Davao hotels, resorts undergo massive facelift for ATF 2006

DAVAO City – Hotels and resorts in this city are briskly upgrading their facilities for the massive influx of participants in the forthcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), which will be held here from Jan. 13 to 21 next year.

This early, 1,451 rooms in various first-class hotels and resorts in this city and the nearby Garden City of Samal have already been blocked off for ATF 2006 even as online registration for participation in this global event continues.

All the 14 official ATF 2006 hotels are refurbishing their facilities. The upgrading of The Marco Polo Davao’s ballroom and function rooms has recently been completed, while a major renovation at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao is expected by yearend.

The Pearl Farm Beach Resort, which will be the venue of the meetings of the ASEAN tourism ministers and the national tourism organizations, has just completed work on a new pavilion on its Malipano Island and renovated its Samal houses to provide elegant accommodations to various government delegations. Similar face-lifting is expected in the other resorts and hotels, all are eyeing a substantial share of the windfall from the ATF.

The 11 other official ATF hotels are Apo View, Grand Regal, Royal Mandaya, Paradise Island Resort, Crown Regency Residences, Grand Meng Seng, Linmarr Apartelle, Regency Inn, Casa Leticia, Lispher Inn, and Malagos Garden Resort.

Extensive preparations for the ATF are also being undertaken all over the city, including improvements in airport facilitation and reception, transport services and facilities, special (city, countryside, and island) tours, airtight security, health and safety systems, communications and protocol requirements, foreign and national media arrangements, traffic management, and various beautification projects and special events.

City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, chairman of the Davao Host Committee (DHC), is inviting everyone to come and discover this "City in Bloom."

"Our city takes pride in being recognized as one of the cleanest and greenest in the country as well as having the second best potable water in the world," Duterte states in his message to the ATF exhibitors, travel trade buyers, and all other visitors who are poised to come from various parts of the globe.

Further beautification of this exotic and enchanting city also involves volunteers from every barangay and covers all the parks, airport, roads, and street islands, including installation of streetlights all over town, according to DHC vice chairman Art Boncato.

Such efforts were hailed by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace H. Durano.

"It is in this remarkable display of cooperation and unity that we see a resurgence of a sense of community and mutual responsibility that ensure success in every undertaking."

Davao City has been named by Asiaweek Magazine as one of the most livable cities in Asia, and by the Asian Institute of Management as the Philippines’ most competitive to do business in. The city also has three of the country’s most treasured natural gems – Mount Apo, the highest peak; Philippine Eagle, the national bird and the world’s second largest eagle; and Waling-Waling orchid, the national flower.

All these and other attractions will be showcased among ASEAN’s bests during the ATF, which will have its opening ceremony at the Davao Central Bank Convention Center, closing ceremony at The Marco Polo Davao, Travel Exchange (Travex) fair at the NCCC Exhibition Centre, and a series of conferences, business meetings and other functions in the city’s first-class international hotels and resorts.

Other special events include "Friendly Games" at the Paradise Island, Mindanao Trade Expo at SM City, and Night Market at Roxas Avenue, among others.

"Indeed, we are happy to host the 2006 ASEAN Tourism Forum and we look forward to your arrival as Davao City beckons to be discovered," Duterte said.

The ATF is supported by the Philippine Airlines as head of the organizing body’s air transportation committee, TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd as travel exchange organizer, CNN as official international cable and satellite media partner, and Travel Weekly, TTR Weekly, and TTG Asia as official trade publications.