by Allain Dumon Fonte

In fast-moving economies, the businesses thrive stronger and quicker.  Yet, this situation has also caused the rise and fall of many establishments, and forced businesses to innovate in order to survive; just as how Charles Darwin theorized, “this is the survival of the fittest”.  Nowadays, the fittest business establishment is the one that can give in to the demands of consumers that continuously change.   Brought about by the marriage of cultures and technology, the needs of consumers can change at a 360-degree-angle at any time.  When the consumers’ needs change, so does the demands.  Hence, businesses need to learn how to bow where the wind blows.

The International Workplace Group (IWG) understands clearly the dynamics of the economy, the society, and even politics; and, has made it its mission to address the needs of the businesses, so in the end, they can also provide the needs of their clients.  IWG does this by giving people and businesses access to commercial real estate solutions through unrivalled choice of workspaces from its operating companies: Regus, Spaces, HQ, and Signature by Regus; each designed to serve the unique needs of businesses of every size.  With a membership contribution of only six thousand pesos (PhP6,000.00), a business can have access to shared-workspaces anywhere in the globe where they can hold meetings, discuss transactions, or simply focus on work.  With a track-record for more than 30 years, IWG has seen the potential of shared work-spaces in the Visayas and in Mindanao.

With its vision to provide the best workspaces in the region, IWG partnered with Apple One Properties, Inc. (API), Cebu’s leading name in property development and real estate sales.  API has always kept its portfolio diverse and relevant by recognizing the growing demand for flexible workspaces and mixed-used developments in the premier business districts in the Visayas.

In December 2018, API signed a franchise partnership agreement with IWG for eight centers in six cities in the Visayas in five years. This is the first in Southeast Asia.  The signing ceremony was held at the Diamond Hotel and Suites, and was attended by Matthew James Kenly, head of partnership growth for IWG Asia Pacific; Rowena B. Natividad, head of partnership growth for IWG Philippines; Lars Wittig, country manager for IWG Philippines | Thailand | Vietnam | Cambodia | South Korea; Ray Manigsaca, CEO and president of API; and, Venus Manigsaca, chairman of API.

The six cities identified are Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Dumaguete City, Iloilo City, and Bacolod City.  Kenly strongly believes that the partnership will strengthen the economy in the region because it will generate more jobs inside and outside the centers.  Kenly further discusses that the centers in the premier business districts will also improve productivity and will provide more opportunities for the locals.  API’s Rey Manigsaca is very excited on the partnership because the service-office-market is a very big market that has not yet been tapped, and with IWG’s partnership Manigsaca believes that they can bring to the region the world-class facilities and benefits of flexible working spaces.

Lars Wittig discusses that the reason why the Visayas has the greatest potential in the country is because of its ever-advancing economy; and, as the capital region gets too congested, the businesses are moving to central Philippines.  Plus, the access to central Philippines is much easier with its state-of-the-art international ports and airports, making the logistics much easier in the area.  Wittig also expresses appreciation to the policies and the government administration in the locality because it is very supportive to the businesses.

The six centers of API and IWG will join IWG’s global network consisting of 3,400 centers across 120 countries.  In the Philippines, IWG has 28 centers in ten cities across Metro Manila, Clark, Cebu, and Davao.  With the upcoming six centers in the Visayas, API and IWG will surely make the region as Southeast Asia’s newest business hub and trade center.  This is truly an exciting way to start the year, exciting for our economy, and exciting for the people in the Visayas.