Author Archives: Cebu Network

Gran Prix Econotel: business hotel in the heart of Cebu City

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Cebu Network| 3 Comments

Located a few meters from the mid-town Cebu landmark Fuente Osmena rotunda, Gran Prix Econotel Cebu is a modern hotel that combines high quality service with value for money.

The hotel, which opened in August 2008, is starting to become a favorite second home for business travelers and local and foreign tourists.

Gran Prix is located in the Coast Pacific Business Center at the corner of F. Ramos St. and Gen. Maxilom Ave. in Cebu City. The location is just steps away from prime shopping and nightlife destinations as well as hospitals and business spots.

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Cebu to host international forum on tourism

Posted on February 6, 2008 by Cebu Network| 1 Comment

After a successful staging of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Cebu will now host another international gathering: the United Nations-World Tourism Organization’s (UN-WTO) 6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians.

The forum on Oct. 22 to 25 is expected to gather 400 delegates from 156 countries. Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano told reporters “once again, Cebu will be the center of the world stage. It is an opportunity for Cebu to look forward to and grow, and an effective way for Cebuanos to look inward and present its competitiveness and strength as a people to the rest of the world.”

Durano said tourism spots in Cebu, Bohol as well as destinations in Boracay, Palawan, Manila and Cagayan de Oro will be showcased as part of a post-conference tour of tourism hot spots.

“After the event, they will be around Cebu not as delegates but as tourists,” Durano told reporters.

The three-day conference will be held at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa, which hosted ASEAN heads of states during last year’s 12th ASEAN Summit.

Officials said the conference will not only be attended by parliamentarians from 100 countries but also local officials and heads of committees.

Durano said the conference is being held in Cebu because it is a resort destination, has wide international air service connectivity, and meets a certain standard in international conference facilities.

He said the conference will indirectly promote Cebu and Bohol as the premier tourism destination in the Philippines.

DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr. said that with the international media mileage that Cebu and Bohol will be getting, both provinces are “guaranteed to be in the world map as a destination for leisure, and international meetings, conventions, incentives, and exhibitions.”

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Cebu City among top Asian cities of the future

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Cebu Network| 5 Comments

Cebu City ranked eighth in an Asia-wide survey for the Asian Cities of the Future by the Finance Direct Investment (fDi) magazine of the Financial Times Group.

Cebu City also placed 2nd in development and promotion, next to Singapore; 4th in the list of 10 most cost-effective cities, and 7th in the best quality of life category.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña, according to this Sun.Star Cebu report, welcomed the survey result but said the whole Philippines should improve so that other cities can fare better in the ranking. He said that if other areas of the country are left out in development, Cebu will be burdened by the influx of people.

Osmeña said Cebu “cannot be number one if the whole Philippines doesn’t improve.”

The survey on “Asian Cities of the Future,” according to the Sun.Star Cebu report, was conducted by Foreign Direct Investment magazine published by the Financial Times (FT) group in the United Kingdom.

The report said 60 criteria—from cost effectiveness to human resources and infrastructure—were used by the magazine in evaluating more than 200 big and small cities all over Asia. The judges of the survey include independent location consultants, corporate professionals and other inward investment experts.

Cebu Investment Promotions Center (CIPC) Managing Director Joel Mari Yu told Sun.Star Cebu that the city’s ranking is a recognition of what the private sector and the government have done to improve the city.

Yu, however, said the city would have fared better if basic infrastructure such as roads, water and power supply were improved.

“Infrastructure is our weakest point. It should be the focus of our programs in improving business environment. Water and power supply should be the main focus and it should be privatized to ensure stability of supply. The roads should be improved to address congestion in the streets,” Yu said.

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Company planning to open upscale resort in Malapascua Island

Posted on January 10, 2008 by Cebu Network| 1 Comment

A company is studying the possibility of opening a high-end resort in Malapascua Island, a white-sand beach destination in northern Cebu.

Martin Yeung, MSY Holdings Corp. (MSYHC) chief operating officer, said their company is considering opening a resort with villas built on the seas, “just like in the Maldives,” Sun.Star Cebu reported.

Yeung told reporters they are planning to build bungalow villas at a seaside property in Malapascua Island.

He said the bungalows’ floors will be made of glass so that occupants will be able to view the sea from inside the villas. He said that for the project, the company wants to “focus on relaxation” and incorporate scuba diving in the experience.

Yeung said they are planning to build about 30 villas in the property. He said he hopes to start the first phase of the project by the second quarter of this year.

Yeung, however, said this plan is only second priority for the company. It is busy finishing Kandaya, MSYHC’s first resort project, also in northern Cebu. It is being built on a 12-hectare property owned by the Yeungs. The boutique hotel, Yeung said, will have five- or even six-star amenities.

Kandaya began construction more than a year ago and is estimated to cost P500 million. It is now 70 percent to 80 percent complete, Yeung told reporters.

Yeung said they are talking with local government officials on the possibility of building an air strip near the place to fly in tourists.

Yeung said the booming tourism industry in Cebu spurred his family into entering the resort business. He said there is huge growth potential in tourism in northern Cebu.

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Elicon House: Affordable pension house in the heart of Cebu City

Posted on August 31, 2007 by Cebu Network| 21 Comments

On top of the list of places to stay of many regular Cebu City visitors is Elicon House, a pension house located in the heart of the mid-town area.

Elicon House is located on P. del Rosario St., just a few meters away from the University of San Carlos and the Sto. Rosario Parish. The pension house is already a fixture in Cebu City, having been established in 1972. It’s a favorite of frequent Cebu visitors and backpackers.

elicon house cebu city ELICON HOUSE. The affordable pension house is located at the heart of mid-town Cebu City. It is a favorite among backpackers and frequent Cebu City visitors. Click to enlarge photo.

When a scheduled nine-hour brownout in Lapu-Lapu City threatened to spoil my family’s Saturday night, we decided to stay in a Cebu City pension house for the weekend. Elicon House was the first name that came to our mind. It’s an affordable pension house that provides great service, clean rooms, and a secured stay for visitors.

We took the Metro Double room, which costs just P1,120. The room has two beds and each bed has a retractable cot under it in case you’d need more sleeping space.

Elicon House has 50 guest rooms and underwent an extensive renovation in 2006.

Its rooms and toilets are clean. It doesn’t have a bathtub, though. All rooms are air-conditioned and come with cable TVs.

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