Family-owned boutique hotel opens in Kasambagan

By Katlene O. Cacho
A FAMILY-owned boutique hotel in Barangay Kasambagan has opened to help Cebu accommodate the growing number of tourists seeking rooms at affordable rates.

Golden Phoenix Suites Inc. occupies a 1.5 hectare-area. It is a three-story boutique hotel with 27 rooms, ranging from premium rooms to family suites. All rooms are fully air-conditioned with flat-screen TVs and telephone service. It also features other amenities like a cafeteria that stays open all the time, Wi-Fi connection and a coffee house.

Rey Kenneth Ng, owner and managing director of Golden Phoenix Suites Inc. said during their soft opening yesterday that they invested P5 million to P6 million for the boutique hotel.

“We thought of really building an apartment but along the way of constructing it, we thought of converting it into a hotel since there were only a few things lacking to make it a boutique hotel,” he said.

He also said that what sets their hotel apart from other boutique hotels is that it offers affordable rates.

Room rates
“We call this a budget hotel,” said Osmond Yang, Golden Phoenix Suites Inc. operations manager. Room rates range from P1,280 to P3,000 a day depending on room type and are quoted for single and double occupancy.

Yang said the family ventured into hotel business because they learned that Cebu still lacks hotel rooms to accommodate the local and foreign tourists.

Ng said that with the tourism campaign of Cebu, more visitors would be coming to the city.
“That’s why we see the need to open the business especially that December and January are approaching,” he said.

Apart from tourists, Ng said they also hope to target the middle-class market. Early next year, the hotel plans to add function rooms to host weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.
The hotel will have its grand opening on Oct. 11.