Dae Sik Han is sparing no expense in building three golf courses, seven resorts and a casino at the 450-hectare Hann Reserve in New Clark City.
There are developers and then there are visionaries. Not many people see raw land and immediately see the tourism potential—the picture complete in their mind—that may take 10, 20 years of hard work.
Hann Resorts chairman and CEO Dae Sik Han belongs to the second category: the visionaries, the bold decision makers, the leaders that stubbornly cling to their dreams even when they’re the only ones that can see the future in the present. (The story of how he got Marriott Hotel for Clark is a classic example—the brand didn’t think Clark was their market, but it is now one of the most successful hotels in the Philippines.)
When he first saw Clark Freeport as a golf tourist in 2005, he thought that there were so many things he could do here especially with an airport operating within the freeport. Putting his own money to build Widus, which he opened in 2008, he helped build a market for Clark that has brought jobs and revenue to the freeport and to Pampanga in huge numbers.
Twenty years later, he not only owns and operates the most luxurious integrated resort in Central Luzon—with a casino and international brands Marriott and Swissotel—he is also starting another development in New Clark City (NCC).
Called Hann Reserve, this new integrated golf resort will be bigger, upscale, and with more names in luxury hospitality in a single development than anywhere else. It will also have three golf courses designed by PGA luminaries.
“I am a dreamer,” Hann says in the newly launched e-magazine, The GameChangers, where he graces the cover and is featured among the groundbreakers that have been leading the charge to make Pampanga a tourism hotspot. “I spend at least a couple of hours just looking at the master plan. What would be the next step? I plan at least five or 10 years ahead.”
His plans for Hann Reserve, a 450-hectare eco sanctuary in a mountain setting, are certainly ambitious. Hann Resorts is investing an initial P9 billion in NCC on top of P28 to P33 billion ($500 to $600 million) it already has invested in its properties.
Luxury resorts in nature setting
Banyan Tree is set to make its debut in the Philippines at Hann Reserve, which will also have Accor’s high-end brands Sofitel Hotel and Emblems Collection; Marriott International’s The Luxury Collection and Westin; and another luxury brand.
Banyan Tree has over 70 hotels and resorts, and 14 branded residences around the world—in Thailand, Japan, the Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco and China among many other countries. And in 2026, Banyan Tree Clark.
“Hann Reserve is a game changer for luxury travel in the Philippines,” says Han. “With the breathtaking beauty of New Clark City as our backdrop and the synergy of Hann Resorts with Banyan Tree as the driving force, we are proud to present a landmark development that offers an unparalleled golfing and leisure experience for discerning travellers of all kinds.”
Banyan Tree broke ground at Hann Reserve late last year. Eddy See, CEO of Banyan Tree Group, expressed his excitement about being part of the Philippines’ newest ultra-luxe leisure destination. “Although people associate Banyan Tree with luxury, one of the key things that is very important is the sense of emotion—feeling connected to the place through experiences that evoke memories that you will remember for many years to come. Sense of place is a very fundamental concept in any Banyan Tree development, and we have found it at Hann Reserve.”
Located in Bamban and Capas in Tarlac, Hann Reserve’s mountainous terrain and forests complement the sensibility of Banyan Tree, which prides itself as a “sanctuary for the senses.” The mountain resort will have 50 pool villas in one- and two-bedroom configurations, and designed in Banyan Tree’s signature nature-integrated style. The spacious 106-sqm. villas will combine al fresco relaxation areas with plunge pools, sun decks, and indoor living spaces, and offer access to leisure facilities including a central swimming pool, health club, and tropical garden spa featuring the signature rainforest hydrothermal experience.
Han is an avid golfer and he believes that golf tourism will be the main driver for Clark New City. That’s why he’s sparing no expense in the design and construction of his three golf courses. “That’s our differentiation from other casino resorts,” he says. In the future, he plans to bring international golf tournaments to Clark too.
Hann Reserve will have three golf courses, each featuring a different aspect of nature. First to be completed in 2026 is the mountain golf course by Nicklaus Design, to be followed by the valley course designed by South Korean pro golfer KJ Choi in 2027, and the river course by Nick Faldo in 2028.
“The reason I’m focusing on golf here is because a lot of our international visitors are coming to the Philippines for golf and to experience different entertainment options. Even in the local market, golf follows the economy, so when the economy experiences growth, golf grows together with it. We also now see a lot of young people playing golf,” Han says.
He built Hann Integrated Resort and people did come—more than anyone had anticipated or hoped for. Dae Sik Han’s vision for Hann Reserve is par for the course to succeed.
