Radisson Blu named fourth best hotel in Phl

CEBU, Philippines - Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu made it to the top four best hotels in the Philippines, the only business hotel in Cebu that hit this level this year.

The Massachusetts-based Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice, one of the largest online portal for hotel bookings in the world, and now in its 11th year in giving out awards for hotels across the globe.

Radisson Blu Hotel came out number four of the top 10 best hotels in the Philippines, competing closely with luxurious hotels and resorts such as Aman Pulo, (number one), Shangri-La Boracay (number two), Shangri-La Makati (number three) and Shangri-La Mactan (number five).

Ann Olalo of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu said in an interview yesterday that this award given by the most prestigious online booking portal in the world, will not only give recognition for the hotel, but also for Cebu as a preferred tourism destination.

“This is good and significant recognition for us, because it is something that unsolicited, and considering that Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award generates 60 million unique visitors per month and 75 million unique reviews monthly,” said Jeff Fronda, the hotels director for revenue.

According to Fronda, what made the award or recognition important for Radisson Blu and for Cebu is the basis of based on the actual reviews of travelers from all around the world.

“Most people right now are online. Most travelers even don’t go after travel packages anymore, but will consult on the online network, and recommendations,” said Fronda.

One of the primary foundations for the recognition are the hotels’ function of value, service, and over-all guests’ satisfaction.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, developed by SM Group, and managed by the Carlson Hotels, is one of the youngest business hotels in Cebu, launched only over two years now.

The 400-room five-star hotel is now running at 63 percent occupancy rate, and it ended the year 2012 with 60 percent average occupancy rate.

Both Olalo and Fronda attributed the recognition also to the chain’s “Yes I can,” philosophy, upholding the importance of service discipline to its associates.

According to Fronda, the Trip Advisors’ Trip Advisors’ Award will also be used as a platform for improvement. In fact, this time the hotel management is strengthening its online team to monitor the first-hand feedback from clients, and reviews.

“We are more committed to be always on top,” Olalo said.

The hotel’s online booking is growing at faster phase. Last year, the online booking grew by eight percent. About 22 percent of the hotel’s over-all booking transactions are made through online portals, through their partnership with Agoda.com, Xpedia, and booking.com.

Other hotels in the Philippines that made it to the top 10 include; Pulchra Resort in San Fernando south of Cebu, Manila Marriott Hotel, Amorita Resort in Panglao, Island, Bohol, El Nido Resort in Palawan, and Discovery Shores in Boracay.

Last year, Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu won the Carlson Rezidor Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific Hotel of the Year 2012,

Blu Hotel Cebu general manager Lyle Lewis, the award showed the exemplary hospitable Cebuano nature, through the customer service the employees are giving to its customers.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, developed by the SM Group, bested other 58 hotel properties of Carlson Rezidor Hotels and Resorts in the Asia Pacific, despite being the youngest property of them all. (FREEMAN)