PH hotel industry seen to recover from losses with eased restrictions
PHOA lauds downgrade to Alert Level 2
THE Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) lauded the government’s decision to downgrade the quarantine classification in the National Capital Region (NCR) from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2 to help the industry recover from pandemic losses.
PHOA President Mr. Arthur M. Lopez welcomed the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF) de-escalation of quarantine restriction in the country’s capital, saying this will help the accommodation industry recoup its lost revenues as the yuletide season is fast-approaching.
“The government’s move to ease restriction to Alert Level 2 will help not only the hotel and accommodation industry, but also the restaurants inside our establishments, especially now that we are entering the Christmas season. This latest development will sustain the employment of hotel workers and create a domino effect that will benefit the suppliers of our hotel-members,” Lopez said in a statement.
“Most of our hotel-members are greatly affected by the lockdowns imposed during the previous surges of COVID-19 cases in the country. We expect that the industry will regain its lost revenues in the last months of 2021, as we commit to provide safe and convenient hotel services to our guests,” he added.
Lopez also assured they will continue to implement safety standards and protocols to ensure the safe reopening of the economy.
“PHOA lauds the government efforts to keep the accommodation business alive. For our part, our hotel-members vow to abide by the safety standards and protocols set by different government agencies to ensure safe reopening of the economy, especially in the tourism industry” he said.
Metro Manila was placed under Alert Level 2 from November 5 to 21, 2021. The Department of Health said the new alert level system will be implemented nationwide starting December 1, 2021.
“The latest move of the government will allow our hotel-members, not only in Metro Manila, but also in other parts of the country, to accommodate more guests before the year ends,” said Lopez.
Since the implementation of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila, the government has allowed staycations in accommodation establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism.
Meanwhile, under Alert Level 2, venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) are allowed to operate at 50% capacity for indoors, and 70% capacity for outdoors.
PHOA is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of owners of the country’s accommodation providers — hotels, resorts, and casino hotels. It represents the largest private group of investors, stakeholders, hotel owners and developers in the local tourism industry.
