Tourism wise, Cagayan de Oro has a lot to look out for within this year and the next, as new tourist attractions, restaurants, malls and hotels continue to open as months go by. One new hotel to look out for is Tune Hotel, which is set to open next year. The hotel is owned by Red Planet Hotels, which is franchised from Tune Hotels.

Red Planet Hotels

Red Planet Hotels Limited is an emerging Asian company that specializes in hotel investments. From its first hotel investment in Thailand, it now has hotels in five countries in Asia, including:

*  China

*  Bangladesh

*  Indonesia

*  Philippines

*  Thailand

Today, Red Planet has fifteen hotels under development in three Asian countries including the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. These developments will total to 2,484 rooms once finished.

TuneHotels.com

For this project, Red Planet Hotels Limited has partnered with Tune Hotels.com and operates under a franchise agreement with the company. Tune Hotels.com is part of the private investment company Tune Group. The Tune Group of Companies is owned by Tony Fernandes, who is also the founder and CEO of AirAsia.

Tune Hotels is a chain of “limited service” hotels that provide 5-star experience at 1-star price. The “limited service” model is basically a no-frills business model (also applied by AirAsia), which eliminates many traditional hospitality services and add-ons in order to keep operational costs low, thereby making hotel rates more affordable.

The hotels will provide guests with the basic necessities such as five star beds and power showers; but other services, including air conditioning, toiletries, entertainment packages (television), Wi-Fi, towels, hairdryers, daily room cleaning, breakfast and hotel insurance is optional and are available as add-ons. Since most people do not make full use of these amenities (not everyone uses hairdryers or toiletries or Internet connection), guests can simply choose from items that they need. This allows them to save by not having to pay for services that they do not need.

Despite being “limited service” in nature, Tune Hotels will still provide the basic essentials that any traveller would need:

*  A five star bed

*  Clean bathrooms and power showers

*  Clean rooms and environment

*  24-Hour Security

*  Convenient Locations

Tune Hotels currently operates ten hotels so far – with seven branches in Malaysia, two branches in Indonesia and one branch in England. It has recently entered a partnership with Red Planet Hotels Limited and other strategic partnerships and is set to open a number of hotels in Asia and the United Kingdom.

Tune Hotel In Cagayan de Oro

Tune Hotel in Cagayan de Oro is set to rise in C.M. Recto Avenue, right beside the old Coca-Cola plant. The property was acquired last May 2011 and construction is already set to start. The tentative month of opening will be in October of next year. The hotel will have 162 rooms and a total floor area of 4,452 square meters. It will also house a retail area that will be available for lease.

For more information, check out http://www.tunehotels.com/ and http://www.redplanethotels.com/.

-Justine B. Raagas-

New business establishments are sprouting all over Cagayan de Oro – from the soon to rise Centrio Mall, to the host of new restaurants and dining options, to high end shops and boutiques. Of course, let’s not forget the number of hotels, motels, inns and resorts that are also sprouting up all over the city.

While we may have seen some new developments within the city proper, it’s time to look a bit to the west. Another new establishment that is set to rise is the ETF Resortel and Life Spot. The resort will be standing beside the Iponan River, which can be accessed from the main city highway by following the road leading to Centro Iponan.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the project happened last May 7, 2011 and was led by the partners and proprietors of the hotel – Ms. Eden Grace Morales and Mr. Edward Fuentes. The ceremony was also graced by the city vice mayor, Ian Acenas.

Construction Progress

Construction has yet to start, but progress is continuous. As of this writing, filling materials are being dumped onto the area to heighten and level the landscape. The construction of the resort should start anywhere around this month and should be finished by January of next year.

Resort + Hotel = Resortel

The establishment sits on one hectare of land, which gives it a lot of space for proposed amenities. Some features to look out for would, of course, be the hotel room accommodations, function rooms, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, children’s playground and zip line.

Given these proposed amenities, it is safe to assume that the ETF Resortel and Life Spot is targeted for corporate and leisure purposes.

Unlike some resortels, which are developed by world renowned groups or companies, there is little information about the owners of this soon-to-rise resort. Still, any investment in the city, especially something that attracts tourists and residents, is always a good investment.

New Hotels in the City

Since the ETF Resortel and Life Spot has yet to open, you might want to consider other new hotels and inns in the city where you can stay:

- N Hotel. Located at the old SBC Party Venue location, the N hotel is a 68-room hotel with accommodations ranging from superior rooms to family suites. It also features a convention hall that can seat 450 people.

-Marigold Hotel. Located right beside Landbank in Velez-Luna Streets, Marigold Hotel features guest rooms, suites and dormitories to suit all types of guests. With affordable rates and packages, this hotel is a popular pick for events and conventions.

