CONSTRUCTION of the 250 resort rooms of The Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort is ahead of schedule, its developer said.
Ray Go Manigsaca, president of AppleOne Mactan Inc., yesterday said the firm is eyeing to open the resort hotel in the middle of 2019.
The Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort sits on a five-hectare property in Punta Engaño, Mactan Island overlooking both Hilutungan Channel and Magellan Bay.
Its condominium development, the 186-unit The Residences, is scheduled for completion a year after the resort hotel opens.
AppleOne Mactan Inc., a subsidiary of AppleOne Properties Inc., has earmarked P4 billion for the construction of The Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and The Residences.
Manigsaca said they remain bullish about Cebu’s tourism prospects with the opening of the Terminal 2 of the Mactan Cebu International Airport this June.
He said existing rooms and those that are being built in Cebu and Mactan aren’t enough to supply the anticipated rise in tourism arrivals.
Manigsaca said they are building up their land bank for future projects and have already acquired the property beside The Sheraton for expansion plans.
Moreover, Manigsaca disclosed they are planning to bring a branded budget hotel to cater to backpackers or travelers who are always on the go.
He, however, declined to disclose details about the planned project but he said this international hotel would have a two- to three-star hotel rating.
Manigsaca said bringing in branded hospitality names here will allow them to market Cebu to the world more easily.
Partnerships with international hotel chains also elevate Cebu’s image in the global tourism map, he said.
AppleOne Mactan took home four awards during the recently concluded Philippine Property Awards. The Residences won the Best Luxury Condo Development (Cebu) in the entire region, along with Best Condo Interior Design (Philippines) in the country, and Highly Commended for Luxury Condo Architectural Design.
The company also won the Best Condo Development (Philippines), besting giants in the property sector in the country. This made AppleOne the first non-Manila based real estate company to win that category.
“We are happy with these awards, especially the Best Condo Development, because this means efforts of the provincial real estate players are now being appreciated,” he said. (KOC)