ANTICIPATING the growth of the MICE market or Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Expositions in Cebu, SM’s hotel property in Cebu Radisson Blu is differentiating its meetings packages and rolling out a P3.5 million upgrade of its Feria restaurant.
With many events happening in Cebu, offering the right venue is not the only thing that will matter but the quality of food service as well, said Ann Olalo, Radisson Blu director for marketing and communications .
“That is why we have started to offer our Experience Meetings program that centers on innovations basically on three factors – brain food, the Brain Box and free wi-fi,” Olalo said.
Brain food basically means serving more of the food that stimulates the mind.
“We work closely with our nutritionists for the food that we will offer. Basically sodium content should not go beyond ten percent. We serve fish, fruits, vegetables and nuts,” said Olalo.
The Brain Box is a specially designed room which inspires creativity and free flowing ideas.
Colorful bean bags and pens, themed music, even Lego play sets in the room combine with corporate musts like a projector screen to stimulate a more productive meeting.
The hotel started offering Experience Meetings early July and has since catered to five companies which all gave positive feedback.
The package is for a group of at most 30 people.
Radisson Blu is also rolling out a new layout of its restaurant Feria to include an Indian station in the buffet spread.
For the first half of 2014, said Olalo, the hotel has registered a good performance with a 70 percent occupancy rate.
“This is fueled by the fast growing MICE market. That is why we really are doing more to cater better to this market,” she said.