Boutique hotel wants to be market leader

CEBU, Philippines - Newly opened St. Mark Hotel capitalizes on affordability, location and customized service to achieve its vision of becoming Cebu’s leader for boutique and mid-tier hotels.

Located along Queens Road, across Redemptorist Church in Cebu City, St. Mark is a boutique hotel with 5-star amenities. It boasts of 63 well-appointed guest rooms spread across seven themed floors, an all-day dining restaurant, boardrooms and ballroom.

The hotel caters to travelers coming to Cebu for business or leisure, and is looking at growing its corporate clients.

According to Ross Maglasang, sales and marketing director,   they will have regular promotions to attract a bigger share of this market (corporate).

Corporate clients account for 45% of the hotel occupancy, travel agencies at 30%, electronic chains at 15% and walk-in guests and frequent individual travelers at 10%.

“We are doing very good. We are surprised of the good reception that we got inspite of being new in business, and not having gone full blast in promoting or advertising the hotel,” Maglasang said.

Although its room rates are already affordable, Maglasang said they will customize their price according to guests’ preference.

“We want our guests to enjoy their stay with us. We will customize what we offer according to their preference and capitalize on the value for money,” she stated during an interview. 

Just like five-star hotels, St. Mark offers room amenities such as hair blower, iron board, free deposit box, complete bathroom amenities, customized beds, vanity mirrors, iPod docks, and Wi-Fi access.

Aside from the hotel’s five function rooms and parking area, Maglasang also said that its restaurant is envisioned to be the new breakfast buffet destination with its wide choices of food for only P295 per head.

Of the 63 rooms, seven of these are penthouses and will be made available by middle of 2013 to fulfill its promise as the hotel with affordable luxury. —(FREEMAN)