Oro's hotel industry picks up sans crisis
New hotel projects to further propel Cagayan de Oro’s tourism industry
By LEN VELASCO, Reporter
PLAYERS in the hotel industry in Cagayan de Oro are optimistic that as the slowdown in tourism slowly regains momentum following the global financial crisis that badly hit major business sector, this year would be promising with new developments and projects already on the pipeline.
Mr. Pedrito Quiamjot, resident manager of Pryce Plaza Hotel, said that while it might be too early to conclude, but 2010 looks better compared to last year.
“Our hotel occupancy rate averaged 47% percent in the first two months of the year and this is an indication that the world’s travel market seems to have really started to pick up,” Quiamjot said.
In order for local hotels to break even, room occupancy must be within 42%, Quiamjot said.
With the summer season getting nearer and election spending peaking up, hotels are bracing for hectic bookings from political candidates for their campaign sorties.
“We are also looking forward for the opening of the Laguindingan International Airport which would certainly bring in more guests and foreign visitors,” Quiamjot said.
Among the emerging top foreign markets are the Koreans, Balikbayans and Japanese which comprised the top three tourist arrivals in the city.
“This year, we expect tourist arrivals to increase by about six percent, a significant improvment from the 3.4% hike recorded last year,” he added.
“Most of the foreign visitors come here for leisure, with eco-tourism as our main advantage, and business-related transactions coming in second,” said Quiamjot.
With the upcoming 18-storey 224-room hotel and resort development project still under construction at the Limketkai’s 30-hectare commercial complex, Quiamjot said this is good for the hotel industry in Cagayan de Oro.
“This is not a treat to us [hoteliers] but a welcome development,” he said.
The Cagayan de Oro-based Limketkai Hotel & Resort Corp. has entered into a P750-million term loan partnership with Security Bank Corp. (SBC) to develop the hotel, which is expected to open for commercial operations in late 2011 or early 2012.
Upon completion, the hotel will dominate the cityscape as the tallest structure in Mindanao.
Cagayan de Oro-based hotels are now capitalizing on the bullishness manifested by the region’s robust tourism and business industries by attending international trade fairs and coming up with more value-added services for their guests.
Ms. Maricar Vasquez, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel manager, said that hoteliers are constantly upgrading their services to fit to the needs and tastes of their guests.
“We need to provide comfort and best ambiance to our clienteles,” Vasquez said as she boasts Apple Tree’s relaxing place which is situated along the famous Opol beach-line.
But Vasquez admitted that the local hotel industry was severely hit by the effect of the infamous Maguindanao massacre with several bookings cancelled.
She cited the already scheduled PAL International Golf Tournament supposedly to be held at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club last month with foreign players expected to participate.
“Unfortunately, the international golf event was cancelled and eventually moved to Bacolod City after many countries issued their respective travel advisories for their citizens against travelling to Mindanao because of that incident,” Vasquez noted.
“We lost by the million due to cancelled bookings,” she said.
But Vasquez brushed aside the temporary setback and expressed her positive outlook for the year.
“Hopefully, this year we will all be fine,” she said.
Recently, Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano pointed out that Cagayan de Oro has the fastest growing sector in adventure sports and eco-tourism.
“I think there’s no region in the country today which can match Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao in these niche markets,” Durano stressed.
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