Philippines to host first-ever conference on independent and small-hotel owners

Economy

Written by VG Cabuag / Reporter

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 20:43

THE Philippines will play host in August to a first-of-its-kind hotel conference in the country, which aims to make independent hotel operators and owners more competitive and thus sustain their business. “The meeting aims to clear up perceptions and misconceptions among small-hotel operators and thus help them compete with the bigger ones, such as the Peninsula Group and the Accor, to name just two,” said Merril Yu, chief executive officer of Y&S 1847, a hotel investment and development company, one of the organizers of the event. He said that in Boracay, for instance, there was no big hotel there until the Shangri-La group put up one to cater to the higher end of the market there. Yu said there were still many places in the country where independent hotel operators could thrive, such as Tagaytay, Bohol, Dipolog, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Tacloban. “There are not too many hotels in Davao, and we need more of this kind of development,” he said. He also said the boom in hotel business will be mainly driven by air travel and growth in the food business and that this was now happening in nonfamiliar destinations in the country. The growth in air travel was mainly brought about by the expansions of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines, which, together, flew a total of 14 million domestic travelers last year. The growth of international and domestic tourism contributed $12 billion to the global economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The trend, which is expected to continue over the next years, will increase the demand for investments in more facilities and accommodations. “With our rich heritage and scenic natural attractions, the Philippines will be an ideal investment location for foreigners and locals. There are many diamonds in the rough just waiting to be discovered,” said Adolf Aran Jr., president of Food and Hospitality Events Specialist Inc. (F&H), which is also among the organizers of the event. F&H and Y&S 1847 have assembled the world’s top hotel chief executives and industry experts to kick off the August 20 event, which will be called First Philippine Hotel Investment Conference. It will be held at the SMX Convention Center. Among the high-profile and internationally known panelists are Serena Lim of Starwood Hotels, Thomas Monahan and Aiyi Lim of Wyndham Hotel Group, Jose Mari del Rosario of Microtel Hotel and Resorts (Philippines), Al Legazpi of Ayala Hotels Inc., Arthur Gindap of Ascott International, among others. “We will have the great honor of playing hosts to most, if not all, of the movers and shakers of the hotel industry who will share their invaluable knowledge and experience with the participants of the first Philippine Hotel Investment Conference. All eyes will be on our country and the wealth of business opportunities the conference can offer,” Yu said. In Photo: Meril Yu (center), CEO of Y&S1847, a hotel investment and development company, gestures as he fields questions during a press conference to discuss the holding of the 1st Philippine Hotel Investment Conference on August 20 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia in Pasay City. He is flanked by Patrick Lawrence Tan (left), CEO of F&H Events Specialist Inc., and Adolf Aran Jr., president of F&H Events Specialist Inc. (Roy Domingo)