CEBU, Philippines - Few days before the 2014 Sinulog Festival, hotels in Cebu City are all set for the peak season of the year as evidence by fully-booked reservations and high occupancy rates next weekend.
Hotels, Resorts and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Cenelyn Manguilimotan said in an interview that most of the hotels, especially city hotels situated along those routes where festival activities will be held, like the Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño on January 18 and the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 19.
“Most of the hotels are running high and are currently 100 percent booked for next weekend beginning January 17. There are still other hotels available for accommodation but they are a little farther sa route,†she said.
While it is expected that most of the hotels have increased their accommodation rates this peak period, she said that players cannot afford to lose their existing and potential clients along the way; thus offering promotional packages.
Manguilimotan who is also the general manager of Cebu Parklane International Hotel cited that their standard rooms at P3,800 have already been sold out last November while their suite rooms have been fully reserved since December and early week of January.
“As early as August and September, we have received a bulk of inquiries for hotel bookings in this year’s Sinulog celebration though there were no guarantee yet that time. We required them to confirm their booking from December 15 to 31,†she said.
For Parklane alone, January 18 posted the highest number of bookings from guests who preferred to check out by Monday. There are still around 20 guests in the waiting list for possible bookings. Parklane has a total of 241 rooms.
She said that a mixture of local and foreign tourists flock to Cebu and share the merriment during the Sinulog festival that is celebrated every third week of January.
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu media communications manager Kyra Cabaero said that the hotel is fully booked for next weekend as they started receiving reservations last November.
“Before Christmas, around five percent of our rooms were left available. By the first week of January, we were already fully booked,†she said.
She cited that Marco Polo is offering Sinulog add-on that is worth P1,100 per person to the room package for their guests. It is already inclusive of seating at the Marco Polo grandstand along Mango Avenue, transfers to and from the said grandstand, face paintings, packed lunch and parade amenities such as water, whistle and fan.
Cabaero said that promotional packages offered by hotels at this peak season guarantee their guests with comfort and convenience during Sinulog.
Cebu City Marriott Hotel public relations manager Charlene Go reported high occupancy rates in their hotel for January 17, 18 and 19. She added that most of the bookings were made by locals.
She said that they are still accommodating more reservations. Cebu City Marriott Hotel has a total of 301 rooms.
She also said that they have prepared for the festival next weekend by coming up with activities for their guests such as performances of Sinulog dancers, face paintings, survival kits and complimentary transfers for the fluvial procession on Saturday.
Gemma Cunanan, sales and marketing director of Harolds Hotel, said that the hotel establishment is already fully booked to date.
She further noted that although they have experienced cancellations of bookings for the Sinulog festival starting on October after the string of calamities that struck last year, they were able to cope beginning on the last week of November.
She even cited that the occupancy rate for the 2014 Sinulog season is considered higher compared to the previous years.
“This time, they are willing to pay,†Cunanan said.
Summit Circle Cebu general manager Xavier Castueras said that as of yesterday, there were still 20 rooms left to be booked.
This year, he said that they have come up with a three-day Sinulog package worth P18, 000 with a daily buffet breakfast for two for their guests and patrons.
“Bookings are coming in. it is too early to tell but we are expecting to be fully booked anytime before next weekend,†he told The FREEMAN.
Castueras added that they have added security personnel apart from the entire hotel being covered by the CCTV surveillance to ensure security for their guests. There are a total of210 rooms in Summit Circle Cebu.
Since the Sinulog celebration is considered to be the first grand festivity in Cebu every year, Manguilimotan said that HRRAC urged industry players to set the mood of fun and hope for a brighter 2014.
“We just remind them to be more festive this year to boost the morale of the people, making them feel that we will be okay after everything that had happened last year,†she said.
She also advised the public to book their accommodation as early as possible in the years ahead.
“It would really be wise to decide earlier even before they check out next weekend to make a reservation for next year and guarantee to stay in their preferred hotels by yearend,†she concluded. /JOB (FREEMAN)