Marriott sees growth opportunity in US, EU crisis

A HOTEL executive said he sees opportunities for the accommodations sector in the ongoing economic turmoil in the United States and Europe.

Bruce Winton, general manager of Cebu City Marriott Hotel, said the ongoing crisis and the uncertain business environment would prompt businesses there to look for new markets such as Asia as the next growth region.

“In 2011, it was only in the later months of October to December that we got busy (in Marriott). For this year, we expect to be busier starting January for the Sinulog,” said Winton in an interview.

“Not that we like what’s happening in the USA and Europe but somehow that will benefit our occupancy as more companies will think of coming here and transferring operations in this region.”

According to Winton, Cebu’s central location in the Philippine’s being strategically located in Asia, offer a good blend of business and leisure features to convince companies to locate her or do business.

The Marriott Hotel executive said he also expects the Cebu accommodation landscape to be more exciting with the opening of new hotels this year.

“Addition of more facilities of global standards is always a welcome development for Cebu as independent promotions done by major hotel chains like us will complement Cebu,” said Winton.

Winton said the opening of condotel properties was not a threat to the occupancy rate of the hotel.

He said that most executives from global companies prefer to stay in accredited establishments that have passed a long list of standard requirements.

“We remain confident that these companies will recognize our brand so we don’t think condotels will affect our occupancy,” said Winton.

upgrade

Winton also announced the upgrading of the Marriott for meetings and convention facilities.

The management invested P10 million for the project, which is expected to be completed within the year.

“The renovations will enhance our existing function rooms, ballrooms and meeting rooms that will make use of a lot of design, furnishings, lighting and investments on meeting equipments like video and audio devices,” said Winton.

He said the renovations were aimed to make the property known as the “the newest and finest place to meet.”

“There will be a lot of designs that’s going to be incorporated. We want to be a place where people want to get their pictures taken in,” said Winton.

They started with the Business Center which has two function rooms equipped with projectors and LCD screens.

“The Business Center is now open for business and we’ll proceed with the ballroom and the meeting rooms. That will be a busy project this year,” said Winton.

MICE MARKET

According to Winton, Cebu’s potential to tap the global meetings, incentives, conventions and expositions (MICE) market is big and can further be enhanced through more investments in facilities that will spell comfort, convenience and fun for the very demanding market segment.

“Reinvestment is our way to contribute to that. We can still do more and clean up more to make Cebu a really attractive place for this (MICE) market,” he said.

Last year, Cebu City hotels posted an average occupancy of 57 percent with most activities only happening in the fourth quarter.

“We, however, posted higher than the industry rate at mid 70 percent. That’s high. Our top clients remain balikbayans, then the Americans followed by Koreans,” said Winton.