Philippines is one of the most hybrid-work friendly markets in Asia-Pacific

The Philippine office sector is one of most hybrid work-friendly markets in the Asia-Pacific region, but some firms still face sustainability challenges, according to property consultancy firm Colliers Philippines.

In a survey conducted under its 2026 Asia Pacific Workplace Insights Report, Colliers said that 82% of Philippine organizations are adopting hybrid work models, with 32% looking to invest in workplace upgrades next year.

“Occupiers in the Philippines are moving beyond cost-efficiency to create workplaces that inspire, connect, and deliver lasting value,” Kevin Jara, head and director of office services — tenant representation at Colliers Philippines, said in a statement.

However, 26% of respondents from the Philippines said they are unsure about their sustainability approach, Colliers noted, citing the need for clearer strategies and landlord collaboration.

“While ESG (environmental, social, and governance) priorities remain a work in progress, today’s momentum signals meaningful progress. Indeed, the role of the workplace has evolved from a functional necessity to a strategic driver of culture, collaboration, and productivity,” Mr. Jara said.

Firms that align ESG principles with their workplace strategy could help boost company branding, Colliers said.

Key sustainability practices that offices should adopt include green building design, inclusive layouts, and transparency, it added.

Despite the growing shift to hybrid work, many organizations in the Philippines, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and New Zealand are still enforcing attendance mandates, Colliers noted.

“Attendance mandates remain common, highlighting the region’s ‘hybrid paradox,’ where flexibility exists on paper but traditional structures persist,” Colliers said.

It also noted that assigned seating is still prevalent in many Philippine workplaces, signaling limited agility in office setups.

“Even in flexible offices, early arrivals often claim the same seat. At the same time, some senior leaders are growing quite resistant to hybrid, implying concerns about productivity, collaboration, and culture,” Chris Archibold, Colliers managing director for Offices in Southeast Asia, said in the report.

“Hybrid isn’t a quick fix, it requires clarity, honesty and a deep understanding, of what works for your people, your business, and your market,” he added.

The report also noted that 43% Philippine organizations have already integrated multi-generational needs into their workplace strategies.

“Overall, the Philippines shows strong progress in hybrid adoption and inclusivity, coupled with planned investments. Closing gaps in sustainability and aligning flexibility with culture will be critical for Philippine-based organizations who seek to attract talent and drive long-term performance,” Colliers said.

Across the Asia-Pacific, companies’ work strategies focus on improving productivity (9.43%), talent attraction/retention (8.85%), improving employee experience or well-being (8.48%), and better location (8.11%).

About 74% of firms in the region said that their offices are at least half full on a typical work day, while 45% said their midweek occupancy exceeds 75%, Colliers said. 

For design preferences, Asia-Pacific respondents also noted that they prefer workplaces with natural lighting (17%), biophilic features and green walls (15%), ambient temperature (14%), and more collaboration spaces (13%).

About 20% of the region’s firms use artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools to enhance employee experience, while 20% have no AI integration plans, Colliers said.

“AI has the potential to make workplaces more responsive, adjusting layouts in real-time, tailoring sensory inputs and tracking usage to better align with how people work,” it said in the report.

Colliers surveyed more than 800 corporate occupiers across 11 Asia-Pacific markets, including the Philippines, China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

Source: Business World

Five Philippines luxury hotels bag Michelin Guide awards

Five luxury properties in the Philippines were honored by the website of the prestigious Michelin Guide.

The France-based travel guide awarded the “Michelin Key” distinction to Amanpulo in Palawan, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, Fairmont Makati, Nay Palad Hideaway Siargao and Raffles Makati, according to information from its website.

They all earned “One Michelin Key,” which “set the standard for excellence in Filipino hospitality.” Based on the Michelin Guide, “One Key” denotes “a very special stay,” where “service always goes the extra mile and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.”

It added the “One Michelin Key” was similar to the “Michelin Stars” awarded to restaurants, wherein a recommended hotel or resort could be given as much as “Three Michelin Keys.”

“As the Michelin Guide broadens its recognition to include outstanding stays, the Philippines debuts on the Michelin Key stage with properties that reflect the nation’s unparalleled warmth and natural beauty,” wrote the guide on its website.

It added, “Each hotel, from city landmark to island escape, offers an experience as memorable as the country itself.”

The five luxury properties awarded each with a “One Michelin Key” were among the 20 hotels and resorts recommended by the Michelin Guide, which also includes Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery, Hotel Okura Manila at Newport World Resorts, Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts, Shangri-La The Fort Manila, Solaire Resort

Entertainment City, The Peninsula Manila, Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, NUSTAR Hotel Cebu, City of Dreams – Nobu Hotel Manila, Grand Hyatt Manila, The Westin Manila, Piece Lio El Nido, The Funny Lion El Nido, Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and The Lind Boracay.

The Michelin Guide also announced the launch of its expansion to Manila and Cebu on Oct. 30, 2025, wherein its inspectors would “seek out the most exceptional dining destinations” in Manila and neighboring Pampanga, Tagaytay and Cavite, as well as Cebu.

Source: Philstar

Gen Zers, Millennials fuel PHL co-working space boom

The co-working or flexible office segment is poised for growth despite increasing return-to-office mandates.

