Astoria Palawan eyes 20% rise in occupancy rate

MANILA, Philippines — Homegrown Astoria Hotel & Resorts (AHR) projects a 20 percent increase in the occupancy rate of its Palawan hotel in the next three years as it invests P650 million for its expansion efforts, driven by the growth of tourist arrivals in Puerto Princesa.

“In the next three years, our growth drivers will be the day-tour packages, the MICE (meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions) market, European leisure travelers and weekend family staycations,” AHR chief operating offer Vivian Ng said, referring to the group’s Astoria Palawan hotel.

“We are hoping to increase occupancy by 20 percent across the board by addressing these different market segments and targeting market by seasonal promotions,” she said.

Ng said the company saw the need to further upgrade the facilities of Astoria Palawan so it can take advantage of the growth in tourist arrivals being seen by Puerto Princesa across segments.

The company said it is bullish on the tourism prospects of Puerto Princesa, especially with development projects being undertaken by the national and local governments in the area.

“These include the completion of the Puerto Princesa International Airport, the upgrade of the seaport that will attract more international cruise ships, the widening of the city roads to six lanes, and a street lighting project so tourists can continue to enjoy the city even at night,” AHR said.

In 2018, around 1.8 million tourists visited Palawan, 21 percent higher from 2017, 1.278 million of which went to Puerto Princesa. The city’s main attraction is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, adjudged as one of the new “Seven Wonders of the World.”

Capitalizing on the interest from tourists, AHR said it is constructing a new 52-room building in Astoria Palawan, which will have its own private pool, a children’s playroom and a laundry room for guests.

The leisure features of the resort will also be upgraded so it can promote snorkeling around the sandbar nearby and around the resort, as well as launch eco-cultural activities. A new seafood restaurant as well as an infinity pool will also be part of the Palawan hotel’s expansion efforts.

It will also unveil a new seafood restaurant to be called “The Habitat.” The resort will also have a new infinity pool.

“These progressive facilities are expected to be completed by mid-2020,” AHR said.

At present, Astoria Palawan has 150 rooms.

“With the tremendous growth of the city, plus the completion of the Puerto Princesa International Airport, we expect more local and international tourist arrivals into Puerto Princesa. So we feel that 150 rooms is not enough,”AHR president and CEO Jeffrey Ng said.
Ng earlier said that AHR will be spending P3 billion in the next three years for the expansion of its various properties across the country.

Apart from Palawan, AHR is also expanding its Bohol hotel, and is eyeing to put up a hotel in Siargao.

“We are still studying, we have acquired a property already in Siargao and right now, we are still doing the design phase, how many rooms, what kind of rooms, amenities,” Ng earlier said.

He added that an additional 250 rooms is targeted to be constructed in its Bohol hotel this year.
Ng also said the company is targeting to put up hotels in Coron and El Nido in Palawan.