- Will’s Place. While it’s not exactly a resort, Will’s Place is the perfect choice for people travelling for business. Located in the heart of the city, Will’s offers no-fuss and no-frills services, just comfort and wonderful aesthetics. The hotel is located at the Jacutin Building along Velez Street, fronting City Central School and is a walking distance from numerous establishments in the city.

-Justine B. Raagas-

If you’re familiar with SBC Party Venue in Kauswagan, you’ll know where to go if you want to check out Cagayan de Oro’s newest hotel – the N Hotel. N Hotel, which is on soft opening, is located at exactly the same spot where SBC used to be. The hotel is made up of 3 stories and boasts of a beautiful landscape and a swimming pool that water lovers would love to dip into any time of the day. The hotel’s architecture is also something that CDO folks would love.

Although not all amenities have been completed yet, a lot of people have already been dropping by to check on the hotel and its rates. In fact, N Hotel’s function rooms, with rates ranging from Php200 to Php 500 per person, is already attracting quite a crowd. Their convention hall is also expected to bring in a lot of reservations, especially as it is one of the few in the city that can comfortably accommodate around 450 people.

N Hotel is aiming to get a 3-star rating, and this would not be difficult to achieve as its amenities are really of high standards.

Aside from the function rooms, the convention hall and the swimming pool, N Hotel also has well-equipped and beautifully designed rooms for every guest. In addition to the usual set of rooms (superior, de luxe and junior suites), the hotel can also accommodate guests in large numbers as they actually have family rooms with more than 10 beds. Best of all, accommodations come with free breakfast and pool use.

Although the room rates are quite expensive, N Hotel will definitely make a good choice for tourists and travelers who want only the finest in a hotel. For now, since they are still on soft opening, the hotel’s rates are discounted. Nevertheless, they’re still quite steep.

Superior Rooms are @ Php 2, 500

De Luxe Rooms are @ Php 2, 800

Junior Suites are @ Php 5,000

Family Room for 12 persons @ Php 10,850

Family Room for 15 persons @ Php 13,510

Family Room for 18 persons @ Php 16,240

You can get more details about the hotels rates and amenities by calling 088-8801824 to 26, or by sending them an email at n_hotelcdo@yahoo.com

-Maia Fortich-Poblete-

One of the most luxurious and hospitable first class hotels in the city, Mallberry Suites usually plays host to foreigners and local celebrities who are here in the city for some business purpose or for some R&R. Its convenient location at the heart of the city’s premier commercial establishment and its very reasonable room rates are not the only things going in its favor. Anyone can expect the best hotel services from their staff and management.

To further accommodate their increasing patronage and provide additional amenities for their clients, Mallberry Suites started 2011 by completing two of its newest developments: opening its newly constructed wing and the Café Laguna Restaurant.

Extending Mallberry’s Capacity for Hospitality

Mallberry Suites is recognized as a favorite among tourists and businessmen in the city. The hotel is often fully booked, regardless of whether or not it is a peak season, and this prompted the owners to expand. Construction for the two new buildings was started in 2009 and was finally finished at the end of 2010.

The new wing is not composed of two separate buildings, although it does give that impression. A larger portion of the new building has 10 stories, while the smaller wing has seven. It extends eastward towards Osmeña street, which is beyond the Limketkai complex.

The new building brings up Malberry Suites’ total number of rooms to 400 from 120. Surely, there will no longer be room shortage problems for tourists who wish to seek accommodations here.

No news has been released whether this new wing will impose new tariffs on the room accommodations and hotel services, so we can expect them to remain the same for their nine room choices (Php1,980–Php7,500 per night). The best way to find out, though, is to contact Mallberry Suites at 088-8549999.

Café Laguna

Café Laguna opened its branch at Mallberry, right across the reception area and hotel lobby. The restaurant’s new location is only a stone’s throw away from its original one, which was at the ground floor of Robinson’s Mall.

This second location is a huge advantage for all parties involved. Café Laguna is famous in the country for serving authentic and traditional Filipino cuisine. The restaurant will surely be an added attraction for Malberry’s foreign clients who would like to try some of our favorite local dishes. This is a wonderful addition to Malberry’s amenities and services, which also includes an indoor pool, a business center, integrated Wi-Fi access, souvenir shop, function rooms, boardrooms, the popular Rosso Steakhouse and Café Berde.

The restaurant is under the same management as the one in Robinson’s. It is still owned by the Urbinas of Cebu.

The tie-in of Mallberry Suites and Café Laguna indicates the simultaneous rise of hotel industry and restaurant businesses in CDO. Staying on top of the business is obviously foremost in the minds of its owners and they do so by delivering the best service to their customers.

