Cebu’s tourism potential draws in new hospitality investments
Cebuano-owned Asian Best Venture International, Inc. is considering expanding its hospitality investment portfolio in Cebu following the establishment of City POD Hotel Cebu, a business hotel located along Don Mariano Cui Street, Capitol Site in Cebu City
According to the company’s president Vincent Charles Ong, the tourism potential for Cebu particularly in Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE), as well as leisure travelers in Mactan Island, is immense.
He believes that venturing into hospitality investments is a wise choice, especially considering his family’s existing land holdings in Cebu City, Mactan Island, and Panglao Island, Bohol.
The 99-room City POD Hotel Cebu is designed to offer decent, affordable, and modern hotel rooms for MICE attendees, out-of-town transients seeking medical attention in Cebu, and corporate executives.
Used to be a residential area within the Capitol Site, Don Mariano Cui Street now is home to destination food joints, and boutique hotels, capitalizing on its proximity to hospitals, government agencies, and school institutions, among others.
Since its opening last year in October, the hotel has been attracting guests from other provinces who come to Cebu for MICE events, medical check-ups, or those preparing for licensure examinations. This is on top of the growing foreign tourists visiting Cebu, and are looking for reasonably priced accommodations with good amenities.
“What we are offering to guests is the authenticity of our product. We are at the center of everything yet guests can still relish the serene ambiance amid the vibrant pulse of this bustling area,” said Ong adding that part of the authenticity of a trip to Cebu is also the food scene.
One of the City POD’s advantages, Ong added is “we are located steps away from the food street of Cebu, like the famous ‘Larsians’—a unique experience versus eating in malls.”
Sensitive of transients’ common issues while traveling, Ong said the company has designed City POD’s rooms and facilities to address issues like using the toilet.
A notable feature implemented by the company is the dual functionality of their bathrooms, allowing guests to simultaneously utilize both toilet and shower facilities.
“The use of toilet and bath is a common concern among guests, especially those joining conferences. What we’ve noticed is that when two guests share a room and have early conference commitments, one often has to wake up earlier for them not have to be late. As a new business hotel, we prioritized addressing this issue,” he noted.
Ong, also an aviation school owner, expressed optimism about the growth of the no-frills, straightforward accommodation facilities in Cebu to meet the growing demand from MICE, medical tourists, and budgetconscious travelers—domestic and foreign tourists alike.
Because of the promising outlook of Cebu’s and the region’s tourism industry post-pandemic, Ong said the company is working on its expansion plan, to build another hospitality brand. This time it will utilize its existing properties on Mactan Island and Panglao Island, in Bohol.
According to Ong, following the establishment of a business hotel in Cebu City, Asian Best Venture International Inc. may consider investing in higher-end resort facilities on Mactan Island, and Panglao Island. He hinted at the company’s interest in potential partnerships, possibly with an international hotel chain, though these plans are yet finalized.
The City POD Hotel is the Ong family’s first venture into the hospitality industry. The family is engaged in successful food and beverage as well as auto parts businesses in Cebu.