Hotels, resorts in Mactan turn to locals

CEBU CITY -- Hotels and resorts in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island are hoping the 50% reduction in their room rates would translate to room reservations from domestic tourists and offset the cancellations by foreign guests as an aftermath of the Quirino Grandstand hostage drama that killed eight tourists from Hong Kong. "We have received many inquiries about it and we are optimistic that somehow it would offset the cancellation of the foreign tourists," said Hembler Mendoza, general manager of the Waterfront Hotel Mactan and Casino. For this month alone, Mr. Mendoza said Waterfront lost at least 600 room nights, or 20 rooms per night, after several tour groups cancelled their reservations. Among those who cancelled were high-roller casino players, he added. Cancellations at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort, meanwhile, have been minimal. Rica Rellon, assistant communications manager, said the hotel already offers reduced rates to clients. The hotel also sent a sales mission to China to convince prospective clients that the hostage crisis was an isolated case and Cebu is relatively peaceful. The Korean-managed Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa has not reduced its rates because promotional rates are already being offered to clients. Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza earlier announced that hotels and resorts have been asked to cut their rates by half to attract domestic tourists. -- Antonio Antogop, Jr., BusinessWorld