JANUARY is a busy month for Cebu.
Following the Sinulog, the hospitality sector is bracing for another boost in hotel bookings with Chinese New Year fast approaching.
As early as now, city hotels like Marco Polo Plaza Cebu and Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu have observed a spike in occupancy among local and foreign guests.
“We are building up our occupancy for Chinese New Year week into the high 90s,” said Ann Olalo, director for marketing and sales of Radisson Blu Cebu. She said the hotel will be home to a mix of Chinese leisure guests and locals.
Marco Polo Cebu’s occupancy rate is also running at high 90s. Manna Alcaraz, the hotel’s communication manager, noted that Chinese New Year is one of the hotel’s peak seasons and is one of the most celebrated.
High occupancy is also seen in resorts.
Occupancy rate in Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, during the Chinese New Year weekend is between 90 and 100 percent.
Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa is running full over weekend.
Chinese New Year, known as the Spring Festival in China, is the most important holiday among Chinese. This year’s Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 28, which ushers the year of the rooster.
Marco Polo Cebu will welcome the festival with the Giant Yee Sang Salad Toss on the eve of Chinese New Year. Other activities include traditional lion and dragon dance, coin tossing, eye dotting, firecrackers and a wushu performance. Cafe Marco will offer Chinese food promotions during the weekend.
Radisson Blu will also be offering the traditional Chinese New Year buffet prepared by Chinese chef Steve Ang at Feria.
Movenpick and Shangri-La both will both offer Chinese buffet and cultural performances.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 said January is one of the peak months for the province, especially if both Sinulog and Chinese New Year festivals fall on the first month of the year.
With warming relations, tourism players expect more Chinese tourists to visit the Philippines.
Some 582,124 Chinese tourists arrived in the Philippines from January to October last year. DOT is eyeing a million Chinese tourists for 2016.