Upscale Cebu hotel allots P5 million for renovations

CEBU, Philippines - Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu is allocating P5 million for the renovation of its function halls and ballroom facilities to cope with the fast growing market for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibition.

In an interview with the hotel's general manager Nishan Silva, he said that following the upgrade of its food and beverages choices and selection, starting with its anchor restaurant Feria, the hotel upgrade of ballroom and function halls will immediately follow.

The ballroom and function halls' facelift will include changing the ambiance that would conform to the modern and sophisticated market.

Silva said the hotel understands the advancement of market preferences especially in the MICE segment requirement, wherein sophisticated ambiance and facilities are among the top considerations.

The aggressive upgrade move of the hotel specifically in its F&B and facilities, is prompted by the notable growth of the MICE market in Cebu, as well as the changing preference of the public to dine-out and consistent demand for quality and sophisticated food offerings.

The four-year old Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, developed by the SM Group, is now running at a high of 80 percent occupancy rate in its total 400 guest rooms (year-to-date). Forty percent of the hotel's over-all revenue is contributed by the F&B business, and its growing significantly, Silva said.

Aside from the active MICE market that pushes the revenue based of the hotel, Silva said the expanding number of local residents that are now embracing the dine-out lifestyle also is helping the impressive growth of its F&B business,

Silva, who is the fourth general manager to run the hotel since it opened in 2010, said that the hotel is lining up plans to open F&B related facilities such as the upcoming introduction of Dilmah Tea Bar in January 2015, anticipating the growing interest of the market on tea drinking lifestyle, which is proven to have healing effect in 500 thousand years.

"It is important to give something brand-new and fresh to the market again," said Silva.

Also, this December the hotel will be introducing another pioneering concept with the launching of the "Kids @ the Blu", emphasizing educational events to the exclusive kids' club, combining educational events, rather than "play-around."

The educational kids club will create a VIK (very important kids) group that will benefit the comprehensive kid program of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu. — (FREEMAN)