By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The management of Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod here is optimistic to cater more guests as the government eased the travel restrictions in the country due to the decreasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
General manager Sherwin Lucas, in a press briefing, during the hotel’s formal opening on Tuesday, said they started quite slow when they had their soft launching in July this year, and had to rely on staycations.
But, with the recent development on travel restrictions, Lucas was happy to announced that they are currently averaging 35 to 36 percent occupancy especially during weekends.
“It’s steadily climbing,” Lucas said, adding that recently they were able to house many guests because of a big conference at the SMX Convention Center.
In fact, Lucas said they are expecting to be busy next month, considering that travelers most especially balikbayans are coming home for the holidays.
Lucas said they also get inquiries for essential government meetings, but he noted that they make sure they comply with the allowed capacity mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
Lucas said they really have to look at the numbers because it’s moving depending on how the government dictates.
One thing that the hotel is also proud is that all their employees were fully-vaccinated against COVID-19.
The hotel is also giving 20 percent discount to their fully-vaccinated guests, to encourage the general public to get vaccinated.
Peggy Angeles, executive vice president of SM Hotels and Convention Corp., said with eased restrictions and decreasing COVID-19 cases in the country, they are looking forward to the further opening of the economy and the eventual recovery of the tourism industry.
“As more and more people get vaccinated, including the youth, confidence in indulging in leisure activities as well as staycations are certainly coming back,” she added.
Meanwhile, a photography and art exhibit featuring the works of Manila-based photographer Christina Bautista dubbed “Images of Negros” and the art works of Negrense artist Joan Honoridez was also unveiled at the Art Cove located on the hotel’s ground floor.
Angeles said they want to have a special and unique feature that will set apart from their competitors, thus they alloted a space for local artists through their Art Cove to showcase their art works not just to locals but also visiting tourists.
Angeles said that it can also be a part of building the tourism in the country.
Lucas said that among all the Park Inn hotels in the country, Bacolod is the only one with an art gallery. Its establishment was inspired by the region our hotel resides in, he added.
“Negros is a harbor of the arts, the home of many national and globally renowned Filipino artists. Thus, through the Art Cove, we wish to help the province cultivate and nurture more talents by serving as a venue to showcase Negrosnanon art to travelers and amplify the art tourism in the province,” Lucas said.
Further, the hotel also unveiled the mural marker of the Tale of Marapara at the hotel’s pool area on the second floor, which is currently known as the biggest art mural in the city.
The event concluded with the Christmas Tree lighting to mark the start of the holiday season.
This holiday season, Angeles said that part of the proceeds from the Christmas hamper sales will be donated to Kalipay Negrense, a foundation that supports children, providing them with shelter, education and support.
The amount raised will aid the foundation in supplementing the children’s basic needs, as the pandemic has also made gathering donations a true struggle.
