Marco comes to Cebu

Marco Polo entered the Philippine market via its Davao property eight years ago. It was just a matter of time before it claimed its second stake.



“Marco Polo is constantly on the lookout for new properties and corporate expansion. Naturally, China has attracted its fair share of attention. But one cannot leave the Philippines out of sight - no traces of SARS back in 2003, not affected by avian flu, a remarkable economic performance sustained over the last three years, a vast abundance of an educated work-force with profound English know-how, a proven record of stability against terrorism, a low labour-cost environment and it has Cebu – an island in the Pacific,” said general manager Hans Hauri.



The 329-room Marco Polo Cebu Plaza was inaugurated in end of April.



It couldn’t have entered the market at a more opportune time. It likewise helps that Cebu hasn’t had a deluxe property in a long, long time.



Hotels here are running an average occupancy of 76 percent, which means that for third of the year, it is running fully booked.



A distinct departure from the other deluxe properties in Cebu, Marco Polo is located at the top of a hill, 600 feet above sea level, affording a view of the city, the Bay of Cebu and the adjacent islands that stud it.



It spreads over 7.5 hectares of lush greenery, creating an urban resort setting.



For the rest of this year, the hotel with go after the overflow from major conferences and what he calls “ad-hoc tours”; Marco Polo has yet to be included in major wholesalers’ tour programmes.



Its location is not a deterrent in going after the leisure market. Even if Cebu is famous for beaches, he said that not everyone flying in for leisure has the sun-sandand-sea genre in their minds.



"We observed that golfing tours prefer to stay in the city, that travellers prefer to explore the nearby Busay Hill area rather than staying at the beach alone,” he said. Just the same, if the guests want the beach, it is less than an hour’s drive way.



Immediate goals include tapping the Philippines major markets, led by Korea, Japan and balik-bayans or overseas-based Filipinos traveling back to the country.



This will go hand-in-hand in reversing the declining arrival trends from Hong Kong and developing the Singapore market. Australia and China are in their long-term plans. With regard to the Hong Kong market, the brand could help. Marco Polo’s flagship property is located in Hong Kong.



Marco Polo took over the facilities of the Cebu Plaza. It was the city’s first deluxe hotel. It shut down operations for several years.



He said that he couldn’t have enough of the “emotional experiences” shared to him by Cebuanos and Filipinos from other parts of the country who have been coming back.



“The hotel’s designer retained the best of the former architecture and complemented it with modern fabrics and materials, moderns lighting and life safety systems,” he said.



“Now our staff is adding the ‘emotional’ value to that product, in true Filipino style, in true Marco Polo standard.”



“Now our staff is adding the ‘emotional’ value to that product, in true Filipino style, in true Marco Polo standard.”



Before Marco Polo came, the only international brand was Marriott.



Hilton and Shangri-La are located in Mactan, a neighbouring city.



Two competitor hotels are due for major renovations after at least eight years of operations in preparation for future entrants in the market, he said.



The market situation will only get better, he said.