Waterfront targets 75% occupancy rate this year

CEBU, Philippines - While issues on flight access, travel ban have threathened the tourism industry in the Philippines, one of Cebu’s largest business hotels Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino expects to hit an average occupancy rate of 75 percent this year.

“Its a little bit challenging for us (to hit the target), but it is our opportunity to look for the domestic market, as we can’t afford to overlook its potential,” said Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino general manager Alfred Portenschlager.

Although the recent travel ban imposed by China against the Philippines only has a slight effect on the booking performance of the hotel yet, he said some have started to feel the pinch already.

In 2011, Watefront posted an average of 72 percent occupancy rate for the entire year, mentioning Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Americans (US market), and the domestic market as it top five guests’ market.

This year, aside from the travel ban of China against the Philippines, the problem of air accessibility specifically from Cebu to other overseas destination like Europe, is seen to challenge the supposedly vibrant tourism industry in Cebu, he said.               

Despite this problem, Waterfront announced the completion of its hotel lobby renovation to be at par with modern and chic international standards and trends in the hospitality industry.

According to Portenschlager, the grand lobby renovation is part of the company’s series of renovation phases, which will also include fixing the function rooms as well as convention center renovation.

This coming July, the hotel is going to formally re-launch its lobby facility, along with the completion of its ongoing renovation of the lower lobby, that is designed to de-congest the main lobby and accommodate guests according to category.

The hotel is spending an estimated cost of P100 million for each phase in the renovation program. In the long term, he said some rooms will also be fixed.

The 15-year-old hotel controlled by the Gatchalians, and managed by the Waterfront Philippines Inc., (WPI), has the largest convention facility in Cebu, making it one of the instrumental facilities that boosts the province’s bid in becoming the center for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibition (MICE) market.

Its convention center accommodates to as much as 4,000 to 5,000 during convention, conference, big events’ delegates at one time. 

He said Waterfront will continue to push its limits, in terms of providing top quality service and facilities to guests.

Immediately after the announcement of the Chinese travel ban, the 561-room Waterfront Cebu City Hotel recorded few cancelled group bookings, which are supposed to get at least eight to 15 rooms in an average stay of two to three days.

However, he said while China’s travel ban is still on Cebu, Waterfront in particular is still getting group bookings from other Chinese markets, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, among others.

Meanwhile, Portenschlager said the hotel is also developing emerging markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, India, and Middle Eastern countries.  (FREEMAN)