Staycation deal at The Pen
THE PENINSULA MANILA has extended the celebration of its 45th anniversary by offering the Wish You Were Here room package. Available for P4,545 (a number reflective of its 45th anniversary), the gusts will enjoy flexible check in/check out times, access to The Pen’s fitness center and outdoor pool, and a chance to win either a complimentary upgrade or pastries from The Pen Boutique by spinning a roulette upon check-in. Stay dates are Sunday to Thursdays. For bookings and information, message PenChat at https://www.peninsula.com/en/manila/stayconnected, via Facebook Messenger and https://bit.ly/PenChatFBMNL , via WhatsApp at https://bit.ly/PeninsulaOnlineWhatsApp , or text 0917-557-8014.
Road trips to nearby hotels, resorts local tourists’ top choice
THE PHILIPPINE tourism industry is looking to make a comeback, judging by the recent September Online Sale (SOS), conducted by the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines, which sold over 5,000 travel vouchers in the span of one month. The pandemic-borne online travel deals fair saw voucher sales increase by 194% and gross sales likewise shoot up by almost 101%, from last year’s P14.5 million to this year’s P29.23 million. These figures also demonstrate Filipinos’ continued support for local travel and tourism, as the industry starts to get back on its feet, says Benjie Martinez, HSMA president. The majority of buyers were from Quezon City, Manila, and Cebu. In Luzon, most of these travelers are planning to go on short road trips, with hotels and resorts from the Batangas, Cavite, Tagaytay, and Laguna cluster selling the highest number of vouchers at 32%; Boracay/Iloilo, 23%; Manila/Pasay/Parañaque, 14%; Clark/Bataan/Ilocos/Banaue, 12%; Cebu/Bohol, 9%; Palawan/Davao, 5%; Makati/BGC/Alabang, 3%; and Ortigas/Pasig/Quezon City, 2%. Eighty hotels and resorts across the country participated in this year’s SOS and gave away deals and discounts for as much as 70% off. According to Martinez, five of the Top 20 bestselling properties are located in Boracay.