Iloilo City”•SM Hotels and Convention Corp., the hotel unit of the SM Group, opened its third Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in this city Tuesday amid the booming demand of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) market.
SMHCC executive vice president Peggy Angeles said at least four more Park Inn hotels are in the pipeline as part of the group’s P8.2-billion, five-year expansion plan until 2022.
“We are confident that this new landmark in Iloilo will add to the city’s vibrant tourism landscape and set a new benchmark in hospitality in Panay Island,” Angeles said.
There is also a plan to construct an SMX Convention Center near the hotel which is strategically located six minutes from the Iloilo Business Park and less than half an hour from the Iloilo International Airport.
“All these will strengthen the position of Iloilo as a MICE destination,” she said.
The Department of Tourism earlier launched its MICE Roadmap 2030 to secure the country’s foothold as the leading MICE destination in Asia Pacific.
Under the roadmap, the industry is eyeing a revenue growth of more than 400 percent from only P4.6 billion posted in 2016 to P24.4 billion by 2030.
The 199-room hotel Iloilo, Angeles said, provides choice venues for meetings and social events, with a main function room that can accommodate up to 100 guests for mid-sized events and an al fresco area by the poolside for early evening functions.
“Park Inn by Radisson is a friendly, fresh, vibrant and uncomplicated brand that focuses on delivering the modern essentials of a great business hotel experience,” she said.
SMHCC earlier opened Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Davao and Clark, but the branch in Iloilo is the first under the corporation’s licensing agreement with Radisson Hotel Group.
Angeles said another Park Inn by Radisson hotel would be opened within the first half of the year beside SM North Edsa while the extension of the Clark facility would be completed by the first quarter of next year.
Park Inn Bacolod is scheduled for opening in the third quarter of 2020, while another in Baguio will likely be finished by 2022.
Angeles said that aside from the Radisson brand, SMHCC would also bring another international brand to the country. It is set to break ground for a 400-room hotel with serviced apartments near the SM Mall of Asia in June.
The group is also set to construct a hotel and an SMX Convention Center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
SMHCC earlier announced the expansion of its portfolio, doubling its current hotel room inventory and growing leasable convention space by 2020.
