Hotel developer eyeing out-of-Cebu expansion

CEBU, Philippines — Royal Henda International Inc., (RHII), the developer of the newly opened Mezzo Hotel, is considering to expand its hospitality business spanning out-of-Cebu areas.

Encouraged by its flagship development, the 151-room Mezzo Hotel located on F. Cabahug St, Cebu City, company president and chief executive officer Shannen Keisha L. Tan revealed that RHII is drawing initial plans of looking at Mactan, Bohol, as possible expansion sites.

Simultaneously, the company is also inclined to invest in service-apartment facilities in Cebu, as this category has not been addressed well in terms of supply.

Cebu's promising tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibits) advantages drove the favorable interest of this Cebuano-owned company to put their money in the hospitality sector.

Opened in May this year, Mezzo Hotel is positioned to be known for its service. Its size could afford a more personalized and superb service to its guests, said Tan in a press conference.

This early, the hotel had already developed institutional clientele, such as government agencies, and corporations due to its generous offering of function facilities.

Apart from attracting MICE and tourists, Mezzo is also gaining ground among long staying non-Cebuano guests, or expats looking for long-stay accommodations.

The 10-storey Mezzo Hotel also has 35 units of residential suites to accommodate long staying guests, added Tan.

Long staying guests are those who sign a contract to stay for a month or longer in the residential suites. This market according to Tan is also promising.

          At present, the company is still focusing on building its name in the competitive hospitality sector in Cebu, and will officially announce the finality of its expansion projects in the medium term.

In fact, the management led by resident manager Joan Osabel, is working on the hotel's ISO certification and four-star accreditation.

The hotel is currently employing around 90 staff, who are also undergoing several trainings to polish their skills and achieve exemplary customer service expertise.

RHII is one of the local capitalists whose Cebuano owners have immediately responded to the need of accommodation facilities in Cebu complementing the sustained upswing in the tourism industry. (FREEMAN)