Saturday, September 23, 2006 2 new hotels to open in Clark By Dante M. Fabian
CLARK ECOZONE -- Officials of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced that President Arroyo is set to inaugurate two three-star hotels and a convention center inside Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) before the end of the month.
During her scheduled visit in Clark on September 28, Arroyo will inaugurate Fort Stotsenberg Hotel and the Raffles Hotel and the refurbished and expanded Fontana Convention Center.
Angelo C. Lopez, Jr., CDC public relations manager, said the potential of Clark as a tourist attraction will increase as the hotels are expected to attract local and foreign tourists to this former American military facility.
The Fontana convention center meanwhile was expanded from 1,500-occupancy to 3,000 and could be among the most frequented convention destinations in Clark.
Aside from the increase in tourists frequenting the ecozone, Lopez said the tourism-related projects in Clark are also expected to open more employment opportunities to the residents of Metro Clark area and its nearby environs.
Lopez said the tourism projects in Clark are expected to provide employment opportunities close to 1,000 workers from the nearby environs of Clark.
Raffles alone is expecting to employ more than 300 employees once fully operational.
David Sanchez, Raffles Hotel president, said that the hotel will provide world-class amenities to encourage more visitors in Clark as it will also complement the increase in the number of foreign tourists as a result of the increased flights at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
Sanchez announced this during the cable television program Central Luzon Special Edition hosted by Lopez over the Metro Clark Network here recently.
He added that the hotel project would be one of the catalysts in the hotel industry in Clark as it will enhance the potential of the zone as a major tourist attraction in Central Luzon.
Meanwhile, Lopez said because of the availability of big areas that could accommodate large number of people, especially during convention days of various firms, Clark has been favorite destination because of the world class amenities offered by the various tourism-related projects in Clark.
Lopez said Fontana is also planning to construct an 18-hole championship golf course inside the tourism estate which has investment projects pegged at P2.5 billion, including the rehabilitation of villas, construction of golf course, expansion of convention and other similar amenities inside the tourism estate.
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