Wealthy Filipino businessman Manuel “Manny” Osmeña launches plan to build Broadbeach hotel after buying Surf Pde block

A wealthy Filipino businessman is planning to knock over one of Broadbeach’s last houses and turn the site into a 19-storey hotel.

A WEALTHY Filipino businessman with a string of luxury resorts is planning to build a 19-storey hotel in Broadbeach after purchasing a site for $2.125 million.

Manuel H. Osmeña is the founder and chairman of the Cebu-based Manny O Group, which owns the Ibiza Beach Club and the five-star Mövenpick Hotel, both based on the island of Mactan.

He also owns the airline catering company SkyKitchen Philippines Inc, ground-handling and cargo services company SkyLogistics Philippines Inc and even has his own wine brand named appropriately Manny O. Wines.

In April Mr Osmeña through his company The Legacy M Pty Ltd settled the purchase of a 508sq m block at 31 Surf Parade. The property is home to an ageing three-bedroom brick home – one of the last in Broadbeach.

Manuel "Manny" Osmena. Source: Skylogistics.com.ph

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Marketing agent Graham Baker, of Ray White Broadbeach, said Mr Osmeña fell in love with Broadbeach after visiting the area for a holiday.

“He’d like to live here for a period of months each year and go swimming in the ocean, that’s his plan,” Mr Baker said.

“That’s all how it started out he came here for a visit and fell in love with the Gold Coast.

“The plan is to look at developing a boutique hotel … subject to council approval of course somewhere around the 19-storey mark.

“He only wants to do something high-quality … and something new for Broadbeach.”

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu. Source: Movenpick.com

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Mr Baker said no plans had been lodged as yet due to the uncertainty caused by the Covid19 pandemic, however Mr Osmeña was working on plans “as we speak”.

“It is only very early stages at the moment.”

Mr Osmeña is the eldest of 11 siblings and started his first business when he was just 14-years-old with a bakery.

He later worked in the furniture manufacturing and export industry before venturing into tourism in the 1990s by founding Waterfront Philippines with a Malaysian businessman.

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu. Source: Movenpick.com

After divesting from this because of a moral objection to the casino and gaming industry, he developed the Hilton and Cebu Resort & Spa.

Movenpick took over as the operator in 2011.