Exec: NegOcc among possible areas for more Ascott projects

BACOLOD. The Ascott Limited Regional General Manager for the Philippines and Thailand Arthur Gindap (standing) presents their company profile during the service management agreement signing with Cebu Landmasters Inc. and Capitaine Inc. in Bacolod City Tuesday, June 19. (Erwin P. Nicavera)
BACOLOD. The Ascott Limited Regional General Manager for the Philippines and Thailand Arthur Gindap (standing) presents their company profile during the service management agreement signing with Cebu Landmasters Inc. and Capitaine Inc. in Bacolod City Tuesday, June 19. (Erwin P. Nicavera)

ASIDE from hosting a hotel that will carry an international brand, Negros Occidental, particularly Bacolod City, is among the possible areas for more projects of The Ascott Limited in the country.

Arthur Gindap, regional general manager for the Philippines and Thailand of The Ascott Limited, said the company targets to develop at least five more projects in the country until 2020.

In Bacolod City, the first project of Ascott will be the Citadines Bacolod, a 200-room hotel that will soon rise on Lacson Street at Barangay Bata, beside the three-tower condominium project of Cebu Landmasters Inc. (INC).

The signing of management deal for this project was held in Bacolod City on Tuesday, June 19, along with top officials of CLI and its partner Capitaine Inc.

Once completed in 2021, it will be the 20th project of the international serviced residence firm in the country.

Gindap, at the sidelines of the signing activity, said they have a “wishlist” of projects to be ventured in the country within the next two years, and Negros Occidental is included in the possible host-areas.

“We see that what can happen here is our Somerset, the second of our three major brands,” he told SunStar Bacolod, adding that “this wishlist of projects is still being strategized and finalized.”

The Ascott Limited is part of the CapitaLand, one of Asia’s largest real estate companies headquartered in Singapore.

In its 30 years of operation, it has grown to be the world’s largest international serviced residence owner and operator with more than 74,000 units over 500 properties.

These are located in 133 cities and 32 countries spreading across America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, among other regions.

In the Philippines, The Ascott Limited started its operation in 2000 with its first project in Makati City.

Gindap said Somerset is a brand of larger apartments for extended staying guests, in at least one and a half month, with family.

These are more of three to four-bedroom type apartments with all the services of hotels mainly for family living, Gindap said.

“People have also been talking about resort areas for us to enter so this is something that we are studying as well,” he said, adding that “we do not have such location yet.”

As the company is looking at the demand, the official said they need to find developers who will bring their brand to different areas in the country.

“If Somerset is in Negros Occidental or in Iloilo also, possibly we can add another Citadines brand in Cebu,” Gindap said.

(High business confidence)

Moreover, The Ascott Limited group expressed high regards with the business climate of the province, especially Bacolod City, that is why “we are here.”

Gindap said they have been studying the market here for the last three to four years and that the company is confident with Bacolod City.

“We feel that agriculture is strong, e-commerce is growing, and business process outsourcing is rising here,” Gindap pointed out.

Another factor, he cited, that boosts their confidence is the Negrense culture.

“It is a culture that likes to celebrate and spend good money with quality accommodation including those for conventions and functions,” Gindap added.

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