HOTEL PROPERTIES REOPEN WITH MICE REBOOT
Among the venues allowed for indoor business meetings are (1) restaurants in general; (2) restaurants attached to hotels; (3) ballrooms and function rooms within hotels; (4) other venues that may be in a separate building but within the hotel premises and (5) mall atria
Function rooms of hotel properties and convention centers are back to “normal” in operations as the Department of Tourism (DoT) welcomes the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) through the ratification of IATF Resolution No. 87 on 3 December to allow specific types of indoor business meetings in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).
With this development, hotel and resort properties can reopen their doors for “business as usual” gatherings in their function rooms and dining areas, but still following the health protocols designated by the government of course: practicing social distancing, contact tracing, disinfection, and wearing of masks and shields by both the hotel team and guests.
Tourism Secretary Bernadet te Romulo-Puyat said, “The DOT deems this latest development as very encouraging for the country’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences Exhibitions ( MICE) sector to spur forward and backward linkages in tourism and other sectors concerned. While the pandemic has taught organizers to embrace technology, some gatherings in a physical set-up can now proceed, with health and safety protocols in place. We are optimistic that the country’s MICE sector shall start to thrive again, with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry ( DTI) in crafting the implementing guidelines.”
Among the venues allowed for indoor business meetings are (1) restaurants in general; (2) restaurants attached to hotels; (3) ballrooms and function rooms within hotels; (4) other venues that may be in a separate building but within the hotel premises and (5) mall atria.
On the other hand, only the following
types of business meetings will be allowed: workshops, trainings, seminars, congresses, conferences, conventions, board meetings, colloquia, conclaves, symposia and consumer trade shows. Finally, venue capacity will be capped at thirty percent (30 percent).
Secretary Puyat added, “Meanwhile, social events (like birthday, wedding, Christmas and office parties, pageants, award events, gala receptions, shows),
product launch events, political gatherings, cultural festivities and sporting events are not yet covered.”
It will be remembered that during the early months of the lockdown, many hotel properties applied for accreditation to the Department of Health (DoH) to operate as quarantine hotels, accepting arriving international travelers ( whether foreigners or Filipinos) to undergo isolation in these venues or in government isolation facilities. The accreditation was also in line with the approval of the DoT and the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ).
But with general community quarantine, and with the holiday season here, many hotels are also reopening their doors for leisure guests or those who simply want a break from their long period of quarantine at home.
The DoT and DTI were directed and authorized by the IATF to formulate and issue the specific guidelines that will govern the conduct of these business- related meetings in the above- mentioned venues, from establishing the health and safety protocols to establishing the conditions for operations of venues.
Local government units (LGU) may issue additional guidelines providing for stricter protocols among venues within their jurisdiction.
“The DoT shall continuously work on improving our guidelines and policies, making sure that these remain responsive to the changing needs of the industry, as the COVID-19 situation continues to be addressed,” Puyat said.
For a copy of the IATF Resolution 87, visit