THREE-star Quest Hotel announced it has improved its meeting packages to increase its share of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibition (Mice) business in Cebu.
“We are redefining our Mice package as we further strengthen our name as a conference center,” said Emet Sendin, area manager of catering services at Quest Hotel, in a press conference last Friday. He said the improved setting and new concepts are meant to bring out the best in each meeting.
“If we will just retain the regular set-up, we might only get regular results.
Meetings are where concepts and ideas are formed and are supposed to be nurtured,” he noted.
The hotel came up with its own Mice package which stands for memorable settings, intriguing concepts, compelling rewards, and exciting experiences.
The new Mice program at Quest features three themes for meetings, namely, Zen, Zest and Zugbu.
The Zen package highlights a wholesome and healthy themed meeting, while Zest is an energy-packed themed break. Zugbu, on the other hand, highlights Cebuano comfort food.
“We came up with themed meetings to provide choices for our corporate clients and as a strategy to attract more clients to hold meetings or conferences here,” said Sendin.
He reported the Mice market of the hotel is growing by at least five percent year-on-year. Fifty-five percent of the meetings are from Cebu while the rest come from Manila or are foreign clients.
Quest Hotel has a total of 10 function rooms.
Cebu ready to host Mice: hotelier
At least P1,500 is charged per head for themed meeting rooms.
Sendin added the hotel has been aggressive in selling the facility as a Mice venue by participating in travel road shows and Mice conventions.
In previous interviews, Cenelyn Manguilimotan, president of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRRAC), has said Cebu should push itself more as a Mice destination, saying the province all has the necessary ingredients to host this type of market.
Manguilimotan was referring to the availability of beds and function rooms, direct flights and the beach.
As of 2013, Mice accounted for only 12 percent of the country’s total tourism income, according to the Department of Tourism.
The department is hoping to hit the 22 percent target revenues from MICE in 2016 is the country hosts international events such as the Apec meetings and the International Eucharistic Congress.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 10, 2014.
