HOTEL Elizabeth in Cebu
As the number of tourists arriving in our country increases, so too does the number of hotels. The most exciting growth seems to be in hotel properties in the mid-tier, places where tourists on a budget and price-conscious businessmen can stay.
One company that is rapidly expanding in this space is the Fersal Group, which recently opened its seventh Fersal Hotel, in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The owners’ vision is truly homegrown, “Wherever you go, we are there as the standard of Filipino hospitality.”
ARTURO Yan, managing director, delivering keynote address
Newest addition
Fersal Hotel Puerto Princesa, the newest addition to the group, provides a pleasant environment with a well-rounded set of amenities designed to cater to all types—from casual vacationers to on-the-go executives. Hotel guests can also book tour packages around the island. The hotel is just across the airport, making it very accessible to guests.
Fersal’s other six hotels are scattered around the metropolis—in Manila, Makati and Quezon City. Online bookings can be made at www.fersalhotel.com.
MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED lobby of Hotel Elizabeth, Cebu
Botique hotel brand
Like many SMEs in the country, the Fersal group is headed by a brilliant lady, Beth Fernando. Beth has also established a boutique hotel brand, Hotel Elizabeth, which has two location—one amid the fresh pines of Baguio City and another in the thriving metro Cebu near the Ayala business district. I first met Beth in 2005 when my interior design firm, Trezza Group, did the Mediterranean-inspired interiors for the Baguio property.
GLACIER North Refrigeration Services Building in Quezon City
Soon opening in Bonifacio Global City is Hotel Elizabeth, which will no doubt be the flagship of the Fersal Group.
Cold storage services
Like many entrepreneurs, Beth does not stay in just one industry. Fersal recently diversified into cold storage services with the opening of Glacier North Refrigeration Services. This is a cold storage facility that can store millions of kilos of meat, and is engineered to be energy sensitive and environment friendly.
BETH and Jean Fernando with close friends
This new service hopes to reinforce the cold-chain link between agricultural producers, and the wholesale and retail outlets in North Metro Manila. Glacier North’s customers will reduce their logistics costs and improve access to raw and processed food items.
THE BLESSING rite at the middle of the racking system with Beth Fernando and Archie Yan
Arturo Yan, president of Glacier North, told me that their plant will cut the unnecessary cost on transportation and seasonality of meat, poultry, fish, seafood and processed food that require controlled temperature. Glacier North also has a warehousing management system to provide customers all the info they need on their inventories and logistics.
Glacier North is within five kilometers of major supermarkets like Puregold, SM, Walter Mart, Shopwise, Hi Top and Robinsons stores in north Quezon City. It sounds like a great investment, all built to service the growing needs of businesses in our country. It makes me wonder what industry Beth and her team will think of getting into next.
Follow @tessavaldes on Twitter or visit www.tessaprietovaldes.com.