Islands Stay hotels expand nationwide

CEBU, Philippines - Taking advantage of the Philippines’ robust growth in tourism, Islands Group is rolling out its national expansion for its Island’s Stay Hotel brand, starting with the opening of a Makati-based facility, as well as in Palawan.

The chain of Islands Stay hotels, owned by Cebu-based Islands Group, is now starting its national expansion tapping the franchise concept strategy.

Islands Group president Jay P. Aldeguer, announced that the no-frill hotel brand will have its presence in major tourism and business districts in the Philippines, including Makati, in Metro Manila, and in tourism hot spot—Palawan.

This is just the beginning of the brand’s extensive expansion plan, penetrating the potential areas in the Philippines, specifically to those areas where tourism is expected to thrive further.

Islands Stay Hotels, unique concept of providing cheaper alternative for room accommodation has successfully hit the tourists market, both local and foreign travelers, he said.

The company started its first hotel facility in Cebu located at Archbishop Reyes Avenue, adjacent to Cebu Business District (formerly Cebu Business Park), with 18 rooms, immediately followed by its 42-room hotel in Mactan, near the Mactan International Airport.

Aldeguer targets to open up at least 300 value-chic, no-frills accommodations within Metro Cebu, as well as other parts of the country.

Considered as the country’s first value-chic hotel chain—Islands Stay Hotel is modeled after the new trend of no-frills accommodations. Islands Stay may be based on a new concept in the Philippines, but it’s already starting to become popular internationally. Such a trend pays attention to the new kind of traveler—resourceful and value-oriented.

 Islands Stay concentrates on pure and simple accommodations without the unnecessary fuss that result to high room rates hidden costs.

“It’s a similar concept to low cost airlines finding that meals on the plane are one of the more practical things to do away with, in turn passing on the savings to the customers,” Aldeguer said.

Although, it is positioned as affordable and value-for-money hotel, Aldeguer said the new hotel brand provides the basic necessities of a traveler, such as Internet WiFi free in every room, hot and cold, cable TV, and bar, and an iPod rental offer, among others.

Already the company has invested at least over P20 million for the establishment of two Islands Stay Hotel in Cebu, located at the Archbishop Reyes street, adjacent to the Cebu Business park, and one on Mactan Island.

Its room accommodation description is labeled after the Group’s mother company Islands Souvenirs Inc. (ISI) T-shirt sizes, which is small, medium, large and extra -large.

“You see, travelers need only a room [no frills room]. They only sleep in the hotel and not usually linger, they want to explore the place most of the day. There seems to be a changing travel-lifestyle of people today. They are direct to the point. Even our check-in process is much faster,” said Aldeguer.

The Islands Group operates several subsidiaries, such as the Islands Banca Cruises; retail chain Islands and More, Islands Shuttle Services, the Talima Adventure Park, among others. (FREEMAN)