PHOA Executive Director Benito Bengzon
PHOA, Bengzon hail lifting of restrictions on staycations
THE Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) yesterday welcomed the lifting of restrictions on staycations following the downgrading of COVID alert level to 3 beginning on Saturday (October 16), a move that is expected to help the industry gradually recover from its losses during the lockdown.
In a statement, the PHOA said “we are optimistic that the relaxed alert level in the National Capital Region will result in greater demand among hotel guests and boost the establishments’ revenues in the last quarter of 2021,” said PHOA Executive Director Benito Bengzon.
The hotel owners’ group hailed the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases’ (IATF), saying this will help the accommodation industry recover the revenues that were lost during the imposition of hard lockdowns due to the surge of Delta coronavirus variant in August.
“On behalf of all PHOA members, we commit our support to the government’s efforts for the safe and steady restart of the tourism industry,” Bengzon said.
He added “PHOA hopes that the government will continue implementing measures that will balance the health and economy in the country. This will pave the way for a sustained economic recovery, not only in the hotel industry, but also in other business sectors.”
PHOA is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of owners of the country’s major accommodation providers — hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments. It endeavors to be the single and dominant voice representing the private business sector in the accommodation industry, especially in matters of policies, laws, rules, and regulations, and other dealings with the government.
