The hotel industry is bullish on doubling its revenues during this year’s month-long SOS (September Online Sale) from last year’s promotion that generated P14 million in sales.
“From a 15-day event, we’ve planned a month-long travel mart,” said Benjie Martinez, president of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) and Area Director of Sales & Marketing for Bayleaf Hotels.
“We want to surpass the P14 million last year because back then we only had SOS for 15 days, and now it’s 30 days. If we can double it, why not?” said Amie C. Villena, HSMA secretary and Bellevue Hotel and Resorts Group director for sales and marketing.
This year’s SOS covers not just hotel stay vouchers but also the ancillary services of the properties such as restaurants, bars, banquet packages, spa, gym and pool, and other facilities of at least 80 participating hotels nationwide.
Participating hotels are flexible when it comes to rebooking and voucher validity given the changing lockdown restrictions. Some of the packages come with RT-PCR testing, while others still offer additional discounts to vaccinated clients.
HSMA chairperson Margie Munsayac of Bluewater Resorts said clients are assured of safe staycations and hotel experiences as 100 percent of the employees of member hotels and restaurants have already been fully vaccinated.
“This is our chance to extend a helping hand to the travel sector, so that we may regain our footing and continue serving the Filipino people through essential quarantine accommodations and leisure services. This is also a kind of victory over the pandemic, that we are seizing the opportunity to rediscover and reconnect with the beauty of our country,” Munsayac said.
Last year’s sale resulted in P14 million in revenue from almost 2,000 vouchers sold by participating hotels.
The online sale begins Sept. 15 and will run until October 15 on the HSMA website https://hsma.org.ph/sos/.
This year’s SOS is presented in partnership with the DOT, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Atlantis, and Isentia, with Cebu Pacific as its airline partner.