Megaworld Corp. said Filipino consumers are making fewer trips to shopping malls amid higher fuel and parking costs, but are spending more time during each visit — a shift the listed property developer said should guide how mall operators curate their retail offerings.

“They don’t go as frequently as before but when they go, they spend longer. Also, because, like you’re saying, parking is a little more expensive, fuel is a little more expensive. You also maximize your visits,” Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Head Javier D. Hernandez told reporters on Thursday.

“Traditionally, Filipinos, it’s about 3-4 hours that they spend in a mall. It’s about that. It’s a meal, a movie, and then hanging out, 3-4,” he added.

According to Mr. Hernandez, mall operators need to adjust their tenant mix as consumers grow more cautious about spending and prioritize certain activities over others.

“You have to fine tune the mix to be able to make sure you capture their spend. They might not be spending on one category, but they’re spending on the other,” he said.

He noted that shoppers may scale back on movies or shopping while continuing to spend on other activities during their mall visits. He also pointed to rising demand for spaces where consumers can socialize and spend time with family and friends.

“People are looking for convergence areas. People are looking for where I can sit down with my friends and catch up. They’re looking for that human connection again,” he said.

That pattern underscores why tenant-mix decisions carry weight beyond any single center: with fewer trips to work with, each visit’s blend of dining, entertainment, and services has to capture more of what consumers still choose to spend — the dynamic Mr. Hernandez described.

His remarks came as Megaworld pursues its previously announced target of expanding its retail gross leasable area (GLA) to one million square meters (sq.m.) by 2030. The company plans to develop additional lifestyle malls and grow its existing retail portfolio, which currently comprises 27 malls nationwide. It also said it intends to break ground on new developments in Cavite, Rizal, Pampanga, and Bacolod City between 2026 and 2027 — projects worth watching for how they translate the convergence-area demand and fine-tuned tenant mixes he described into new formats.

Mr. Hernandez said the company would continue exploring retail formats that complement its township developments while adjusting its offerings to consumer preferences.

“We will keep improving the customer experience, bringing relevant and innovative concepts into our malls, creating more opportunities for our mall partners, and exploring new retail formats that complement the continued growth of Megaworld’s townships,” he said.

The company’s existing township malls, including those in Eastwood City, Uptown Bonifacio, and Venice Grand Canal Mall, will continue to focus on mainstream and community-oriented retail.

Mr. Hernandez succeeded Graham M. Coates, who headed Megaworld Lifestyle Malls for eight years. He brings more than 30 years of experience in property development, retail, hospitality, and tourism, including two decades in mall operations and commercial development. During Mr. Coates’ tenure, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls undertook developments including The Imperial Wing at Lucky Chinatown, The Shoppes at McKinley West, and the redevelopment of Eastwood City.

Separately, Alliance Global Group, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Kevin L. Tan said Megaworld would continue introducing international retail brands alongside local concepts — a dual-track approach that dovetails with the experience- and social-oriented demand Mr. Hernandez described.

“We will continue to bring in global brands and new concepts, while creating more opportunities for Filipino brands and experiences that make each of our destinations distinct. There is still a lot we can do, and we are excited about what comes next,” he said in a statement.

At the local bourse on Thursday, Megaworld shares rose by 1.36%, or three centavos, to close at P2.23 apiece.

— Juliana Chloe A. Gonzales