Cebu hotels now 100% booked for Sinulog fest

CEBU, Philippines - Major hotels in Cebu are 100 percent booked during the Sinulog Festival weekend, on January 13, 14, 15, while some guests took the risk of being placed on the waitlist for a room in time for the Sinulog Grand parade.

“Sinulog 2012 promises to be a new record of visitors coming for the festival, particularly the weekend January 13,14 and 15,” said Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president and vice president for Visayas of Philippine Tourism Congress Hans Hauri.

 Hauri, who is the general manager of five-star Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, said Cebu has fresh supply of rooms and along with the airlines, they are well prepared for the demand.

“Hotels had been advised to keep the room prices at reasonable levels in support of the Cebu City’s effort to bring tourist arrivals to new heights,” Hauri said.

“We’re running high on occupancy for the Sinulog Weekend,” said Maybelle Varron, communications officer of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. The Gatchalian-controlled hotel has over 500 rooms.

Likewise, Cebu Parklane International Hotel, with its 241 rooms, reported 100 percent occupancy rate during the three-day period.

“We have eight rooms in our wait list. We are already running 60 percent now and 100 percent starting Monday [January 9]”, said general manager Cenelyn Manguilimotan.

Manguilimotan said this year is a good year in terms of booking saying “this year is far better since this time the guests are willing to pay high rates just to get a room. All our rooms on the 13th, 14th and 15th of January are already prepaid.”

Cebu City Marriott Hotel on the other hand, is running at 70 percent booking occupancy rate during the three-day period, although the hotel’s communication officer Charlene Go said they are expecting more walk-ins nearing the Sinulog Week.

Newly opened Harold’s Hotel vice president Rey Fuentes said that the hotel, despite being new, has already gained a significant customer-base for the Sinulog weekend and is already fully-booked.

However, he said that prior to the Sinulog Weekend (January 13,14 and 15), the hotel is still open for guests, with prevailing overnight rate of P3,800.

Meanwhile, all of the 100 rooms of the Cebu Grand Hotel are also taken during the festival weekend, said general manager Carlo Suarez.

Suarez said about 60 percent of the hotel’s guests are Filipinos coming from Metro Manila, and other parts of the country. While 40 percent are foreign visitors.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Tourism Commission in partnership with Cebu Holdings Inc., (CHI) formally opened the “11th Balik Cebu” booth at the Ayala Center Cebu, wherein the group ushers hundreds of registered “balikbayan” to get perks and privileges during the festival.

The “Balik Cebu” booth guides and provide information to balikbayans about the Sinulog Festivities.

Last year, Balik Cebu registered over 200 “Balikbayan” guests to the program.

First launched in 2002, the “Balik Cebu” committee puts together activities to help welcome our balikbayan guests who come home to pay homage to Sr. Sto. Niño and join the revelry of the Sinulog Festival.

Other services that will be offered to registered Balik Cebu visitors include tour packages, among others.

Balik Cebu has become an institutionalized program strongly supported by CHI, the company which owns and manages the landmark projects in Cebu like the Cebu Business Park, Ayala Center Cebu, and Asiatown IT Park, among others. (FREEMAN)