This Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) “SOS” is the best “plea for help” I have ever known. Not only does it help revive our tourism industry, more importantly, it helps those of us who are itching to travel again and rediscover local destinations…at a bargain!
HSMA is bringing back last year’s very successful travel sale, the SOS or September Online Sale where participating hotels and resorts all over the country offer generous discounts, as much as 70 percent. This online sale also includes ancillary services of these properties – packages involving food and beverage, banquet, spa, gym and pool, and other facilities. These may be availed of independently from the discounted accommodations.
This is the association’s way of extending a helping hand to some of the 4.8 million workers in the travel sector who have either lost their jobs or had a pay cut as the pandemic continues to ravage our industry, leading to the temporary partial or full closure of many hotels and resorts. This much appreciated project of HSMA becomes very significant when we realize that our industry contributes 12.7 percent to our country’s coffers.
The discounted rates may be accessed through the HSMA website (hsma.org.ph/sos) and purchases must be made now until October 15. These are sold in the form of e-vouchers that may be used within one year from the date of purchase. Considering the uncertainty of conditions sparked by this pandemic, these e-vouchers’ validity may be extended upon request.
A total of 80 hotels and resorts all over the country are participating in this year’s SOS, as HSMA officers expect to surpass last year’s record of more than 2,000 e-vouchers sold. These properties are grouped according to their geographical locations.
Those in the Manila, Pasay, and Parañaque areas are Conrad Manila, Okada Manila, Diamond Hotel, Manila Marriott Hotel, Sheraton Manila Bay, The Bayleaf Intramuros, Microtel Wyndham Mall of Asia, Bayview Park Hotel, Kingsford Hotel, Jen Manila by Shangri-La, Winford Manila Resort and Casino, and Hotel Lucky Chinatown.
Makati, BGC, and Alabang hotels include The Peninsula Manila, Discovery Primea, Grand Hyatt Manila, Shangri-La The Fort, New World Makati Hotel, Dusit Thani Manila, The Bellevue, Crimson Hotel Filinvest, Seda BGC, Acacia Hotel, Seda Residences Makati, Oxford Suites, and Holiday Inn and Suites.
Those in the Ortigas, Pasig, and Quezon City areas are Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites, Edsa Shangri-La, Ace Hotel and Suites, Astoria Plaza, B Hotel, The Linden Suites, Discovery Suites, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa, and Richmonde Hotel Ortigas.
Clark, Baguio, Bataan, and Ilocos areas include Clark Marriott Hotel, Quest Plus Conference Center Clark, Grand Sierra Pines Baguio, Rancho Bernardo Luxury Villas, Vitalis Villas, and Banaue Hotel.
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Tagaytay hotels are Seda Nuvali, The Bayleaf Cavite, Twin Lakes Hotel, Acuatico Beach Resort, Acuaverde Beach Resort, Summit Ridge, and Quest Hotel Tagaytay.
Participating hotels in Palawan and Davao are Astoria Palawan, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, Club Paradise Palawan, Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, Dusit D2 Davao, Miniloc Island Resort, and Bacau Bay Resort Coron.
Boracay and Iloilo count the following: Shangri-La Resort and Spa, Movenpick Resort and Spa, Belmont Hotel, Crimson Resort and Spa, Discovery Shores, Le Soleil de Boracay, Paradise Garden Resort and Convention Center, Alta Vista Resort, Felize Hotel, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Hue Hotels and Resorts, Patio Pacific, and Astoria Current.
Participating hotels in Cebu and Bohol are Shangri-La Mactan, Marco Polo Plaza, Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino, Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Crimson Beach Resort and Spa Mactan, Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort Panglao, Quest Hotel and Conference Center, Mithi Resort and Spa, Be Resort, Savoy Hotel Mactan, and The Bellevue Resort.
I doff my hat to my friends in the HSMA Board of Directors: Maribago Bluewater’s Margie Munsayac is chairperson, Bayleaf’s Benjie Martinez is president, Astoria’s Desiree Rose de Guzman is treasurer, Bellevue’s Amie Villena is secretary, Chroma Hospitality’s Carmela Bocanegra is for PR, Linden’s Ma. Celeste Romualdo is for membership, Conrad’s Mike Albana is for programs, Marriott’s Cristina Carreon is for ways and means, and Hilton’s Joanne Galang is for education.
We owe them big time for putting together this most generous project, generous to the hotel industry workers who have been unemployed or underemployed because of the pandemic, and generous to us “staycationers” who are raring to enjoy once again the finer things in life with these bargain rates. So, c’mon friends, let’s SOS – Start Our Staycation!
YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE
When you’re dead, you don’t know you’re dead. All of the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you’re stupid.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.
