CEBU CITY — bai Hotel Cebu, the Visayas’ largest hotel by room capacity and a 4-star WorldHotels member property, has announced its commitment to achieve 30% plant-based menu offerings across all eight dining outlets by 2027, with support from international NGO Lever Foundation.
This commitment spans bai Hotel Cebu’s extensive culinary operations serving guests across its 668 guestrooms and suites. The announcement reinforces the hotel’s position as a hospitality pioneer in the Visayas while advancing its bai for Life 7 Pillars of Commitment sustainability framework, which covers Energy Synergy, Water Guardianship, Zero to Hero, Going Green, Food for the Future, Community Call, and People Focus.
“This 30% plant-based goal by 2027 represents our commitment to Food for the Future, one of our core sustainability pillars,” said Alfred Reyes, vice president for operations and general manager at bai Hotel Cebu. “As the largest hotel in the Visayas, we have a responsibility to lead by example. This isn’t just about changing our menus—it’s about caring for our guests, our community, and the environment we all share. We’re proud to be part of Cebu’s growing momentum in sustainable dining.”
The announcement comes as Cebu City experiences significant growth in sustainable dining initiatives, with increasing numbers of hotels and restaurants adopting plant-based menu commitments to meet evolving guest preferences and expectations.
A recent national survey by APAC research firm GMO Research found that 85% of Filipinos believe restaurants, hotels, and retailers should serve more plant-based foods, with 80% more likely to patronize businesses that set clear goals to increase such offerings. Filipino consumers are increasingly prioritizing health-conscious and environmentally responsible dining choices when selecting hotels and restaurants.
“bai Hotel Cebu’s leadership in the Visayas is inspiring,” said Marielle Lagulay, sustainability program manager at Lever Foundation, which collaborated with the hotel to develop its new policy. “Their commitment demonstrates how regional hospitality leaders can drive meaningful change. This 30% plant-based goal isn’t just good for business—it’s a reflection of their genuine commitment to their community and the environment.”
The hotel earned the 2024 Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards Sustainability Champion award from the Hotel Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, and as a member of WorldHotels, it combines international standards with a distinctly local approach, reflecting its tagline “Your Host in the South.”
Studies show that plant-based proteins produce up to 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, use up to 90% less land and water, and generate about 50% less food waste than animal-based proteins, underscoring the potential impact of bai Hotel Cebu’s commitment.
