SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) is set to open 1,700 new hotel rooms in the next four years, largely in the provincial areas, to serve the growing local tourism industry.

SM Hotels is adding over 1,400 hotel rooms in the growth areas of Cauayan City, Isabela; Laguna; Cebu South Road Properties; Dasmariñas, Cavite; Laoag City; Olongapo Central; and Clark, Pampanga. Around 300 rooms will be added in Metro Manila for a combined count of 1,700 rooms for the National Capital Region and the provinces by 2028.

As of April 24, 2024, the Department of Tourism has reported 2,010,522 million tourist arrivals in the country. It projects a baseline target of 7.7 million tourists this year.

"We are ready to support the growth in tourism as we move even closer to emerging regions to provide Filipinos and foreign travelers alike with quality accommodation. Our hotel expansion contributes to the development of local economies, further creating jobs and boosting tourism and local growth through the increased demand for services and local products," SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles said.

As SM plans to extend its footprint across the country, it is poised to generate many livelihood opportunities, directly and indirectly benefiting local communities. Depending on the project's scale, a larger-scale development for direct and indirect livelihood opportunities can generate 150 to 200 full-time roles per project.