Everything Cebu at Elegant

CEBU, Philippines - Emerging from the typical pension house setup, Elegant Circle Inn at Cinco Centrum of midtown Cebu's commercial hub is taking on soft touches physically in the last two years to accommodate a Business Center and a Tours and Transportation desk. This is to accommodate a growing market of balikbayans who have continuously connected with memories of home.

Hotel manager Elizabeth Telen, in an ocular tour last December 17, shared how the Web wave has encouraged them to meet current needs and demands of the market. "We can't operate like a pension house forever. We have to automate so we can attend to trends efficiently like the printing of e-tickets, as well as online banking. We have to be seen on the Web for global marketing. Balikbayans should find us on the Internet. It was a challenge at first, but somehow we have come to adapt. Our services can now be browsed via applications in smartphones and all our six floors have Wi-Fi spots as well," she said.

The tour provided a view of improved accommodations (87 rooms, 36 of which are Economy rooms) and ongoing reconstruction of spaces. These spaces occupied by previous tenants are now converted into additional Elegant Suites, to name one, so that special needs of elderly and the differently abled could be met. "Some people don't like to be on the 6th floor; either they are afraid of heights or they find it taxing to get to the top floor. So we will open soon a Suite Room at the second floor," Telen added.

Interestingly, Elegant Circle Inn has complied with a provision of the Magna Carta for PWDs (persons with disabilities) that for every 80-room development, there should be one room for the PWD. The phrase "comfort room" has finally found its meaning among PWDs who have been fighting for their right to accessibility. The room provides a second viewing hole (for a person-on-wheels to use), a toilet ramp, and a handrail for assistance.

The hotel has two Function Rooms: one for seminars and banquets, which also provides disco lights, while the other is designed with a platform best for church services and fellowship. Both can accommodate 100 persons.

As for food developments, Elegant Coffee Shop's executive chef Annette Mahinay offered a sampler of the shop's signature dishes: the hot and tasty Squid ala Elegante, the richly textured Beef ala Elegante, and the savory Pancit Canton Elegante. "The one thing that makes Annette's dishes stand out is that it bears a homey taste. It is not influenced by Asian fusions, so if you are a balikbayan, you get to enjoy a Cebuano dish the way it should taste. There is no confusion if it's a mix of other Asian culinary influences like Thai or Singaporean," Telen explained.

For entertainment, there's an open-mic session (sing-a-long) from Wednesdays to Saturdays at 9 pm at the coffee shop.  

As for expansion, Elegant Circle Inn's chief executive officer Dr. Felipe Cinco is quick to point out that of the available 3,000 square meters, only 800 square meters have been fully utilized. "We have that potential for expansion, but we need a minimum of P100 million before we could embrace the idea of a condotel. So as for now, we are very satisfied with the way Elegant Circle Inn is performing. We have marketed it as a businessman's hotel, and we are glad to have expanded our market in the last 20 years to include the Japanese," he shared.

In addition, Telen said that the hotel's next move would be to showcase Cebuano products to support small-to -medium-sized enterprises here. "Mango-based products and otap would be some of the items to star in our mini-bar. This way we would be strengthening our catchphrase: experience Cebuano hospitality. We have to offer only the best of Cebu Island. Everything Cebu!"

To recall, P. Cinco and Sons is one of the pioneers in real estate development in Cebu having established significant projects in 1987. Other than Elegant Circle Inn, it has expanded project interests in Mandaue City like the San Jose Village, a gated community, and Elegant Homes, a townhouse project. (FREEMAN)