It is hard to believe that a decade has already passed since the Cebu City Marriott Hotel opened to a welcoming public. Ten years down the line, the hotel has become the premier “Lifestyle Business Hotel of Cebu.” In this milestone, the Cebu Marriott is making sure that its significance will be more felt and enjoyed than ever before.
What better way to achieve this than by giving the hotel a new look from the bottom up? Just last December, the Marriott completed an extensive renovation process that will please both loyal guests and new visitors.
For starters, the lobby is more spacious than ever before. Tearing down the artificial pillars which took up space, the Marriott lobby is now wearing a hipper, brighter, more modern face, clean lines and all. Even the front desk is more open, so guests can easily have access to the staff in a jiffy without having to bump into a railing or another guest.
“That is what we are doing now: to take the hotel to the next level,” says Cebu Marriott general manager Roy Abraham. “Through this renovation, which is the first we did in 10 years, we want it to look totally different from the rest of the hotels.”
Soon as one enters the hotel, one’s eyes will be trained on the spankingly new lobby, which is now divided into three areas for entertaining, for peace and quiet, and for work.
Abraham says, “People who want to entertain can be at the bar area. Those who want to sit casually and be by themselves have the quiet zone. For the business travelers, the work area is where they can connect their laptop and have meetings. In the first quarter of 2009, Wi-Fi will be available in all rooms. All these things are taking into account the business traveler.”
“Of course, we are also looking after our leisure travelers. Our weekends can get really full, and with the arrival of guests, we want to make sure they will get the best,” he adds.
The renovation also called for new furniture in the premises. Abraham reveals that 90 percent of the furniture comes from Cebu. The outdoor all-weather furniture by the pool is by international maker Dedon. Abraham remarks, “We showcase the best of Cebu.”
The hotel has also worked on a seamless integration into the new Ayala Terraces, the latest commercial development in Ayala Center Cebu. There is a footpath right beside the hotel so guests can just leisurely walk over to the mall and enjoy a good spot of shopping, dining or just plain strolling.
Otherwise, they have the envious option of staying in their rooms which are now equipped with LCD TVs. The hotel, by the way, has 301 guestrooms offering varied views of the Busay Hills and the harbor by the Cebu Strait. There are deluxe rooms, business suites, executive suites, and the luxury suite. Broadband Internet lines, dual phone lines, individual climate controls, and voice mail systems are just some of the room amenities.
The Cebu City Marriott also offers three meeting rooms, two boardrooms, and a grand ballroom divisible into three sections. The latter can accommodate up to 600 for receptions and 500 for banquets.
All these are best complemented by Marriott’s brand of service. Abraham shares, “Marriott delivers the consistent, friendly outgoing efficient service. I wouldn’t describe it as over-the-top but unobtrusive. Friendly is the key word. The strength of this hotel is the location, the brand name, and the people. They are among the finest in the world. We really rank high in the Marriott brand in terms of guest satisfaction.”
“We are one of the hotels with the highest loyalty rates among balikbayan from the US because our brand is very well known there. We have the Marriott brand, which has a great loyal following all across the world. Marriott is a great product, and we always focus on showcasing it,” he adds.
Just recently, leading international online travel provider Expedia ranked Cebu City Marriott Hotel within the top one percent of 80,000 hotels surveyed around the world.
“It is a great honor for us. It was a survey done among travelers, something we had no control over. Expedia is one of the biggest travel networks and to be up there is huge. It is all due to our people in the hotel. Guests are always looking for great service, and they recognize Cebu Marriott for that,” he says.
Cebu Marriott is likewise proud of the training it gives to its people, particularly in the area where they can anticipate the needs of their guests. Abraham calls it “empowerment training.”
“It means our staff know exactly what they are doing. They know what it takes to please a guest. We do what it takes. Our staff can go over and beyond the call of duty.”
He mentions a unique feature in the hotel: “In Marriott, we have something not done in most hotel companies. Other hotels would have phones wherein they have numbers for housekeeping and other departments. Here, you only have to dial ‘0.’ You get what we call ‘At Your Service,’ which is in fact the Marriott brand. Ask for anything and they’ll get it for you. Everything is one-stop shop.” Great news, indeed.
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Cebu City Marriott Hotel is located at Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. For more information, call (63 32) 415-6100 with extensions at 8032 and 8026, e-mail at marsales@mozcom.com or log on at www.marriottcebu.com.