THE accommodation sector is booming in Lapu-Lapu City.
At least 2,000 rooms will be added in two to three years’ time to the existing 5,000-room inventory, said Hembler Mendoza, head of Lapu-Lapu City’s Tourism Office.
“We are looking at a total of 7,000 rooms by 2020 to 2021,” said Mendoza, adding that the Lapu-Lapu City Government has constantly been receiving hotel and business applications following the Terminal 2 expansion.
Slated for opening in the coming years are Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, Rockwell Aruga Resort, and Grafiks Resort, among many others.
Mendoza said the airport expansion has been the main driver in the growth of the hospitality industry in Mactan. They expect the airport to attract more investors, not only in the hotel business, but also in other tourism-related industries such as in food and beverage.
Fast-moving room categories, according to Mendoza, are superior and deluxe rooms which are priced P2,800 to P4,600 for hotels and P4,600 to P12,000 for resorts.
Asked whether Lapu-Lapu City needs more accommodation facilities vis-a-vis the influx of tourists, Hembler said the expansion in the accommodation sector should be seen as a province-wide endeavor.
“Rooms should be well-distributed in the province because not all tourists will stay in Mactan Island. Some will also spend a night or nights in Cebu and the countryside,” he said.
Mendoza added that the entry of foreign branded hotels and resorts into the island is a welcome development as it would elevate the standards in the hospitality industry.
He noted it would also help in marketing Cebu in global markets. “Familiarity of hotel brands in some way attract guests to visit a destination,” said Mendoza, adding that their entry will also challenge local players to elevate the product and service quality.
Meanwhile, the private operator of the Mactan Cebu International Airport is beefing up its destination marketing initiatives to make sure more foreign guests will visit Cebu starting this year.
Last May, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) said it supported the mega familiarization tour of top European operators held in Makati City. (KOC)