City-based hotels' guests spillover benefits resorts

CEBU, Philippines - While people from all over the world flocked to Cebu to join the “Sinulog Festival 2012”, some Cebuanos are celebrating Sinulog Weekend at the beach, as Plantation Bay Resort and Spa reported a high occupancy rate over the weekened.

The resort’s general manager Efren Belarmino said a high of 70 percent occupancy rate on the Sinulog Weekend, guests profile is led by Cebuanos, who preferred to spend their weekend away from the crowded City.

Although, Belarmino said some guests are also from other areas in the Philippines, some Balikbayans who were not able to book ahead in the city-based hotels.

The resort on the other hand is also holding its own “Sinulog Festival” activity to join the spirit of celebration, while also offering free shuttle services from the resort to Cebu City, for guests who may want to witness the Mardi Gras.

Usually, he said big resorts like Plantation Bay, do not enjoy high occupancy rate during Sinulog festivity, as much as the City Hotels.

This time however, the trend has changed and local residents have started to enjoy their celebration in a less crowded environment, like in the beach.

Cebu City hotels already reported a 100 percent booking and occupancy rate during the Sinulog Festival weekend , visitors’ profile mostly from all over the world, and some from Metro Manila and Luzon.

Cebu Parklane International Hotel, experienced the “best” Sinulog Festival occupancy rate performance in the recent years. Hotel general manager Cenelyn Manguilimotan said guests gambled even to be put a the “waitlist” just to get a room or two.

According to Manguilimotan, this year is a good year in terms of booking saying “this year is far better since this time the guests are willing to pay high rates just to get a room.

Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president and vice president for Visayas of the Philippine Tourism Congress Hans Hauri said the high occupany rate of Cebu hotels, including Resorts will not only be enjoyed on the Sinulog Weekend, but it will sustain up to the Chinese New Year and towards the Summer season.

Meanwhile, according to Belarmino the recently introduced tourism promotion branding of the country—“It’s more Fun in the Philipines” will provide a good positioning for Cebu, as even before the tagline was conceptualized, Cebu as a destination already is directly link to fun and adventure.

Started with the fun in Sinulog Festival, Belarmino, who is also a member of the board of the Tourism Council of Lapu-Lapu City, said that high occupany rate for Cebu hotels and resorts is seen to sustain the whole year-round, unless there’s another untoward calamity of external intervention.

In fact, Plantation Bay has lined up several sports-related events during the year, such as Tennis event on March, Triathlon on April, among others.

Lapu-Lapu City’s bid to position as the Sports Tourism hub has also slowly paying off. Plantation Bay alone noticed increasing number of water and land-based enthusiasts from all over the world to experience fun and adventure through leisure-sports activities. (FREEMAN)