Monday, January 12, 2009 A hotel that feels like home By Ana Felicia Dulay
FOR the distinct traveler, a hotel must not be just another hotel. Above all, it must feel like home. And that is what exactly Villa Margarita lets its guests feel.
Indeed Villa Margarita, along J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, was the ancestral house of the Montemayors before it became a hotel.
"It was a huge house, with six rooms and two dens. The swimming pool at the back was the original pool of my in-laws," Mary Ann "Baby" Montemayor said in a recent interview.
Villa Margarita started as a pension house back in 1991 managed by Baby and husband Leon Gonzalo "Binggoy" Montemayor.
Initially, they thought of opening a boarding house for Philippine Gaming Corp. employees. At that time, Cuison Hotel, in front of the property, was still in operation and housed Casino Filipino.
However, they renovated the place, turned the lanai (terrace) into rooms and proceeded with their plans to open a pension house.
"It was a success and we got referrals from Manila. We retained the pool, which is one of the amenities foreigners look for. After a trip, most wanted to dip and have a few laps at the pool," she said.
Baby says they got lucky since there were a few pension houses at that time. Banks started to offer financing and clients started suggesting that they expand the place.
Hence, Villa Margarita was upgraded into a standard hotel category in 1997.
"Patronage was good. Clients brought more clients and turned it into what it is today," she said.
Montemayor said that one of their establishment's strengths is their food. They have designed their menus so meals are sumptuous yet affordable.
Adding a feather to their cap was bagging the Kalakbay National Award bestowed by the Department of Tourism, putting the name of Villa Margarita on the map, so to speak.
Villa Margarita has all the amenities of a standard hotel with bigger rooms, 24-hour room service, and Internet capability of each room.
"WiFi was made possible three years ago during the ATF (Asean Tourism Forum). Part of the requirement of all accredited hotels where the foreign delegates stayed was to have Internet connections," she said. The management decided to retain it after the ATF.
The hotel occupancy rate last year was around 65 percent to 75 percent for Villa Margarita. However, due to the global economic crunch, all hoteliers expect their occupancy rates to lower this year.
But optimism runs high.
"We are banking on the fact that Davao City is dependent on domestic tourism. It is both good and bad. Unlike in Cebu where they depend on tourists from abroad and have started to feel the crunch since late last year," she said.
Montemayor said Davao City mostly depends on domestic tourists and its visitors are largely from all over Mindanao.
"If you talk to other hoteliers, they do not have any big bookings for 2009. Everyone is trying to look and see," she said.
However, Filipinos have a lot to be thankful for despite the global crisis.
"Ang Pinoy sanay sa hirap. Sanay na tayo sumabay sa agos. Unlike the Super Powers, naninibago sila. But this is something they have to live with. Hardships are not new to us. But for as long as there is optimism and there is willingness to work hard, there are a lot of opportunities," she said.
Montemayor is hopeful that the hotel industry in the city will weather the storm.
"The air seats to Davao have increased and are there to stay. Plus travelers by land within Mindanao and neighboring regions also increased," she said.
Like everyone else in the tourism industry, Montemayor also urges an aggressive marketing campaign to promote Davao City as a tourist destination. More tourists would mean an improvement in the hotel industry.
"Kailangan strong ang marketing and promotion ng destination nationally and abroad. Just like Boracay, everybody knows where Boracay is. Hindi pwede 'pag wala. People have to constantly hear that all is well and good in your destination," she said.
