By Rhia de Pablo Updated March 17, 2009 12:00 AM
CEBU, Philippines - As its refurbishing and refitting phase is now 80 percent completed, internationally-managed Radisson Hotel Cebu targets to open by middle of this year.
Amidst the negative backdrop of the current global economic meltdown that is affecting the country’s business environment, operators of this hotel is still optimistic to achieve positive targets for their penetration of Cebu’s hospitality industry.
In an interview with Radisson Hotel Cebu general manager Grant J. Gaskin, he said that they will finally start their much anticipated operation by middle of this year after the refurbishing and refitting works of the former Sheraton hotel structure gets done.
Radisson Hotel Cebu is owned by the SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), the hotel investment arm of the SM Group but will be managed and operated by the Carlson Hotels Worldwide-Asia Pacific.
Gaskin said that by middle of this year, the hotel will open 400 new rooms together with all its world-class amenities.
“Radisson Hotel Cebu is built for today’s world and it has all the amenities of an international hotel,” said Gaskin.
He added that contrary to what others believe, the structure of the hotel was well done that despite a long period of underutilization; it remained moisture proof, leak-proof and structurally strong until this day.
“It’s just stories. The structure is actually 100 percent safe and tested. It was sealed, there was no moisture nor leakage and it be ready by mid-year and we are currently gearing up for its opening and we are recruiting an entire staff,” announced Gaskin during the 4th Trabaho sa Turismo Expo in SM Cebu where they were one of the many exhibitors looking for job applicants for 44 available positions.
Gaskin said that they will need about 340 staff for the hotel operation and they prefer to hire more Cebu-based workers to also generate jobs to locals in the area.
He said that opening the hotel amidst the current global economic slowdown is a challenge but they do not look at it as a hindrance for growth because they believe in the strong tourism potentials of Cebu as a tourism market and as a location.
“We are not scared to open at these uncertain times of the economy because Cebu is doing well and we believe that everything comes in cycle and that the crisis won’t take forever and we are looking forward for the good times to come. We will do things not done or offered in Cebu yet. It’s also about time for the city to have a new international hotel,” said Gaskin.
He said that Radisson Hotel Cebu will cater 50 percent to the commercial market composed of the business and corporate clientele and 50 percent leisure or travel market segment.
With its spacious ballrooms, the hotel is looking at bringing in more conference and banquet business to Cebu and it will also offer a plus to its prospective clientele as it is strategically located near SM City Cebu wherein visitors can enjoy shopping and dining in one destination, said Gaskin.
Currently, the Radisson Hotel Cebu is still applying for DOT accreditation and when it finally opens on the middle of this year, the hotel will be the first Radisson Hotels & Resorts property to open in the country.
SMIC and Carlson also have agreements for the management of two SM hotels in the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City and these will be the Regent Manila Bay and Radisson Manila Bay which are scheduled to open within 2010.
Carlson Hotels Worldwide-Asia Pacific is one of the world’s ten largest hotel operators and it runs five hotel brands in the region including the Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, and Park Inn and it man
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