Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:00 [ manilatimes.net ]
The robust domestic tourism would likely push hotel investments outside Metro Manila, a hospitality industry consultancy firm said. Merril Yu, Y&S 1847 Hotel Investment and Development chief executive, told reporters that the high demand for hotel rooms, especially in areas outside Metro Manila, Boracay and Cebu, has yet to be met.
Because of this, hotel developments are expected to rise in up-and-coming tourist spots such as Camarines Sur, Palawan, Bohol, Iloilo, Bacolod City, Dumaguete City, Tacloban City, Cagayan de Oro City, among others.
Yu said that small independent hotels would also thrive since many travelers opt to stay in establishments that would give value for money.
He also said that the high demand for decent accommodations has led to the increase in new hotels like Fairmont and Shangri-La in the cities of Makati and Taguig, respectively.
“A lot of hotel projects are going to start or would be announced this year and next year,” Yu said.
“The hotel business in the country has been quite good, the demand is quite strong despite the [recent global] crisis,” he added.
Yu credited the Filipinos’ penchant for good food and travel, as well as local airlines’ cheap airfare promotions, for boosting domestic tourism activity.
Y&S 1847 Hotel Investment and Development, together with F&H Events Specialist Inc. will hold the first Philippine Hotel Investment Conference at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on August 20.
Yu said the conference will equip industry players with information on the latest hospitality industry trends as well as provide opportunities to interact with local and foreign industry players.
BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA
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