[ manilastandardtoday.com ] August 20-21, 2011
Waterfront Philippines Inc., a hotel and leisure company owned by businessman William Gatchalian, said Friday the multi-million renovation of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel will expand the hotel’s gaming operations.
Waterfront said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the refurbishment would increase the hotel’s gaming floor area by another 2,305 square meters to yield better revenues for the company.
“The group is extremely excited to embark on this multi-million renovation project and welcomes the new face of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. This will surely enhance our present product and service offerings that will eventually yield to better guest experience and revenues,” Waterfront assistant to the president Weslie Gatchalian said.
The renovation of the 560-room Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, the company’s flagship project, started early this year.
The renovation covers the grand and lower lobbies of the hotel, function rooms and the larger convention facilities of the hotel.
Each phase is expected to cost around P100 million, which Waterfront will finance through internal funds.
The renovation of the lobby entrance is now halfway through and the whole lobby refurbishment could be completed by the end of the year.
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel is home to the largest casino operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. in the Visayas-Mindanao region in terms of floor area.
“This [hotel’s renovation] will surely bring positive signal to both local and foreign tourist alike. It has always been the aim of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel to be the premier integrated entertainment complex of the Visayas-Mindanao region,” Gatchalian said.
The renovation of the first phase is expected to be completed in December this year while work on the succeeding phases will start in the first quarter of 2012.
Waterfront Philippines, through its Waterfront Hotels and Casinos brand name, is the largest Filipino-owned hotel chain in the country today. It operates five first class hotel-casino properties in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao. Jenniffer B. Austria
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