SM Investments to open Radisson Hotel in Cebu

After signing a new agreement with an international hotel brand, the country's conglomerate SM Investments Corporation (SMIC), will soon be opening a 400-room five star hotel development here in Cebu to be called the Radisson Hotel Cebu located at the North Reclamation Area.

In a press conference held recently, SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) Hotel Investment Group Senior Vice President Merril F. Yu announced that by March 2009, they will be opening Radisson Hotel Cebu that will be managed by Carlson Hotels Worldwide, one the world’s largest privately-owned hotel companies.

The Radisson Hotel Cebu is the third hotel management agreement signed by SMIC with Carlson Hotels.

The Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes over 955 locations in 71 countries and it operates specific brands that include: Regent Hotels and Resorts; Radisson Hotels and Resorts; Park Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Country Inns and Suites By Carlson; and Park Inn hotels.

Previous hotel contracts with Carlson Hotels covered the management of SMIC's two upcoming hotels in Manila located at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, namely, The Regent Manila Bay and Radisson Manila Bay which are both targeted to open in 2010.

Yu explained that the existing hotel contracts with Carlson Hotels was the primary reason that SMIC decided to cancel their prior deals with Sofitel Hotel under the Accor Group, which was previously announced to manage the hotel in Cebu.

Supposedly Cebu’s Sheraton, SMIC’s 400-room hotel will now be known as the Radisson Hotel Cebu. The 20-story hotel covers 59,750 square meters of floor area.

Yu said that the hotel's interior design concepts, facade, water features as well as other amenities will combine all of Cebu’s best elements as an island province rich in culture and history.

The hotel will also feature 10 meeting rooms, a 1,000 square meter grand ballroom, a spa and fitness center and a dining restaurant with water features and a garden, among others.

Yu said that the hotel is aimed to provide an ”escape from the usual city life” concept to its guests as it brings in top Asian designers.

The Radisson Hotel Cebu will target both international and domestic leisure and business market, said Yu.

Currently, fit-out works and fabrication within the actual hotel development are already being started and installation of other interior works will soon be undertaken.

SMIC has earmarked P2.7 billion investment for the re-development of their hotel property here in Cebu.

Yu said that one billion pesos will be allocated for the renovation of the actual physical structure of the hotel while P1.7 billion will be utilized for the internal fit-ups.

Opening in March 2009, the Radisson Hotel Cebu will be the first Radisson Hotels and Resorts property in the Philippines.

All three hotels owned by SM Investments Corporation will be run and managed by Carlson Hotel Worldwide-Asia Pacific (CHW-AP) and Yu expects to employ around 500 staff for the said operation. – Rhia de Pablo