Monday, October 16, 2006 International hotel chain eyes 2 branches in province
AN INTERNATIONAL budget hotel chain is planning to put up a branch in Cebu City and another in Lapu-Lapu City next year.
Microtel Inns and Suites Philippines chief marketing officer Patrick Gregorio said the company is in discussions with possible partners to put up a 100- to 150-room hotel in Cebu City and another on Mactan Island.
Gregorio said Microtel hopes to operate the hotels in the last quarter of 2007.
“We are looking for more partners, either franchise or joint venture, for future hotels in other areas of the province and in the Visayas,” he said in an interview. “We want a Microtel in every province. We’ve got many leads but (for now) we’re still testing the waters.”
“But for Cebu, (future branches) will definitely be successful,” he said.
He said a partnership with Microtel is “very attractive” to potential investors as it allows investment for the establishment of something as small as a 15-room inn.
He said Microtel’s main considerations in branching out would include the price of the land and its location.
Like all Microtel establishments in the United States and other countries, Gregorio said those in the Philippines are known for “very competitive room rates, basic but safe and comfortable accommodation.”
“It’s going to be good for Cebu because we’re going to give more options in terms of prices,” he said.
He also pointed out that Microtel Inns and Suites has been given the “highest ranking in guest satisfaction” for five consecutive years, starting 2002, by J. D. Power and Associates.
With the size being envisioned for Cebu, Gregorio said each hotel could generate about 50 jobs.
Microtel will open next month in Boracay. It has existing hotels in Baguio, Tarlac, Batangas and Cavite. Microtel International has about 290 branches worldwide.
Gregorio said Microtel will expand further, not only in the country, but in Southeast Asia.
“We’re very bullish about the region (Southeast Asia). We’re very excited about the growth of Microtel in Southeast Asia,” he said in a phone interview.
In an interview at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga following the inaugural ceremony of Cebu Pacific’s Cebu-Clark flight service, Gregorio said Microtel is also planning to open in Davao in July next year. (LAP)
