Couple eyes tourists in resto-lounge venture

A COUPLE who found a niche in the retail and technology sector has embarked on another venture by  setting up Cebu’s first resto-lounge featuring cultural shows for tourists.

Wilson and Melanie Ng, the brains behind Ng Khai Development Corp., invested at least P60 million for a six-story building that housed  their new venture – the Lakwatsa Resto Lounge.

need

Wilson Ng said he saw the need for a place for tourists to watch quality cultural shows in Cebu.

“We are trying to fill that need because there really  is no place in the past here in Cebu where you can bring your guests and show them our local dances and songs,” he said.

According to Ng, everytime they travel abroad they are usually brought by their host to cultural show centers in that country which they usually enjoy because they get to learn more about the country other than just going for drinks in some bars.

“When you travel you don’t want to spend the night in your hotel room. Of course you want to go out and see and learn about the place which is what we aim for Lakwatsa to deliver,” he said.

opened

The place formally opened last Nov. 14 and is open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Lakwatsa Resto Lounge is registered under East Print Corp. which is the Ng’s buy and sell business. It is located at the fifth floor of the eNGy Tech Building along Hernan Cortes Street in Mandaue City Cebu.

“We aim to make Lakwatsa Resto Lounge the premiere place for locals and tourists to enjoy great food and cultural shows including musicals and theaters and other entertainment,” he said.

He said the place could be a means to promote Cebu and the Philippines  through the show, which would would feature local talents.

The show will be directed by Rudy Aviles and choreographer Alfie Mosqueda.

Ng said as of last week the resto had  visitors from the travel and tour sectors, who started to check out the place for inclusion in their tour packages.

response

“I’m happy with the response and feel more optimistic that the new investment will succeed,” he said.

The place, which can accommodate up to 550 people, can be a venue for special events and occasions like birthday celebrations, wedding and corporate trainings and events.

With more space also available in the building, Ng said they were working on the  PEZA (Philippine Economic Zones Authority) accreditation so that they could start getting companies in the technology sector to locate in the building.

Director Rowena Montecillo, Department of Tourism Central Visayas director, said she welcomed the new investment especially since the tourism industry would need a lot of help from the local sector in filling the needs in a certain destination.

help promote

Montecillo said that they would be helping promote the place to tourist groups that will visit the region.

“This is another product that we can be really proud of as it provides another reason for tourist to come, enjoy and learn more about Cebu and the Philippines,” said Montecillo.

As of August, total arrivals in the region already reached 256,793 foreign and domestic tourists which is a 5.6 percent increase from that of the same period last year which was only at  243,165 tourists.

Montecillo said that the new attraction would compliment the recent thrust of DOT to also explore the Middle Eastern market which would prefer to go on cultural tours including shows, sites and food.