Hotel sector pins hopes on new airport terminal

CEBU, Philippines — The hotel industry in Cebu is pinning its optimism on the opportunities that the airport's Terminal 2 will bring particularly in the hospitality sector.

Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Carlo Suarez said hotel players are looking forward to what the expansion of Mactan-Cebu International Airport could bring to the robust hotel business here.

"We are very excited with the progress. In fact we had the GMR team last month during our GMM (general membership meeting) and they gave us an update," Suarez told The FREEMAN yesterday.

Bangalore-based GMR Infrastructure Ltd, together with its Philippine partner Megawide Construction Corp, is the private operator of MCIA.

"We had a countdown of days until opening. HRRAC is very positive in welcoming the new progress to help our tourism boost in our region," the hotel executive stressed.

GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp is scheduled to open the airport's Terminal 2 next month.

"This airport will be a gateway for the Visayas servicing Cebu and nearby islands like Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguete and even Camiguin," Suarez further said.

The HRRAC official said the airport's expanded capacity will mean more tourists will stay in Cebu’s hotels.

"We are projecting at least 12% growth rate based on tourist arrivals," he noted.

MCIA T2 is expected to start full commercial operations on June 22 and would service all international operations and Terminal 1 would be dedicated to domestic flights.

GMCAC would also eventually start a one-year upgrade and renovation of Terminal 1.

T2 is seen to increase MCIA's passenger capacity to 12.5 million annually.

GMCAC has a 25 year operations and maintenance concession agreement for MCIA.

MCIA’s O&M was turned over to GMCAC in November 2014. (FREEMAN)