2 hotel firms’ merger to benefit industry

THE recent merger of two big international hotel companies is expected to improve the hospitality industry, including that of Cebu.

Cleofe Albiso, Cebu City Marriott Hotel director of sales and marketing, on Wednesday was referring to the merger of the Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Albiso said that the merger was only the beginning and that they were expecting to combine the best practices of the two companies in their operations.
“This will level up the competition because you are putting two big names together, and when competition is really tough, people need to keep up,” she said in press briefing last Wednesday.

Last Sept. 23, Marriott International sealed its $13-billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, bringing together its Marriott, Courtyard and Ritz Carlton brands with Starwood’s Sheraton, Westin, W and St. Regis properties.

This brings the number of hotel brands under the Marriott umbrella to 30, making it the largest hotel chain in the world, operating 5,700 properties and 1.1 million rooms in 110 countries.

“What are the advantages to the guests? The more competitive we are in the hotel industry, the better service and the more brands will show what they have as a key differentiator,” said Albiso.

Albiso revealed that unlike other industries where competition is tough and players don’t see eye to eye, those in the hotel industry work hand in hand and help each other.

“It might not be common knowledge to everybody, but we sell Cebu as one. When we are in need of extra rooms, we do spillover to other hotels and call for special rates. We really have friendly competition,” she said.