Domestic biz travel fuels SM Hotels growth

SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), the hospitality arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime), is expanding its Calabarzon portfolio beyond its leisure-focused properties by developing more business-oriented hotels in the provinces.

- By JAMES A. LOYOLA

SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles said in an earlier SM Prime briefing that they will be developing more hotels under the Park Inn by Radisson brand and have allotted P1.5 billion for its Sta. Rosa branch in Laguna province. One more in Cebu is already under construction.

“We see Park Inn Sta. Rosa to strengthen our Calabarzon portfolio by expanding beyond our leisure-focused properties such as the Taal Vista and Pico Sands Hotel,” she said.

Calabarzon comprises the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

Angeles explained that, “As you know, domestic tourism is our main market and we'd like to capitalize on this. Park Inn is designed obviously to cater to business travelers and MICE [meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions] guests and families in a fast-growing urban corridor...