AROUND 150 workers of Big Hotel and Big Hotel Suites stand to lose their jobs should the Mandaue City Government pursues the closure of these accommodation facilities.
“As advised by our legal counsel, it is business as usual. We continue to accept guests and continue to fulfill our commitments to them,” said Ken Derrick Ngo, chief executive officer of Travelbee Management Corp., the hotel management firm of Big Hotel and Big Hotel Suites.
Ngo, however, declined to comment on the legal and political issues faced by the facilities as they are already being handled by the family’s legal team.
According to Ngo, since the closure order was carried on Wednesday, February 27, they have prepared the refund for their guests, as well as provided transportation should they decide to stay in other hotels.
As for the booked functions, Ngo said he already coordinated with his fellow hoteliers to accommodate them should the corporate clients also decide to transfer their events.
“It is not easy to re-book functions but we have coordinated with our friends in the industry for the seamless logistics should they decide to transfer,” said Ngo.
Fortunately, Ngo said they have not recorded any cancellations from guests and corporate clients yet.
Big Hotel has about 148 rooms, while Big Hotel Suites has 48 rooms. Travelbee Management Corp. has about 10 properties under its care.
Since their operation, Ngo said they have been complying with the City’s requirements religiously.
He said they will resubmit Friday, March 1, the hotel’s business permit requirements.
A team from the Mandaue City legal office carried out the closure orders on Big Hotel, Big Hotel Suites and Linear Coffee Shop on Wednesday morning, February 27, for their failure to secure business permits and for building on land under a deed of assignment said to be infirm.
The two hotels sit on 1.4 hectares of prime government land in Barangay Tipolo.