Apec seen in steep hotel rate hike

CEBU CITY—Delegates attending meetings for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in August and September are complaining over hotel rates in Cebu.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario said at a briefing on Friday that several delegates complained that hotel rates during the Apec meetings were at least 120 percent more than the published rates.

Del Rosario, Apec senior officials’ meeting chair, did not identify the complainants but said that some came from rich countries.

“When rich economies complain, something is wrong,” said Del Rosario. She identified at least three hotels that jacked up their hotel rates during the meetings.

Superior rooms at the Radisson Blu Hotel, where most of the 90 meetings would be held, cost at least P13,350 per night when its published rate as of Aug. 5 was only P5,800.

Published rate for deluxe accommodation at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu is P4,530 as of Aug. 5, but the price would go up to P11,000 per night during the Apec meetings.

Deluxe rooms at Cebu City Marriott Hotel would cost P13,800 during Apec, almost triple the published rate of P5,000 as of Aug. 5.

Del Rosario said excessive hotel rates during Apec meetings may damage Cebu City’s reputation.