Iconic heritage hotel in Iloilo shuts down amid pandemic

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

One of the most iconic heritage hotels in Iloilo will shut its doors until at least the hospitality industry has recovered from the impacts of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.

In a statement on Thursday, The Mansion Iloilo (formerly Sarabia Manor Hotel) announced that it will stop its operations indefinitely after the lifting of the community quarantine in Iloilo City.

“The Mansion wishes to convey to the general public that we are constrained to continue to cease our operations indefinitely after the lifting of the community quarantine of Iloilo City until such a time that the hospitality industry has recovered and the company may be able to sustain its viability,” it said in a statement.

The heritage hotel, which has 187 rooms and four signature restaurants, is considered as one of the oldest hotels in Iloilo City.

According to Happy Abenir, spokesperson of the lloilo Hotel Restaurants & Resorts Association (IHRRA), the historic hotel, which was a notable venue for family celebrations and high profile events, has been part of the Ilonggo culture.

“It is very sad to hear that they have closed their door temporarily. They have been a favorite hotel of Ilonggos. We are very proud of what the hotel has attained through the years that is why it is very sad to hear about their closure,” she told Daily Guardian in a phone interview on Sunday.

The hotel, which is one of the founding members of IHRRA and a remarkable Ilonggo brand, is just suffering from a temporary setback due to Covid-19, according to Abenir.

Abenir said she is confident that the hotel will reopen as soon as the tourism climate in the metro has fully recovered.

“I am sure it’s only temporary, siguro they are still waiting when the tourism climate is better. We understand their decision and I think they also know best with regards to how they will run their hotel. It is just a temporary setback. I am also hoping that they will also reopen in the months to come and I wish them well especially their employees,” she added.

Covid-19 has crippled the hotel and tourism industry after it paralyzed commercial flights and the movement of people due to the enforcement of community quarantine.

The national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) have tried to cushion the impact on hotels by tapping them to serve as quarantine facilities for repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

 

READY TO REOPEN

On Saturday, the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) has announced that Iloilo City including all areas in Western Visayas will slide to a more permissive Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) from June 1 to June 15, 2020.

According to Abenir, hotel members of IHRRA are now preparing to reopen by June 1.

“Some of the hotels have partnered with LGUs to accommodate OFWs but for other hotels that were not catering to OFWs, they are preparing for the opening starting on June 1,” she said.

While the capacity is still limited up to 50 percent, Abenir said it would be a good practice for hotels to be ready once air travels will resume.

“The capacity is still limited up to 50 percent, but since there is still no travel, check-ins will still be minimum. It will be a sort of practice until airlines reopen but as of now, the hotels have been preparing for this,” she added.

In the meantime, Abenir said some hotels and restaurants have shifted to food take out and deliveries.

According to Abenir, their main focus is to bring back the trust of consumers and clients especially on the safety of the establishments amid the Covid-19.

“Even if it is still limited to take out and deliveries, all of us are struggling to get back on our feet. We are also waiting for the safety of everybody, the employees as well as our guests so we are starting slow but all of us are aware that we need to bring the trust of our consumers and clients. Hotels and restaurants put in their own protocols so that they can assure their guests that it is safe,” she said.

Treñas issued executive order (EO) No. 86 on Sunday which implements the general guidelines of MGCQ in Iloilo City.

Under the EO, industries such as resorts, parks, beaches, and other leisure/tourism establishment will now be allowed to operate at a maximum operational capacity of 50 percent and a maximum venue capacity of 50 percent with strict compliance with the minimum health standards and safety measures.

Dine-in services and food retail establishments such as supermarkets, grocery stores, and food preparation establishments shall be allowed to operate at a maximum period of 12 hours provided that the seating capacity does not exceed 50 percent.

Meanwhile, hotels and other accommodation establishments shall operate practicing strict compliance with the minimum health standards and safety measures and shall comply with the issuances of the IATF, Department of Tourism (DOT), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department on Health (DOH) on the accommodation and handling of guests including repatriated OFWs.