In what is seen as a step closer to the higher-end market, the Benedicto-owned Enrison Land, Inc. (ELI) was poised to spend close to P100 million to upgrade its resort property in Punta Engaño on Mactan Island.
Grand Benedicto, president of Enrison Holdings, Inc., the holding company of ELI, said that they want the Be Resort Mactan to be “closer” to what the Be Grand Resort Bohol on Panglao Island is today.
Benedicto said that when they opened the bigger and grander Be Grand Resort Bohol, they realized that the Mactan resort needed a renovation to be “closer” to the new property in terms of the quality of its facilities.
Be Grand Resort Bohol opened its doors to the public in 2015, targeting affluent travelers from all over the world.
On the other hand, the three-star Be Resort Mactan, which started operating eight years ago, was branded as a boutique property that projected a “no frills” image.
“We will still retain the image that we projected, like we are a designer hotel. We are keeping that image,” Benedicto said.
Be Resort Mactan was the Benedicto Group’s first venture into the hospitality industry, on top of its cement factory, school and exports businesses, among others.
The intensive facelift began in the third week of November last year and was expected to be completed before this year ends, said Benedicto.
In addition to remodeled guestrooms, other enhancements include an all day, air-conditioned beach bar and restaurant, increased meeting and function rooms, and the construction of a porte-cochère.
He said it was difficult to qualify whether the upgrade will also increase their star rating from three to four, but that the development will encompass everything.
“If our rooms used to have 20-inch TVs, it will have 40-inch TVs. We’ll have the rooms carpeted, change the air-conditioning units. Hallways will be carpeted as well,” he explained.
Benedicto said 70 to 80 percent of the resort’s 163 rooms have been renovated so far.
He said that they have to stop work on the property as the hosting of the crowd-drawing international triathlon event Ironman in August draws closer, but after that, they will proceed with the renovation of the public areas.
The Cebuano hotelier said there is tough competition in that part of Mactan, but since the market is stable, everybody has their own piece of the pie.
“The market is pretty strong,” he said, adding that foreign tourists still dominate that area.
Ronalaine Sato, Be Resorts area communications manager, said Be Mactan may not be a five-star property, but they want to make sure they give the best to their guests.
“We want to be at par with what other five-star properties are delivering,” she said.