Waterfront Cebu bares 2011 renovation plans

MANILA, Philippines –  The country’s largest first-class hotel operator Waterfront Philippines Inc. (WPI) announced that it will be embarking on a multi-million renovation program geared towards improving further its flagship property located in Cebu City, the 560-room Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The project will be segmented into three phases, the renovation of the grand and lower lobbies of the hotel; the renovation of the function rooms; and eventually the renovation of the larger convention facilities of the hotel.

Each phase is expected to cost around P100 million. Financing for the project will be sourced from internally generated funds.

The renovation period for the first two phases will take place within the next 10 months, while the last phase will take place during the first quarter of 2012.

“We are extremely excited to embark on this multi-million renovation project because this will further enhance our product and service offerings that will eventually yield to better guest experience and revenues,” said Weslie Gatchalian, vice president for special projects of WPI.

Designed by Steven J. Leach Jr. + Associates (Consultants) Inc. (SL+A Manila), which is a part of the world-renowned Steven Leach Group, the inspiration for the lobby’s new look is based on two main objectives: First, to transform the existing single dimension grand lobby into a multi-dimensional lifestyle-concept space that will enhance the guests’ experience when dinning and lounging in the lobby; and second, to improve traffic patterns, through the construction of larger check-in areas and maximizing the Lobby’s three entrances.

Composed of a young, dynamic team of creative individuals, SL+A Manila has worked with an extensive and reputable list of major Philippine corporations and multinational firms over the span of 30 years. Waterfront has worked very closely with the SL+A team to achieve the luxurious yet highly efficient design that it has aimed to create a world class lobby experience for its clients.

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino’s massive, high-ceilinged lobby has always been its principal attraction. In fact it is touted as the largest hotel lobby in Visayas-Mindanao area. Spanning 22 meters wide, 96 meters long and 35 meters high and crisscrossed by hundreds of people each day, the hotel’s grand lobby sets the whizzing pulse for the hotel and dictates its overall ambiance.

Based on a play of rich imagery, sumptuous colors and amplification to a grand scale, the lobby makes an immediate statement about how one can expect things to be bigger and more luxurious at Waterfront according to Gatchalian.

To further describe he project “our lobby will be grander and more luxurious than it is now,” said area general manager Marco Protacio.

“It will be the first time Waterfront will be renovating its lobby in 10 years; a feature of the hotel that repeat guests have grown to appreciate and identify with. It is both a challenging and exciting prospect,” he added.

WPI, through its Waterfront Hotels and Casinos brand name, is currently the largest Filipino-owned hotel chain in the country today. It operates five first class hotel-casino properties located in the major cities of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao.

In Manila, it operates the Manila Pavilion Hotel & Casino and G-Hotel by Waterfront, its latest venture in the boutique hotel category.

In Cebu, it runs the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino and the Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan.

In Davao, it operates the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

Cumulatively, the group runs close to 1,600 guest rooms, employs, 1,670 workers, and has over 13,500 square meters of convention and gaming space.

Last year un-audited financial statements of the company showed the company registering P1.8 billion in gross revenues, with a gross operating profit of P656 million and a net operating profit of close to P100 million. The flagship Cebu hotel contributed 41 percent of gross revenues.