Entrepreneurs pioneer new line of hotels, tourist spots

Intending to break ground in the field of tourism entrepreneurship, Jose Mari del Rosario and Joaquin Ernesto Po are contributing to the country’s economy as they pave the way for world-class budget hotels and new tourist-potential destinations.

Del Rosario and Po are among the business risk takers who design their enterprises to charm local and foreign tourists. Because of this, both will be awarded by President Arroyo and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as Inspiring Tourism Entrepreneur on the Go Negosyo Turismo Expo slated on March 2-4 at the SM Mall of Asia.

Aimed at developing entrepreneurship in the country, Go Negosyo Turismo is part of the continuing Go Negosyo campaign spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship under Concepcion’s supervision. The expo also aims to impact social development by encouraging a culture of tourism and entrepreneurship, while protecting the environment and benefiting the local community.

Noticing an imbalance of development in the local hotel industry favoring the de luxe category, which is similar to the international scene, Del Rosario rallied like-minded professionals under the vision of bringing to the Philippines a world-class hotel product with broad consumer appeal to provide quality services. Del Rosario’s effort led to "the acquisition of the master franchise of Microtel Inns & Suites for the country in 1998. Microtel is a New York-based franchise developing company which specializes in constructing class A hotels.

As master franchise holder, Microtel Inns and Suites (Pilipinas), Inc. (MISPI) grants the Microtel Inn & Suites franchise to interested individuals or groups either on full franchise or joint venture arrangement.

"MISPI aims to provide investment opportunities that will utilize the momentum of the Philippine regional economies, both from the industrial or business perspective as well as the growing tourism sector," said Del Rosario, former General Manager and COO of The Manila Hotel.

MISPI boasts of top-of-the-line facilities at value rates, from fire sprinklers to electronic guest room locks to queen-sized beds that meet American Chiropractic Association standards. Microtels range from 40 to over 100 rooms and suites, with a residential look in the style of a low-rise townhouse design, constructed under a back-to-basics approach, offering clean, comfortable, safe and secure rooms.

Other unique features of the hotels are vending and ice machines in the hotel lobby, public area signs with Braille, and handicapped accessible rooms that conform to US-ADA (American Disability Act) standards.

Currently, MISPI has five operating Microtels in Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Baguio, and Aklan. MISPI is eyeing to branch out to Davao, Cabanatuan, and Cebu.

"For too long, there is an unsatisfied demand for quality but affordable accommodation outside of city areas," said Del Rosario. "Microtel will fill this growing demand for cost efficient business and leisure travel."

Po, on the other hand, had Boracay as his place of entrepreneurial take-off. In 1996, his established airline, Asian Spirit, opened the gateway to the world-renowned island of Boracay as it started regular air service to Caticlan airport. Thereafter, the attempt to operate further to secondary and feeder airports gained positive acceptance by both local and foreign travelers.

Asian Spirit, which is wholly employee-owned, is focused on developing the so-called ìmissionary routesî in the country, spots which remain unexplored yet exude beauty to lure in tourists. According to Po, it is the only scheduled domestic carrier with operations concentrated on routes which are not serviced by major airlines.

In January 2003, the airline received its congressional franchise, making it the country’s fourth flag carrier with services both in the domestic and international regions. It also started receiving government incentives for its effort to enhance air service to various destinations in the country.

"While we try to avoid unnecessary and stiff market competition, we are consolidating and further expanding our domestic network operations to airports no other carrier intends to service," Po said.

To date, Asian Spirit still serves Boracay with the most number of frequencies, reaching up to 16 times a day, and is looking at increasing it further to 18 times a day during the high season.