ABy Mia A. Aznar+A
Sunday, January 6, 2013
EDGY and modern may not be the words used to describe the old Mövenpick Hotel Mactan. But after it reopened its doors last Dec. 15, guests who had been to the hotel before were in for a surprise.
Gone were the pink walls. Even their shuttle buses that resembled jeepneys had a new coat of paint.
General manager Knuth Kiefer said they spent P500 million and closed the hotel for five months to change the look of the hotel.
“Everything is new. It’s more of a transformation, rather than a renovation because it’s not just the paint,” he said.
He explained that beyond the new bright white paint with bright blue and green accents, they also changed the image of the hotel from being a regular resort to a lifestyle resort.
Kiefer said that Cebu was already filled with resorts and that they wanted to set themselves apart by bringing something unique to the Philippines.
The hotel offers its guests a full package, not just a room with breakfast. Packages include activities for them to enjoy.
To give guests a full range of activities to do, Kiefer said they can go beyond having spa treatments and water sports activities. They also have lessons in dance, cocktail mixing and cooking. He added that if guests change their mind about which activity they would like to participate in, they can do so.
Kiefer also hopes to bring the Ibiza beach club experience to Cebu, hiring a Spanish disc jockey and professional dancers and singers for the entertainment.
He believes guests have taken the changes positively, if guest numbers are any indication. They were fully booked during the New Year while they were at an 85 percent occupancy rate last Thursday. He also revealed getting positive feedback from tour operators, who were willing to promote their hotel to their clients.
Lobby
The lobby has undergone a notable change, giving off a loungy feel with comfortable chairs and a bar in the center. Kiefer said the pool is also 60 percent larger than the old one, with more room for guests to take a dip.
The garden also comes with modern furniture, including chairs and tables that glow at night. He also said the rooms have a similar style as the lobby.
“Since the opening, they (patrons) were surprised. When they came in, they didn’t recognize the lobby because it is bigger and more open. They just said, ‘wow’.”
No comments:
Post a Comment