MANILA -- Global hospitality management chain, Swiss-Belhotel International is expanding in the Philippines, and will open a luxury resort in Davao by 2022.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday, Swiss-Belhotel chairman, Gavin Faull, said Filipinos are the best in hospitality and care, and that the country is currently in the "golden era" of tourism.
"Many people travel around the Philippines whether for pure leisure or to attend meetings. People from Shanghai, for instance, go here to spend a weekend," he said.
The executive added that Swiss-Belhotel has a strong synergy with the Philippines, and recognizes Filipinos' passion and professionalism.
At present, Swiss-Belhotel manages 105 hotels and resorts in Asia. It has two hotels in the Philippines -- the Valero Grand Suites in Makati City, and the Blulane in Chinatown, Binondo.
The management hopes to do the groundbreaking of the luxury resort in Davao within this year. This will be the biggest among the Swiss-Bellhotels in the Philippines.
About PHP10 billion would be spent to build the Swiss-Belresort and Villas in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, Swiss-Belhotel International consultant and acting general manager of Blulane, Linie Cortez-Palacio, bared with the PNA.
She said this will be a five-star hotel with 180 rooms and 100 villas.
"The process of conceptualization to planning, to analyzing and funding, is long. The Valero Suites took five years to be built," Faull remarked.
He added that Swiss-Belhotel would also like to open hotels in other parts of the country, as well as more branches in Metro Manila, someday.
Partnership with PAL
Meanwhile, Swiss-Belhotel International has signed a partnership agreement with flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), last month.
Under this partnership, Swiss-Belhotel guests both here and abroad would earn up to 250 Mabuhay Miles points per night of stay. A minimum of two-night stay is required to avail of this reward.
Mabuhay Miles is PAL's frequent flyer program.
"Partnering with an airline is very logical. Airline passengers are the hotel guests," Faull explained.
He said that PAL would also benefit from this partnership, since passengers would be enticed to book their flights with the airline so they could get extra reward points from their hotel stay.
Palacio mentioned that Swiss-Belhotel have the same kind of partnership with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia. (PNA)
