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Friday, September 23, 2005
More hotels a plus for Cebu: exec
The entry of big hotels in Cebu could facilitate the province’s success in its bid to become a convention hub, according to an industry player.
This is why Gatchalian-controlled Waterfront Philippines Inc. (WPI) remains confident that the opening of Marco Polo Hotel (formerly Cebu Plaza Hotel) will not affect the revenues of the WPI’s hotels in Cebu—Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino (WCCHC) and Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan.
“We are actually excited about Marco Polo’s coming to Cebu. The Cebu market, both tourism and convention, is growing. There is plenty of room for new players. The more hotels Cebu will have, the more conventions will be held here,” WPI president Rexlon Gat-chalian said.
Limited rooms
“We (Cebu) are losing out to other convention destinations in Asia because of the lack of rooms,” he added.
Gatchalian said many convention organizers, who initially wanted to hold their conventions in Cebu, had backed out due to the limitation of hotel rooms in the province.
He admitted that WPI would benefit from more conventions because it would be able to operate its convention facilities to the fullest.
“Right now, we can’t operate our convention facilities to the maximum. But we keep on investing though to prepare for more conventions in Cebu. We treat the convention business as a separate business,” Gatchalian said.
He said the company has earmarked some P60 million this year for the renovations of the hotel and convention facilities in WCCHC. The renovation will include the hotel rooms and the Atlantic ballroom in preparation for the Advertising Congress in November.
WPI is also investing in its commissary, located in WCCHC, to fully operate its subsidiary, the Waterfront Food Concepts Inc. (WFCI).
WFCI was formed to manage the operation of WPI’s food and beverage concepts outside its properties.
“We strategized and we realized that there is a market for pastry and baked goods. WFCI remains to be the most dynamic subsidiary last year. It engaged a multi-awarded Filipino pastry chef and facilitated the construction of our pastry commissary that would cater to institutional accounts,” Gatchalian said.
WFCI aims to have at least 12 institutional clients by next year. (JBN)
(September 23, 2005 issue)
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