Sun.Star Cebu

HOTELS REPORT HEALTHY BOOKINGS FOR SINULOG

As the Sinulog Festival approaches, Cebu’s hotels are expecting an influx of tourists to book rooms in the coming days

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Hotels in Cebu are getting more bookings as the Sinulog Festival approaches.

Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Associatio­n of Cebu Inc. (HRRAC) president Carlo Suarez said occupancy is increasing in hotels in Cebu, as tourists book rooms in advance.

“Our occupancy is still increasing and we will be able to know if all hotels are fully booked one week prior to the Sinulog,” Suarez said.

For now, Suarez said they are not affected by the United Kingdom’s (UK) travel advisory to southern Cebu after the bombing in Cotabato City on Dec. 31.

“There is no negative feedback. So far, everybody’s happy,” he said.

The United Kingdom warned its citizens not to travel to Mindanao and Southern Cebu, following the bombing of South Seas Mall in Cotabato City that killed two persons and wounded 34 others.

Last year, Suarez said there were fewer tourists and he hopes that it will change this year.

“I received feedback that there were hotels that were slow during the Sinulog last year. Hopefully, with our efforts, there will be more people that will book rooms,” he said. “We’ll see if we will be busier this year compared to last year.”

Harolds Hotel general manager Ed Tongco said they have been receiving early reservatio­ns.

“We’re doing good and occupancy is getting better, especially since the Sinulog is near,” Tongco said.

Last year, the Sinulog drew a 1.4 million crowd.

The Sinulog Festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January in honor of Sto. Niño.

Meanwhile HRRAC will be working closely with national organizati­ons to strengthen Cebu’s voice in the tourism industry.

Suarez said they will strengthen their ties with the Hotel Restaurant Associatio­n of the Philippine­s and Philippine Hotel Owners Associatio­n Inc. to make Cebu’s organizati­on solid, as it expects exciting times to continue in the tourism sector this year.

“What we want for Cebu now is to tap our Manila counterpar­ts so our voices will also be heard, at the same time create a bigger voice for the industry,” said Suarez.

The strengthen­ed partnershi­p will also give HRRAC members the opportunit­y to learn best practices from the big players in Manila.

“We want to align with them in terms of hotel training, standardiz­ation, and all other concerns,” said Suarez.

This is the first time in recent years that the Cebu hospitalit­y sector will officially join the national industry group.

As the voice of the industry, the organizati­on composed of 95 members provides an avenue for strategic alliances among its member companies, associates, schools, and other stakeholde­rs.

Suarez said with the bullish growth that the tourism sector is enjoying, it is but important for members to learn from each other and come up with collective initiative­s to support the industry’s growth.

 ?? SUNSTAR FILE ?? PRAYER THROUGH DANCE.For most participan­ts of the Sinulog Grand Parade, dancing is how they pay homage to the Sto. Niño. The festival draws both tourists and devotees to Cebu, making it one of the biggest festivals in the country.
SUNSTAR FILE PRAYER THROUGH DANCE.For most participan­ts of the Sinulog Grand Parade, dancing is how they pay homage to the Sto. Niño. The festival draws both tourists and devotees to Cebu, making it one of the biggest festivals in the country.

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