INTERNATIONAL hospitality chain Accor will be bringing back its Mercure brand to the Philippines, with the opening of the 182-room Mercure Cebu Downtown in 2024.
In a news statement, Accor said it just sealed its deal with Cebu Landmasters Inc., a leading real property developer in Visayas and Mindanao, which is also its partner in Sofitel Cebu City, set to open in 2025.
“The signing of Mercure Cebu Downtown demonstrates our confidence in the future of tourism for the Philippines. We know that our internationally renowned brands and extensive experience as a leading hotel operator will enable us to drive performance. We have a vast distribution system and global marketing capabilities, allowing us to generate international awareness for the stunning destinations which can be found in this archipelagic country,” said Garth Simmons, Accor Chief Executive Officer for Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea.
He added, “We are entering into an exciting stage of development with Accor now boasting a pipeline of 18 hotels which will debut in the Philippines over the next five years. Authenticity and curiosity are central values of the Mercure brand; it is this attention to providing a localized experience that has made this portfolio of hotels so successful. We look forward to crafting an authentic personality for Mercure Cebu Downtown and welcoming guests to come and enjoy all the hidden secrets around Cebu.”
Mercure Cebu Downtown will be rising in the historic part of the city, and form an integral part of the Patria de Cebu masterplan, which features an integrated shopping center, offices and a beautiful central plaza. The hotel will offer a restaurant, an executive floor lounge, swimming pool, gym and a rooftop bar along with extensive events facilities including a ballroom, meeting rooms and business center.
For his part, Cebu Landmasters CEO Joe Soberano III, said, “We are looking forward to an exciting phase of development in Cebu with the signing of Mercure Cebu Downtown with Accor, which joins the recently signed Sofitel Cebu City we announced in February this year. With Mercure, we found the right brand that incorporates local inspiration and design preserving the strong cultural heritage of Patria de Cebu. We remain confident in the longevity of the tourism industry in the Philippines and its future success as the world returns to travel following this challenging period.”
In a separate email, Nontawan Laohakiat, Accor Communications Executive for Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia, and the Maldives told the BusinessMirror, “Mercure is a midscale brand that combines the strength of an international network with genuine and local hospitality experiences. By expanding our presence in the midscale segment, we certainly want to offer more accessible hospitality offerings to Filipinos.”
She added, “At present, we are operating six hotels in the premium and luxury space so we would really love to introduce some of our renowned economy and midscale brands to the Philippines. Mercure team members are known for their passion, enthusiasm and warmth, sharing their knowledge of the local scene, providing insider tips and entertaining guests with tales of history and local folklore. We think this is a great fit for the Philippines and we can’t wait to bring the hotel to life.”
Accor used to operate a Mercure in the Ortigas business district, which has since been taken over by another hospitality group.
Mercure Cebu Downtown seeks to act as a “doorway” to the so-called Queen City of the South, celebrating the rich culture and heritage of the area through its Filipino-Spanish design. Because of its central location, guests will have easy access to the city’a famous historical and cultural landmarks such as The Metropolitan Cathedral, Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Immaculate Conception and the Basilica of Santo Niño.
Mercure Cebu Downtown will join a collection of over 870 Mercure addresses globally across 61 countries. Accor said it was bringing other internationally renowned hospitality brands for the first time in the country, such as Banyan Tree, Angsana, MGallery, Swissôtel, and ibis Styles. (See, “Accor tapping domestic travelers for initial PHL recovery plan,” in the BusinessMirror, May 4, 2020.)