Big Hotel Suites ‘off the hook’

Big Hotel Suites can resume normal operations after the management showed proof that the property where the building stands was leased to Seaboard Realty and not to Katumanan Hardware Inc. (KHI), as earlier claimed.

Elaine Bathan, chief of staff of Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, told reporters that last Friday, March 1, Travelbee Management, which manages Big Hotel Suites, produced documents showing that its lease was not covered by the deed of assignment between KHI and Cenore Corp.

Seaboard Realty rented the lot where Big Hotel Suites stands and subleased it to Smartips Inc., which allowed Travelbee to rent the property.

Travelbee and Cenore are owned by the same family.

Bathan said the hotel has a sublease and is not covered by the deed of assignment. Since it followed proper procedures and complied with requirements, the hotel could secure a business permit, she said.

Earlier, the City Government said the hotel failed to provide documents to prove its operations were aboveboard.

Meanwhile, the other building owned by Big Hotel and managed by Travelbee that was built on the property leased to KHI and Cenore still faces closure because it is “anomalous.”

Bathan said they sent a letter to Cenore last Friday and gave the firm until Monday, March 4, to submit a letter of lease.

If Travelbee fails to provide the documents the City requires, Big Hotel will be padlocked, she said.

“That is all we requested to others who are doing business in Mandaue, to comply with all the necessary requirements, the legal processes. You go through the correct procedure, submit the necessary documents and cooperate with the City,” Bathan said.