“We expect demand for the sector to be fueled by companies that continue to employ hybrid work arrangements, multinational corporations and business process outsourcing firms requiring temporary spaces for employees, and small businesses and startups that are looking for an office or address within the central business districts,” Janlo C. De Los Reyes, head of research and strategic consulting at JLL Philippines. said.

He noted that the appeal of co-working spaces lies in their flexibility, letting companies easily scale up or down without the long-term commitments of traditional office leases.

Data from JLL Philippines showed a healthy occupancy rate of 89.6% for co-working spaces in Makati and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, two of Metro Manila’s key business districts.

Colliers Philippines has also observed strong demand driven by hybrid work setups, noting that many firms have yet to return to pre-pandemic leasing patterns.

“More companies have also been implementing 100% return to office, and this is a signal that landlords need to be more proactive in offering flexible lease terms,” Colliers said in a report.

The overall flexible workspace vacancy in Metro Manila rose to 17.5% at the end of last year from 16.7% a year earlier. However, Colliers noted that this was still a major improvement from the record 41% vacancy rate in the first quarter of 2021.

Fort Bonifacio led with the highest number of occupied co-working seats at 12,000; followed by Makati with 10,000; Quezon City with 7,000; Ortigas with 4,000; Mandaluyong with 2,000; Alabang, Muntinlupa with 1,000; and the Bay Area in Pasay City with 437, according to Colliers.

International Workplace Group Plc (IWG), a multinational office solution provider, is bullish on the Philippines’ flexible workspace market.

“The co-working space is the fastest-growing segment within commercial real estate,” IWG Philippines Country Manager Lars Wittig said. He added that the departure of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), which used to be major office lessees, has accelerated demand for flexible workspaces.

“The exit of POGOs is accelerating our network development because now, the partners feel an even greater urge to come to us to seek our partnership to be able to fulfill the demand for flexible workspace,” Mr. Wittig said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last year ordered a total ban on POGOs due to their reported links to organized crime including human trafficking.

IWG expects to open its 50^th location in the Philippines this year and signed its 61^st center, which will be in Makati, in March.

“With the golden era for the country, the many more good jobs being created, what you do see is that the companies continue to be rightsizing — meaning downsizing their conventional leases — which again means that the demand is gravitating over to flexible workspaces,” Mr. Wittig said.

He also said hybrid work setups have become a tool to attract talent. “Employers are now offering hybrid working to attract and retain young talent who prefers this setup instead of going to the office.”

‘CHILL MOOD’

Mr. Oreta, for his part, agrees that the younger workforce is challenging the norms of traditional office work.

“Millennials want a chill-mood kind of work,” he said. “They want to be at the beach, at the party, or wherever they want to be. They just want to do their work and chill.”

He noted that workers like him are not bound by the traditional 9-to-5 schedule. He usually stays until 2 a.m. to finish his work.

“It is nice that the conventional type of work is broken now,” he said. “Because we’re not talking about ‘this is the proper place, this is the proper thing to do.’ We are talking more of productivity.”

“We have the freedom to choose wherever we want to work, as long as your productivity is standard,” he added.

Mr. De Los Reyes said flexible workspaces are cost-effective for startups and smaller businesses, which don’t need a large office space.

Smaller players in the co-working space sector are also seeing a surge in interest, particularly from freelancers and students.

“While independent professionals still make up a big portion of our clients, we’ve also noticed a surge in small businesses and even corporate teams opting for flexible workspaces instead of traditional office leases,” Alcariza R. Peregrino, managing partner at The Hangout: Coworking Space, said.

“The demand is shifting towards spaces that are cost-efficient, collaborative and hassle-free, and that’s exactly what we offer,” she added.

The Hangout offers rates of P250 for four hours, P500 for eight hours, and P10,500 for a full month. Students can avail themselves of hourly rates as low as P70. Monthly membership for hot desks starts at P7,500 and P10,000 for fixed desks.

The facility also offers virtual office services — letting users list a business address without renting a physical desk — starting at P3,000 a month. These include mail handling, receptionist support and day passes.

During a visit to The Hangout, professionals from diverse backgrounds were seen using the space, including an English teacher conducting lessons over Zoom and corporate workers in casual attire focused on their laptops.

Amenities include fast internet, unlimited coffee, lounges, books, board games and flexible workspace areas designed to balance work and relaxation.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built here, but we’re also looking ahead,” Ms. Peregrino said. “Our vision is to expand into more key areas like Quezon City, Manila and Makati, where demand for flexible workspaces is high.”

Monthly rental rates for flexible workspaces vary depending on the district, according to Colliers. Seats cost P8,000 to P20,000 in Ortigas; P7,000 to P18,000 in Quezon City;

P7,000 to P19,000 in Alabang; P8,000 to P25,000 in Mandaluyong; P8,000 to P38,000 in Makati; P13,000 to P25,000 in Fort Bonifacio; and P15,000 to P20,000 in the Bay Area.

The rise in online jobs and remote work has also fueled demand for co-working spaces outside Metro Manila.

In Cavite, The Quiet Corner has emerged as the first co-working facility in Indang, Cavite. The Quiet Corner is the only co-working space in the town, making it a top choice for students, professionals and remote workers in the area, according to the firm.

“The demand has been strong due to the lack of similar workspaces nearby, and we continue to see consistent occupancy throughout the week,” it added.

Source: Business World