SM strengthens ties with Carlson Hotels

CEBU, Philippines – Barely a day from the time it opened the first Radisson hotel in Cebu, SM Hotels & Conventions Corporation already bared yet another development that will further strengthen its partnership with Carlson Hotels.

Elizabeth T. Sy, president of the SM Hotels & Convention Corporation, said that the plan to open another Radisson Hotel in the country, at the vicinity of SM Mall of Asia, will soon be realized after the successful opening of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu.

Sy further added that a second Radisson Hotel in Cebu is also being considered at the company's development project at the South Road Properties (SRP). The plan, however, will largely depend on the performance of the existing Radisson Hotel.

Sy said that the company's partnership with Carlson Hotels intends to build and expand hotels one at a time.

In a press conference recently, during the soft opening of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, Sy said that the SM Group is confident of Cebu's leadership in the tourism industry and the company's decision to invest in Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu is a testament of the company's optimism towards Cebu's economy.

She added that Cebu has all the essentials of a promising tourism industry.

Sy further said that considering the number of shopping malls the company has built all over the country, the Group also aims to build a hotel in each area where an SM mall is located.

Developed by the SM Investments Corporation (SMIC), the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, is one of the most anticipated developments by tourism stakeholders this year.

The hotel, managed by hospitality and travel company Carlson Hotels, is the first Radisson Blu hotel in the Asia-Pacific region.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu general manager Grant Gaskin said that in the next few days, all the 400 rooms of the hotel will be commercially opened. However, this early, the hotel is already enjoying upbeat reservations and bookings.

"By February of next year, we expect to be on the competitive level with other hotels in the City," Gaskin said.

Gaskin added that while the hotel will strengthen its position in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibition) market both locally and overseas, its competitive advantage will be emphasized in its customer-centric service approach.

The SM Group, through SMIC invested about P2.5 billion to rehabilitate the structure which was originally built supposedly for another hotel management partner.

"Our vision is to be a leader in the Philippines' tourism and real estate sectors, and this hotel opening further strengthens our standing in the industry," Sy added.

The US-based Carlson Hotels is currently present in over 1,075 locations in 75 countries. Aside from Radisson, the hotel also owns brands like the Country Inns and Suites by Carlson, Park Inn and Park Plaza.

"The inaugural launch of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu is a fulfillment of the dream long held by my father and SM chairman Henry Sy Sr., to open a premier hotel in Cebu. Although, the hotel's completion was put on hold during the nineties due to the prevailing business climate then, we never lost our vision of one day opening its doors to welcome guests from all over the world," Sy concluded. (FREEMAN)