‘Milenyo’ aftermath: No room at the inn

With 40 percent of the metropolis — including parts of posh Forbes Park in Makati City — still in darkness, Metro Manila’s hotels are seeing sunny days. Business is brisk, with most hotels reporting 100 percent occupancy.

Makati Shangri-La vice president and general manager Philippe Caretti says occupancy in the 699-room hotel, which he says is the biggest in Metro Manila, breached 100 percent in the two days after typhoon "Milenyo" hit the metropolis, toppling power lines and leaving 40 million people without electricity. Caretti expects the 100 percent occupancy to hold till middle of next week.

"We are filled to the brim," says Joy Wassmer, communications director of the Makati-Shangri-La. She says the hotel ran on generator the first night, but is now being powered by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

For his part, Neil Rumbaoa, communications director of Edsa Shangri-La in Mandaluying City said the hotel also hit 100 percent occupancy Friday night.

The same situation prevails at the nearby Renaissance Makati City Hotel (formerly the New World Hotel). Communications director Monique Toda says the hotel is "100 percent packed."

"Unfortunately, we have had to turn down requests, even from old friends," she says, because there is simply no more room to spare. In fact, adds Toda, lines have formed at the hotel’s lobby, composed of people still hopeful for "a room at the inn," so to speak.

The Manila Hotel also reported it was fully booked since Thursday night, when Milenyo directly hit the metropolis.

The hotel’s Ching Suva said the situation prevailed during the weekend.

At the Bay Area, the Hotel Philippine Plaza is also enjoying occupancy in the high 90 percent, even if some rooms are still under renovation.

"In fact, we have had to open some rooms ahead of schedule," says Rose Libongco, the hotel’s marketing director, who like most of the hotel’s top managers, spent Thursday and Friday night at the hotel to ensure that service was impeccable.

South of Metro Manila, which was hardest hit by typhoon Milenyo, the Bellevue Hotel in Alabang also hit 94 percent occupancy last night.

"It would have been 100 percent since Thursday," says the hotel’s general manager Patrick Chan, "but because of the strong winds and heavy rains, a number of rooms had soaked carpets."

"Our first few days were a nightmare," recalls Chan, "because we almost ran out of fuel several times for our generator."

The hotels said they didn’t charge over their normal rates because of the unexpected bonanza that was ironically spawned by the typhoon.

"Our code of ethics prevails over our business interest," says Shangri-La’s Caretti. "We do not take advantage of hard times to make money. We support the community when it needs us."

Caretti and Libongco of Hotel Philippine Plaza also said business was brisk in their restaurants and bars.

According to Caretti, the hotel served 1,700 covers a day since Thursday, almost double the normal. In their Lobby Lounge alone, they served 1,100 meals compared to about 300 on a "regular day."

It wasn’t just the hotels that saw brisk business after Milenyo.

Valerie Sotto, manager of the Shell station on Macapagal Avenue says the station never sold as much fuel in its existence as during the days that followed Milenyo’s wrath.

In Alabang, where all public accommodations were fully booked last Friday, some apartment hotels lost clients when their generators conked out after 24 hours.

Even drive-in motels and small inns were fully booked in Pasay City, where there was still no electricity and water supply was low until yesterday.

Libongco, who is also president of the Hotels Sales and Marketing Association, said Metro Manila residents sought refuge and comfort in hotels.

"Almost all five star hotels were occupied because the people know the hotels have generators and lights and water were available. Many of the hotels registered full occupancy until now," she said.

"Even the restaurants inside the hotels were filled with customers because they know it is inconvenient to cook. I think the hotels coped very well with the demand. We took care of our guests," she said.

Kim Garcia, resident manager of SoHotel (Malate), sister company of Victoria Court, said there was no vacancy as people kept coming in droves since Thursday night.

"Even Victoria Court was full with families seeking shelter. I checked with three-star hotels, motels, all were fully occupied. More than 95 percent of the customers were families," Garcia said, adding that in Sohotel customers availed themselves of the 24-hour rate and their kitchen staff couldn’t take a break.

"We are very happy. You could say a lot of hotels made a killing during the blackout." — With Patricia Estevez