RLC plans 4 budget hotels in H1

MANILA, Philippines - Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) is accelerating the construction of budget hotels with plans to open four in the first half this year in order to take advantage of rising foreign visitor arrivals and domestic tourists travelling across the archipelago.

In a statement, RLC said the new hotels, under the Go Hotel brand, will rise in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Dumaguete, Tacloban and Bacolod.

The first Go Hotel located at the Robinsons Pioneer Cybergate complex in Mandaluyong City, opened in 2010, housing 223 rooms.

By end-June, RLC will have five Go Hotels with a total of 639 rooms.

Go Hotel is the fifth hotel property of RLC next to the 285-room Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, 263-room Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, 210-room Cebu Midtown Hotel and the 108-room Summit Ridge Hotel Tagaytay.

RLC is opening its Go Hotel in Puerto Princesa next month, carrying over the same pricing concept.

“Travelers will be rewarded with low rates just by booking significantly early at the hotel’s website, www.gohotels.ph, “ RLC said.

Go Hotel general manager Elizabeth Gregorio said they’re very much excited about the Palawan branch, most especially because Puerto Princesa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Puerto Princesa, known for its beautiful beaches and friendly locals, has recently had its very own Underground River included in the new seven wonders of the world and is also known for being the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines.

Gregorio said RLC is also set to open its mall in Palawan by summertime.

Although it has trailed behind many of its neighbors in terms of tourist arrivals, the country is hoping to regain its place as one of the top five destinations within Asia. The tourism department has raised its foreign tourism arrival target for 2012 to 4.1 million from 3.7 million.

Major developers have been stepping up their presence nationwide by establishing new residential, office, retail and hotel projects. This trend is seen to continue this year with new developments seen in key locations such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay, Palawan, Clark and Subic.

The expansion of the liberalized airline industry has likewise boosted tourist arrivals.