Bobby Horrigan, the general manager of the five-star Acacia Hotel Manila in Alabang, believes the time is ripe for a tourism boom in the Philippines.??? ?I am optimistic about the outlook of the hospitality industry in general,? Horrigan, a pillar of the hospitality industry in the country, says in an interview at the hotel?s Acacia buffet restaurant.
Horrigan, who is also the managing director of the prestigious Enderun Hospitality Group, says ?the government?s target of attracting 10 million tourists by 2016 is possible.?? Horrigan is a director of Chaine des Rotisseurs and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines.
The 41-year-old hotel executive says the uptrend in international visitor arrivals, which breached the four-million mark for the first time in 2012, is expected to continue over the next four years.
Horrigan was exposed early to the excitement of the hotel and restaurant industry.? Her parents, Martha and Jack Horrigan, founded Aunt Mary?s chain of restaurants in the 1970s, which later became Tia Maria.
He studied at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland and Cornell University in the US.? He worked at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong before returning to the Philippines where he became resident manager of Olympia Courtyard Suites and then managing director of Asian Food Concepts.
He was appointed general manager of Discovery Suites in Ortigas in 2006, before being promoted as vice president for HSAI Raintree Hospitality Management, which manages the Discovery chain of hotels.
Horrigan spearheaded the opening of luxury hotels such as Discovery Misibis in Albay and Discovery Shores in Boracay and was also involved in the development of Discovery Primea in Makati City and Costa Pacifica Raintree in Baler, Aurora.
He received the 17th Mabuhay Gold Award from the Association of Human Resources Manager in November 2012, for his role in elevating the standards of the hotel industry globally.
Horrigan says the Filipino brand of service is what makes a hotel truly special. ?No one can do it like the Filipinos can,? he says.
He says this brand of service will play a crucial role in sustaining the growth of the tourism industry in the country.? ?We need 100 more hotels in Metro Manila and surrounding areas to serve 10 million foreign tourists by 2016,? he says.
Horrigan says more hotels are expected to be built in Alabang, which is solidifying its status as a commercial business district.? ?Alabang is a good location, because many business are down south of Manila.? All economic zone locators are here,? he says.
Aside from Acacia, other hotels in the area are the Bellevue Manila, Vivere Hotel, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City Manila and Parque Espana Residence Hotel.
Horrigan says ?Acacia 2? is possible in the future, given the high level of satisfaction shown by guests during their stay in Acacia Hotel.? ?We are in the right location near industrial zones,? he says.
Public relations officer Chiara Marie Topacio says Acacia Hotel, which was opened in October 2011, has been in fact ranked as one of the 25 best luxury hotels in the Philippines by TripAdvisor in its 2013 Travelers? Choice awards.? The hotel, owned by Filipino firm Alcerce Holdings Corp., has 210 guestrooms at present, with an average occupancy rate of 75 percent to 80 percent.? It is managed by the Enderun Colleges led by founder Jack Tuason and Horrigan.
Acacia Hotel marketing and communications manager Marla Mendoza says more rooms will be opened by March or April, which will bring the total to 261 guestrooms.? The hotel also has a grand ballroom, six function rooms, an outdoor area, two restaurants and a swimming pool.
Mendoza says the hotel, whose name was derived from the Acacia tree, is ideally situated in Alabang and is just 20 minutes away from the airport and easily accessible through the Skyway and South Luzon Expressway from Makati City.? Acacia tree is a sturdy plant species whose branches sprawl out, providing shelter to wildlife.
Located at the corner of East Drive and Commerce Ave. in Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Acacia Hotel is surrounded by business and commercial establishments, including two malls, restaurants, churches, hospitals and upscale residential areas.
The hotel has a most impressive lobby, with high ceiling and soaring glass walls that allow sunlight in and expose the beautiful sight of modern Alabang.? Its modern look, yet elegant design make for a relaxing and cozy stay.
?Our monthly average occupancy rate is 75 percent to 80 percent.? The top three nationalities that book in Acacia Hotel Manila are Koreans, Americans and Japanese,? says Mendoza.
Mendoza says an overnight stay at a 34-square-meter deluxe room is competitively priced at P5,490 and guests can look forward to a most comfortable sleep on wide orthopedic beds, that support the joints, back and overall body.? A memory foam pillow-top and fluffy goose down-feather pillows and duvets promise to lull guests to sleep.
The hotel also has 43-square-meter junior suites, with the same conveniences such as 40-inch LCD television sets with cable, Wi-Fi Internet access, NDD and IDD telephone, electronic safe, fully stocked mini bar, full size executive desk, fully marbled bathroom with separate bath tub, among others.
?Three more floors will be opened in the first quarter, with 50 executive suites, a bridal suite and one presidential suite.? We will also open an executive lounge, specialty restaurant and an al fresco bar.? One floor would be dedicated to long-staying guests,? she says. ?We are also planning to open up a kiddie area.?
The hotel maintains a regular staff of about 100, on top of contractual employees in security, maintenance and other services.? Guests include expatriates and business executives from economic zones in Alabang, Cavite and Laguna; staycationers from Alabang, Makati, Quezon City and other parts of Metro Manila; golfers from different countries; as well as foreign and local tourists.
?Other than rooms, we also promote our? F&B.? Our buffet is price-friendly at P995 net, for lunch and dinner, with one round of drinks.? It is good food at affordable price.? For dinner, we offer unlimited draft beer,? says Mendoza.
Asked what makes Acacia Hotel special, Mendoza says: ?You have to stay here to experience it.? What makes guests stay with us longer is the hospitality that we give and the quality of service.? The main focus of our GM is to promote Filipino hospitality.? It is what you feel when you are here,? she says. RTD
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Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/02/03/hotelier-promotes-filipino-hospitality/
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