Tourists, businessmen and travelers will surely be satisfied with the hospitality of Malberry Suites and the delicious dishes of Café Laguna.

-Jay Daphne Bual-

The Marigold Hotel

Marigold Hotel, which takes its name from a flower, has been in business for only several months since its opening last April 9, 2010. However, when it comes to services and promos directed towards customer satisfaction, the establishment seems to be progressing with a good pace.

The hotel is located in the city proper of Cagayan de Oro, specifically in A. Velez Street, just beside Land Bank. Marigold Hotel’s location is one of the reasons it clicks with customers, as it provides easy access to most tourist attractions within the city.

Aside from the usual room packages, The Marigold Hotel also has Petal Restaurant, a place where guests can enjoy sumptuous dishes while enjoying the luxury of live bands playing. Later on, they can indulge in fun videoke sessions. In addition, hotel guests can sweat it out while enjoying the services and amenities of the Baileya Health and Spa Center. There’s also a Blooms Coffee Shop where guests can entertain friends over a cup of excellently brewed coffee.

The up-to-date amenities found in its guestrooms and suites can pass for a three star standard rating. Rooms at The Marigold Hotel vary from superior to deluxe, to family types. They even have dormitory rooms good for three guests. These rooms are available at very affordable rates. Room packages (except for the dormitory types) come with a complimentary breakfast and welcome drinks.

The following amenities are applicable to the hotel’s (air conditioned) rooms:

• Cable television
• Hot and cold shower
• Refrigerator
• Mini bar
• NDD/IDD telephone
• Room Service
• Laundry and Pressing Service

For people who need to be constantly online, there is free Wi-Fi connection in the lobby and the restaurant.

The Marigold Hotel is also the perfect place for special events like weddings, anniversaries and birthdays; and even for official functions like seminars and meetings.

For inquiries and reservations, contact (088)8521104/8562047/8564320; or send an email through info@marigoldhotel.net. You may also want to visit their website for their Christmas package.

The Ridgeview Chalets

Located within the vicinity of Xavier Estates, a very classy high-end subdivision, is The Ridgeview Chalets. Its location is perfect for those who want to stay near the airport, while also being close to one of the city’s biggest malls, SM Cagayan de Oro.

Among its commendable services that guests can avail of is their free pick up and drop off to the airport. For non-tourist customers, transportation toward the place shouldn’t be a problem either, as it is only one jeepney or taxi ride away from the city center.

Another thing that adds up to The Ridgeview Chalets’ location advantage is the view. As it is located in the upper portion of the city, the geographical elevation allows a splendid view of the city’s valley and the Macajalar Bay. The chalets are equipped with only the best amenities:

• Air conditioned
• Cable TV
• Hot & Cold Shower
• Free Breakfast

Guests can choose from different chalet types: Deluxe, Standard and Family. Family rooms are duplex types that can accommodate a minimum of three to a maximum of eight persons.

The place offers a wide range of available amenities to cater to the different preferences of its visitors. They offer horseback riding while guests can also enjoy free use of their swimming pool (complete with slides kids will love). For a minimum fee, guests can also use their fitness gym, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, tennis court, and venues for indoor games like dart, billiard, and bowling. Guests with friends or relatives who are club members can use these amenities for free with the permission of their club member friend/relative.

Ridgeview Chalets also offers transportation services for travel within and outside of the city. For more specific information on this, visit their website or call them through (088) 858-7929/858-7930/858-8933/858-8937.

Harbor Lights Hotel

Opened to public back in January 1996, the Harbor Lights Hotel has been satisfying guests and patrons alike. As a testament of its continuing improvement, it acquired standard hotel accreditation from the Department of Tourism.

Harbor Lights is easily accessible as average travel time to and from the airport is around 45 minutes. It is about 20 minutes from the business center of Cagayan de Oro City and is quite near the city’s main shopping and dining destination, LimKetKai Mall. Hotel guests who like to try some adventure often take the jeepney to LimKetKai and the city center. Taxis abound, though, and travel to and from these destinations take only minutes.

The place also reserves a secure parking space for guests who own private vehicles.

Compared to the number of rooms that other hotels in the city provide, Harbor Lights Hotel has lesser rooms – 29 standard rooms and two suites. It also features a ballroom good for around 100 to 300 people, two function rooms, a swimming pool and an al fresco restaurant. Room rates are affordable (Php1,595 and Php2,700).

The garden portion where “harbor lights” and their reflection can be seen in the Macajalar Bay beside the area makes good venue for evening and garden themed parties or gatherings. Apart from their amenities, the hotel also takes pride in their well-trained staff.

For your reservation inquiries, you may contact (08822)724878/732771 or (088)8556060. You may also email them through hblights@yahoo.com.

-Kristof  Tiongson-