THE newly-opened hotel at the reclamation area of Bacolod City is poised as the city's destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (Mice).
Jose Antonio “John” Alonte, president of Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco), which owns and operates Acacia Hotel Bacolod, on the sidelines of the opening rites said on Thursday, March 21, the hotel development forms part of the plan to make the city as a destination for big tourism events.
Alonte said they want to build the biggest convention facility in the city which will start at the hotel.
“For us in Bredco, this is also a celebration of our commitment to invest in Bacolod City and Negros as a province,” he said, explaining that the hotel, as well as other developments in the reclamation area including the new port terminal, is in partnership with business tycoon Lucio Co.
The Acacia Hotel Bacolod, formerly the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel, now forms part of the network of Acacia Group owned by Co, who was also present at the opening rites.
The five-storey facility with 86 rooms is currently the third in the chain of Acacia hotels in the country.
The renovation and refurbishment of the hotel worth at least P250 million started in October last year.
Alonte said they changed all the furniture as well as appliances when they closed down the previous hotel also last year.
Part of the expansion and development plan, he said, is making the existing pool into a wave pool.
They are also renovating the old bowling alley, converting it to a facility for convention.
Alonte said the renovation is not yet complete, and they have yet to announce the grand plan for the hotel in due time.
“With Co’s help, we can see a lot more projects and investments in Bacolod City, something that most Bacolodnons and Negrenses will be proud of,” Alonte said, adding that the idea of bringing in strategic partners is to build the hotel to a higher level of facility.
For his part, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was also present at the event, said the city needs more hotels.
Leonardia said his administration still subscribe to the vision and projection that tourism will become the biggest industry in the world.
“So we are positioning Bacolod with special focus on Mice,” he said, adding that the hotel is a big contributor to the promotion of the city as a destination.
Meanwhile, also present at the opening activity were Representative Greg Gasataya, other city and Bredco officials and strategic partners. (EPN)