Experts: PH hotels, resorts have ‘very high standards’

A team of international experts gave Philippine hotels and resorts, including the small players high marks for their “very high standards” in maintaining the Filipino brand of hospitality.

This was the initial review of 10 experts from the International Accommodation Assessors (IAAs) who visited the country last month. They were joined by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in reviewing the accommodation standards of 144 hotels and resorts in the country’s main island destinations – Cebu, Bohol, Davao, and Palawan.

 LUXURIOUS BALI Clockwise from top left: Bulgari Resort Bali’s private beach; The SPA’s treatment room; View of ‘La Spiaggia,’ the beach grillbar; The Bulgari Villa

The IAAs said Philippine hotels and resorts are “ready to compete in the global marketplace” and should continuously maintain the unique Filipino hospitality, which is one of the country’s competitive advantages.

“The warmth of welcome for guests in all types of accommodation is almost unique among international destinations. There is a real potential for the Philippine tourism industry. Some hotels and resorts need to invest to improve, but the new rating system can help identify where to focus that investment,” the initial report noted.

New standards under the Hotel and Resorts Quality Assurance and Accreditation System aims to assist visitors in terms of  quality, service and comfort provided by accommodation businesses of all sizes and types in the Philippines.

The DOT tapped international assessors to ensure that the review is based on accepted international standards.

The review is part of a technical assistance funded by the Government of Canada and administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that is aimed at improving competitiveness in the tourism sector in time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration.

Undersecretary Maria Victoria V. Jasmin, Chairperson of the DOT Project Steering Committee, said the technical assistance is crucial in helping the department implement the “Improving Competitiveness in Tourism” road map designed to increase foreign tourist arrivals to ten million by 2016.

source:  Manila Bulletin