CEBU, Philippines - A 72-room business hotel recently opened in Mandaue City, a welcome development that addresses the lack of accommodation facilities in the second largest city in Metro Cebu.
Located at the heart of Mandaue City’s business district on A.S. Fortuna street, the Allure Hotel provides corporate transients the top-notch facilities that are mostly required such as free Internet Wifi in rooms, Spa, among others.
Developed by Almeridion Ventures Corporation (AVC) the 10-storey building is one of the modern structures established on the area.
Car distributorship trader Joseph “Jojo” Alquizola, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the AVC, decided to venture into the hospitality sector, as Metro Cebu is continuously making its center-stage in the tourism sector.
Besides, the growing number of corporate transients coming to Cebu from both international and local markets, has made the accommodate sector even more profitable than ever.
Mandaue City for instance, badly needs accommodation facilities, as there are only few hotels operating in the City.
In an interview with Janette Cardie Alquisola, the company’s chief operating officer (COO), she said since the soft opening of the hotel in the first week of January, it has already posted an average of 50 percent occupancy rate.
Even with the short-time marketing blitz, she said the hotel has already attracted long staying guests, including foreigners like Korean and Japanese nationals.
If this venture goes well, Alquisola said the company is planning to build a chain of business hotels in Cebu, while tourism projection in the province has continued to display rosy future.
“We are still testing the waters. So far, we are going well, but it is still too early to conclude,” said Alquisola.
At present, the hotel maintains a total of 55 employees. While, its marketing department is continuously working on partnering with travel agencies and corporate accounts to market the newest business hotel in Mandaue City.
According to Alquisola, what differentiates the hotel from others is the Family’s personal involvement in the operation, to see to it, that quality and world-class customer service is sustained.
She mentioned that even in the room interior details, “we personally chose the furnishings to add personal touch in every room.”
Taking advantage of the growing Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) market, the hotel has also created a convertible function room facility that will accommodate corporate meetings, and even major conferences.— (FREEMAN)