Odette leaves P3B damage in Cebu hotels and resorts

CEBU, Philippines — The hospitality sector in Cebu lost at least P3 billion in property damages due to typhoon Odette.

In an interview with Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Alfred Reyes, he said the P3 billion estimated losses is just an initial calculation, considering that other properties have yet to submit their report of damages.

Of the 75 member establishments of HRRAC, only 25 so far were able to submit their reports. Thus, amount of damages estimate may reach more than P3 billion.

Due to devastation, five resort properties, mostly those located in the coastal areas on Mactan Island declared temporary closures in the duration of 12 to 18 months. The interim shutdown left more or less 3,000 employees affected.

About 2,000 hotel rooms will not be available for accommodation due to the closure, Reyes reported.

Already suffering from the negative effects of the pandemic, the devastation brought about by the typhoon all the more pushed the hoteliers to the wall, which would mean additional investments from the owners’ pockets.

“Supposedly December is always a banner month for the hotel sector,” Reyes explained, but just when the hoteliers started to see a glimpse of business recovery, “Odette happened.”

A member resort in Moalboal, south of Cebu, for instance incurred an estimated P20 million damages of property. Those big resorts in Mactan Island reported bigger losses, he added.

City hotels however, like Reyes’ managed property Bai Hotel incurred minimal damages. Still every property needs repair investments.