At the hotel’s inauguration last June 18, Legarda hailed the project as a sign of renewed confidence among local investors.
She said the hotel will definitely boost the local economy since it will cater to the huge dollar-earning OFWs.
"I understand that this is primarily built to attract our OFWs, and you aptly referred to it as the Tahanan ng mga Bagong Bayani," she said.
The government estimates that there are some six million OFWs scattered in every corner of the globe, contributing an immense $8 billion in remittances annually.
"With your unique mix of hotel and dormitory facilities, you may likewise attract local and foreign tourists who wish to maximize value for their money. And your hotel’s strategic location in the heart of Pasay City makes it an even more attractive lodging place for tourists," she added.
The project, managed by Legend Hotels International, has 80 hotel rooms and 30 dormitory rooms. It is located at the junction of EDSA and Zamora street near the Pasay rotonda, in close proximity to the airport, Makati central business district and major government offices like the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
De Castro also commended the people behind Kabayan Hotel for their initiative in providing such a wholesome facility for OFWs.
The hotel has an OFW assistance and business center, offers free airport transfer and serves an array of famed dishes from the country’s different regions.
"This is the first of its kind in the Philippines," said hotel president Nelson Napud. "Kabayan Hotel is the answer to what we have found out to be a basic need of returning and departing OFWs. Most want to stay in a place, besides their relatives’, where they can feel secure and comfortable."
Napud gave assurances that once an OFW or a value-conscious traveler steps into the hotel, he will feel safe and secure after being disoriented from a long stay overseas. He will find the place affordable and worth every centavo of his hard-earned money, he said.
He said the hotel staffers, trained to be always courteous and accommodating, will provide warm personalized service because the guests’ convenience is their primary concern.
Kabayan Hotel is one of the projects of Armadillo Holdings Corp., a diversified conglomerate with key interests in real estate, industrial laundry, high-rise condominiums, wet markets and hotel-resort management.