Islands Banca Cruises mulls franchise offers

By Ehda M. Dagooc Updated April 28, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines – Islands Banca Cruises is currently developing a franchise package offer to accommodate the increasing inquiries for trips to other islands in the Philippines.

“We are going to introduce our franchise package for Islands Banca Cruises soon. We are still finalizing some of the important details for this offer,” said IBC president and chief executive officer (CEO) Jay P. Aldeguer.

He said the brand itself has gained interest from capitalists all over the country, including those in Palawan, Boracay, and Bohol, among others.

Although, it is tempting for the company to operate its own Banca Cruise services in these areas, Aldeguer said franchising strategy is seen to be more effective in its expansion bid.

Currently, the company has set up its own franchising department, to pursue this opportunity for fast expansion and build a nationwide brand for Islands Banca Cruises.

The company has pioneered in professionalizing the services offered by the traditional island hopping activity.

Part of its innovation is to offer deluxe services to island hoppers, providing comfort on board a traditional “banca”.

A banca is an archetypical Philippine boat, fundamentally, a sturdy, deep-hulled outrigger canoe designed primarily for inter-island transport. Despite being very simple, almost rustic, a banca is a stable, reliable and fast vessel.

The modern Islands Banca , on the other hand, is a more streamlined, elegantly styled, and efficient version of the traditional motorized banca, fondly called a "pumpboat." It combines the versatility and speed of a classic banca, with the convenience and reliability of modern transport and travel.

According to Aldeguer, the franchise package which price range is still being finalized, will also including providing the branding and marketing technology effectively adopted by the company in its one-year operation.

Recently, the company announced that it infused fresh capitalization of P3 million to boost Cebu’s positioning as the island hopping destination in the Philippines

The investment include; acquiring of new five boats, aggressive marketing promotion for both local and international markets, and expanding its “mini-call center” facility to accommodate the growing daily booking transactions.

Aldeguer said the potential of expansion for Islands Banca—kind of service offering it’s tremendous in the Philippines. Now, that the brand has become quietly established, offering a franchise package could fast tract the company’s bid for nationwide expansion.

Unlike the traditional pumpboat ride, Islands Banca offers beverages, light snacks, and toiletries and Spa (service) on board, with comfortable bean bags. It also offers water-sports equipment for rent.

Islands Group introduced the Islands Banca Cruises in summer of last year with an initial investment of P2 million. Aldeguer said the potential of Cebu becoming the island destination in the country is overwhelming, thus the company is now maintaining eight boats or “banca”, and by peak of summer vacation in May, it is looking at adding two more boats.