NUSTAR’s Business Development Head Talks Origins and Future Growth Prospects
NUSTAR will have the biggest luxury hotel complex in Cebu in two years, offering a diverse range of first class entertainment, dining, and shopping options for a more discriminating clientele.
Envisioned to be Cebu’s largest ultra-luxury hotel complex by 2027, NUSTAR Resort and Casino has been ticking one milestone after another since launching in May 2022.
Kamae de Jesus has been part of NUSTAR’s journey since day one, helping turn its vision into reality through her role as Business Development Head.
The Business Manual spoke with de Jesus to learn more about her journey, experiences, and the exciting, new prospects for this ultra-luxury resort estate.
The Pioneer
As employee 001 of Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (UHRI), the mother company of NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu, Kamae de Jesus has witnessed NUSTAR Hotel’s impressive growth—from the day it broke ground to its constantly evolving operations today.
“I appreciate being in a vantage point where I see the different verticals (while not being deep into operations!) with their strengths and growth opportunities. And by carrying this perspective, I can integrate these to create an entirely new offering for the group.“
As Assistant Vice-President for Business Development, de Jesus is responsible for forging key partnerships for the hotel and conceptualizing projects and initiatives that best maximize their partners’ strengths, as well as their own.
“For example, our business is heavily anchored in tourism. Thus, our department looks at the whole Tourism ecosystem and qualifies potential business cases that can propel our objective to drive traffic to Cebu. We partner up with airports, airport lounges, and airlines so we can create cross-marketing efforts to leverage on each other’s strengths and database,” explains de Jesus.
The responsibility also means studying market behavior and trends to keep their offerings relevant and enticing.
Grand and Luxurious
The Gokongwei Group’s NUSTAR Resort and Casino is envisioned to become the largest hotel complex in Cebu by 2027.
The five-star luxury gaming and resort estate opened in May 2022 with Fili Hotel NUSTAR Cebu, the country’s first Filipino five-star hotel, showcasing local artistry and craftsmanship. This was followed by the launch of NUSTAR Hotel earlier this month. The opening of Grand Summit Hotel is scheduled for next year.
NUSTAR proudly hosts the globally acclaimed Michelin-starred Mott 32—one of the most awarded Chinese restaurants worldwide—alongside 19 international luxury retail brands that have chosen NUSTAR as their home in the Philippines.
However, de Jesus reveals that there’s still much more in store. NUSTAR’s entertainment offerings are only just beginning, with exciting additions on the horizon—including a Skydeck, a leisure park, and Cebu’s first-ever performing arts theater.
Beyond Revenue
For de Jesus, it’s the energy and constant momentum that make her role so fulfilling, made even better by the vibrant setting of Cebu City, known for its stunning beaches, rich cultural heritage, and mouthwatering cuisine.
“Cebu is an underrated gem and personally I find that this aligns with the environment I envision myself in at this point in my life. I love Cebu!” enthuses de Jesus.
For de Jesus and NUSTAR, the mission goes beyond mere occupancy and revenue.
The greater goal is to promote and entice a wider pool of discriminating tourists to the beautiful Visayan island, supporting its tourism and economy in the process.
“NUSTAR was built not to banner just ourselves, NUSTAR was created to showcase Cebu and its talents and its potential as a highly progressive city,” she says.
