Park Inn Hotel by Radisson seen to boost Davao tourism

CEBU, Philippines - The entry of Park Inn Hotel by Radisson in Davao is expected to boost foreign and domestic tourism in the area considering the chain’s potential to attract the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibition (MICE) market.

In an interview with the Park Inn Hotel general manager Geir Sikko, he said that the hotel targets to hit at least 50 percent occupancy rate this year. It is currently running at 40 percent occupancy rate since it opened in February this year.

Davao, which is the third fastest growing urban center in the Philippines, next to Manila and Cebu, is now starting to attract the active domestic tourists, as well as the business-related events, specifically the MICE.

This is where Park Inn will capitalize to help Davao grow in its attraction as an alternative MICE destination, emphasizing the eco-tourism strength of the entire Region 11.

Park Inn by Radisson is developed by the SM Group, located adjacent to the new SM Shopping Mall in Lanang area, Davao City.

According to Sikko, Park Inn’s active promotion for the City, in collaboration with the entire Radisson chain, such as the Radisson Blu in Cebu, and other properties worldwide, is seen to improve Davao’s popularity as the center of trade in Mindanao.

The P700 million business hotel, developed by SM Hotels & Convention Corporation in partnership with Carlson Hotels, provides a total of 204 contemporary and hip designed rooms, which overnight rate ranges between P3,000 to P4,000 (plus).

The plan of SM Group to open up an SMX Convention facility in Davao, is also seen to soar the hotel’s occupancy rate, Gikko said.

Radisson Blue Hotel Cebu director for sales and marketing Ann Olalo said that the Cebu property, will start off with cross selling campaign to promote Park Inn by Radisson Davao, and attract the potential MICE market.

“Davao is ready. We see big potential for the MICE, as well as the leisure travelers to improve further,” said Olalo.

Positioned as a mid-scale hotel brand, Park Inn by Radisson is the first brand by the Carlson Hotels opened outside of Europe.

The US-based Carlson Hotels is 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.

At present, Davao has a total of 7,000 room accommodations including the small Inns, and pension houses.

DOT-11 regional director Art Boncato said that Davao is now starting to accelerate its growth in tourism, while it has successfully showed its good peace and order program, which put Davao, as the “success story of Mindanao.”

In the last few years, Davao registered an average rate of five to eight percent per year. But, this time, with the entry of more investors to the City believing the potential of the City, the tourism industry is catching up, Boncato said. /JOB (FREEMAN)