hotel Group Inc said Thursday that it recorded a 21% quarter-on-quarter improvement in EBITDA to Php2.5 billion (US$44.1 million) in 2Q25, aided by steady growth in the mass gaming business and reduced costs and expenses. 1H25 EBITDA grew by 11% year-on-year to Php4.5 billion (US$79.4 million).
According to information contained in a filing by parent company Alliance Global Group (AGI), NWR generated gross gaming revenues of Php7.5 billion (US$132 million) for the quarter, which represents a slight decline from Php7.9 billion (US$139 million) in Q1 based on previous financial documents. Non-gaming revenues remained stable at Php1.7 billion (US$30.0 million) on 90% hotel occupancy, the company added.
Travellers said it significantly reduced its overall costs and expenses during Q2, “beefing up” its attributable income which than doubled quarter-on-quarter to Php217 million (US$3.8 million).
“Travellers intends to continue with its cost management efforts to allow the company to further enhance its operating efficiency moving forward,” it stated.
Group-wide, AGI reported a 39% year-on-year increase in net income to Php19.2 billion (US$339 million) in the first six months of 2025 combined on revenues of Php100.9 billion (US$1.78 billion). Normalized net income, which excludes a one-time gain of Php3.4 billion (US$60.0 million) from the deconsolidation of its restaurant business Golden Arches Development Corp (GADC), was up 19% to Php15.1 billion (US$266 million).
“AGI delivered strong results in the first half of the year, benefitting from a buoyant domestic economy despite ongoing global uncertainty,” said AGI President and CEO, Kevin L Tan.
“During this period, our Group took advantage of pockets of opportunities in the market to boost our residential and retail sales, as well as our office take-up. Our tourism and leisure segments also enjoyed increased activities and occupancy, tapping into the increasing demand for staycations and MICE events. Even our spirits segment sustained its recovery in sales, a testament to the strength of its brands that have been expanding their presence in the local and international markets.
“Our strong performance was also accompanied by ongoing cost-efficiency measures, which we implemented across all our business segments. By managing our costs, we hope to enhance our operating leverage to ensure a more robust growth in profit as the economy further recovers.”
Aside from operating NWR, Travellers is developing two casinos with associated amenities in the group’s townships in Boracay and Cebu as it looks to expand its gaming and tourism interests.
IAG also broke the news earlier this week that Travellers is set to soon take a majority equity position in the LETX integrated resort project in Manila’s Westside City development, with a view to completing the development and assuming operations.
AGI’s interests include real estate development via Megaworld Corporation; spirits manufacturing through Emperador Inc, the Philippines’ McDonald’s franchises through Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC) and infrastructure development through Infracorp.