BEST Western International is developing a hotel in the heart of Cebu City that will begin welcoming guests in 2015, in partnership with the Gothong family.
Tentatively named Best Western Times Square, it is the second property for the Gothong family, which branched out from shipping to hospitality with the soft opening of the 58-key Best Western Sand Bar Resort in Cordova in Mactan, Cebu early this year.
According to Chris Gothong, general manager of the Best Western Sand Bar Resort, the hotel will be located near the city’s Osmena Boulevard and will have 200 rooms, although plans are still being finalised.
Gothong will also helm the new hotel. It marks the third Best Western branded hotel in Cebu after the Best Western Sand Bar Resort and Best Western Plus Lex Cebu.
Emphasising Cebu’s rosy prospects for business and leisure tourism, Gothong also disclosed that Best Western Sand Bar Resort is moving up its expansion plans. Although expansion was originally scheduled to start two years after opening, work will begin in 18 months instead for an additional 160 to 200 rooms, two more swimming pools and other facilities.
Gothong said the resort has performed “beyond expectations” within a short period of several months, even though it has no grand opening yet.
The hotel’s spa, gym, eight family rooms and MICE facilities are still under construction.
