Far-flung resorts await post-summit bookings

Off city resorts, like Alegre Beach Resort in Sogod, Cebu is hoping to get bookings from the ASEAN Summit visitors immediately after the conference ends.

"Participants who want to stay on for post ASEAN Summit leisure component, will be our market. Meanwhile, during the date itself, we don't get bookings, because we are too far," said Alegre Beach Resort general manager Fritz G. Kahler.

As of now, he said the resort still has no confirmed bookings from guests who are part of the ASEAN Summit event, which will be held in Cebu this coming December starting December 9 to 13, 2006.

Cebu will be expecting about 10,000 visitors during the ASEAN leaders meeting, and city-based hotels and resorts are already fully booked for the event.

However, far-flung resorts like Alegre, is hoping to get a share of the market during post ASEAN Summit events.

According to Kahler, he is confident that there are a lot of delegates who may want to explore Cebu, and relax after the event. Alegre is banking on this market.

Alegre Beach Resort has 38 villa-room accommodations. It enjoys high occupancy rate of 70 percent in the last two weeks, while an average of 68 percent last year.

Already, the company had spent millions of pesos for its ongoing renovation program, to improve the 14-year old resort, including the rooms, reception, and other facilities.

He said Alegre is spending at least P500,000 for each room, for the renovation of its 38 villas.

On the other hand, city based hotels, and resorts are expecting to generate an estimated US$10 million during the ASEAN Summit.

This estimated amount that will benefit Cebu's economy, is based on a conservative calculation of over 10,000 guests that will arrive in Cebu, not only in the proper five-day event, but including the earlier meetings that will be held in Cebu in the preparation for the summit.

Hotelier and general manager of Cebu Parklane International Hotel Rey Fuentes said each guest is expected to spend an average if not a minimum of US$200 a day, only for the accommodation and food expenses, excluding other expenses for shopping, tours, among others.

According to Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Patria Aurora "Dawnie" Roa, prior to the main event that is scheduled on December 9 to 13, there will be 32 meetings to be held in Cebu, this include an international business leaders' meeting that will be held in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casinos, and other events related to the ASEAN Summit.

Roa said the Philippine government is only spending for the accommodation of the head of states, but the members of the delegations in each country, will have to spend their own money.

The US$10 million money that will be poured to Cebu 's economy is only calculating the basic need of each delegate, which is only the accommodation and food, the amount is expected to double as delegates will have to go to other services like shopping, spa, tour, wining, and dining.

In the Metro Cebu area, which covers cities of Talisay City , Cebu City , Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City , there are only a little over 6,000 rooms that will be able to accommodate the delegates.

There are 16 participating countries in the ASEAN Summit and each head of state is expected to bring over 100-member delegation. About 2,000 are expected to come from different media organizations in the world.

Roa said that the impact of the ASEAN Summit that will be held in Cebu will be felt by Cebuanos in the long term. It will help the positioning of Cebu as an international vacation hub, and that tourism will be well benefited from this event.

At least six hotels/resorts are already identified to be the hosts of top-notch head of states. According to Roa, although room shortage is a problem in Cebu, the ASEAN Summit accommodation committee already made arrangements with hotels of the bookings.

Province-wide, including resorts located in countryside, like Pulchra, Alegre, Badian Island, resorts in Bantayan Island, Malapascua, and others, Cebu has over 9,000 hotel and resort rooms.