Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Not us: NOC on hotel rates
THE National Organizing Committee (NOC) of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit next month clarified that it had nothing to do with the hotel rates of foreign media who will cover the event, as it merely facilitates hotel reservations.
“Our job is merely to act as go-between the members of the foreign media and the hotels in Cebu City so they can be assured of accommodations during the summit,” said Milton Alingod, NOC assistant secretary general for media communications, in a press release yesterday.
Limited
Hotels in Cebu City have different rates depending on their amenities and facilities, and the international press center (IPC) merely relays these rates to the foreign media outfit.
The IPC finds it necessary to make hotel reservations for the foreign media because of the limited number of hotel rooms available in Cebu, she added.
The NOC expects 3,000 local and foreign journalists to cover the summit on Dec. 11-14.
Cebu City Hall Information Officer Nagiel Bañacia disclosed that nine hotels in Cebu are being designated to accommodate the foreign press.
These are the three Crown Regency hotels in Guadalupe, Mactan and Osmeña Blvd. (known as Club Ultima), Rajah Hotel, Cebu Midtown Hotel, Cebu Grand Hotel, Tambuli Beach Resort, Costa Bella and Montebello Villa Hotel.
Fayette Riñen of the Philippine Information Agency 7 said Crown Regency Hotel charges US$200 for their rooms, while their corner rooms costs US$250. Cebu Midtown Hotel charges US$100, she said.
Low rate
“It is up to the foreign journalists to choose which hotel they would like to be billeted,” said Alingod.
Riñen said the foreign media outfit that was able to get a low rate was able to avail itself of the room that was set aside as an “exchange deal” for a travel agency so this was the reason its rate was much lower.
As for local transportation, Alingod said the foreign press can rent any vehicle, provided that it is duly accredited with the NOC and it is has the necessary car pass.
Local government officials had expressed surprise over the reported “unreasonable” rates of hotels for the summit, as this will have a bad effect on Cebu’s tourism. (ROV)
