Hotels bloom like mushrooms in booming Cebu

One can tell an urban center is experiencing a genuine boom when hotels are sprouting like mushrooms. In the Philippine tourism’s lay of the land, this can only be in Cebu. Months before the pandemic hit in early 2020, Cebu was already benefiting from the tourism boom, with various sub-sectors of the tourism industry having a heyday—beach activities and water sports, MICE, government seminars, medical tourism, golf and other sports, faith tourism, and forest/eco-farms visits.

Then came the Covid-19 pandemic and every one stood still, stopping most activities to a halt. But the resilient ones were not to be cowed. They remained loyal to the chart’s trajectory, following the master plan of Cebu tourism.

It helped of course that Cebu now has its third and longest bridge, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLX), while the Mactan Cebu International Airport has met international standards, which even the NAIA does not have.

Rapid urban growth has ramped up hotel demand in Cebu to spill over from the city to the suburbs, and a happy beneficiary of this is nearby Liloan municipality, the town of Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco, where she used to be mayor.

Her mother Governor Gwen, together with many Cebuanos, would probably not forgive her daughter had she failed to catalyze tourism in Liloan during her time at the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Frasco’s long-time friends and real estate-tourism investors, Lito Barino and wife Fe M. Barino, both original Liloanos, were just too happy to backstop Frasco’s initiative.

The Barinos’ Duros Group, of which Lito is chairman, has taken the challenge of opening the first upscale hotel in Liloan—the One Tectona Hotel, the group’s flagship project located in barangay Yati.

It is the tallest structure in the area, all of 14 floors with a breathtaking view of Magellan Bay, the Metro Cebu skyline, and the highlands of Northern Cebu.

Having done its soft opening, it is now open to guests. The One Tectona Hotel when completed will be featuring 102 elegantly designed and wellappointed rooms in three categories— deluxe rooms, one-bedroom suites, and a three-bedroom executive suite. These are highlighted with masterfully crafted wooden panels and accents, and modern yet contemporary furniture for that ultimate homey and calming feel.

Sports tourism will take a giant leap in Liloan because One Tectona Hotel offers access to Liloan Golf, an 18-hole par 72 championship course with a new and well-equipped clubhouse, expansive greens, and verdant hills that golfers of various skills will sure to enjoy. There’s also the Woodlands Golf Academy where newbies can learn the game and regular players can practice with the help from highly skilled golf instructors.

Among the facilities at One Tectona Hotel are a spacious function hall that can comfortably seat 80 persons in a banquet set up, available for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events, as well as an infinity pool with a vast view of the woodland enclave. A state-of-the-art fitness center, a gameroom, and a bike trail will also be opening soon.

Teak Modern Cuisine, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant has a 120-person seating capacity and serves Filipino and continental dishes by a team of experienced chefs.

The Executive Boardroom and Lounge on the 13th floor will soon open for cocktails, date nights, and even small group meetings. Duros Group under the leadership of its chairman Lito Barino and its president Fe M. Barino is working on shaping vibrant communities in Cebu and other tourist destinations, with special focus on their hometown Liloan.

With the newest addition to the Duros Hotels brand, managing

Rapid urban growth has ramped up hotel demand in Cebu to spill over from the city to the suburbs, and a happy beneficiary of this is nearby Liloan municipality, the town of Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco, where she used to be mayor.

director Adie Gallares is determined to put the property in the hotel map of the Philippines as it proudly rises in picturesque Liloan.