Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Soon to Rise: A Mercure Hotel at This Historic Spot in Cebu

(SPOT.ph) Cebu City in the Visayas is one of the highly urbanized cities in the Philippines, while Cebu province is the second most populated in the country. It is home to vibrant gaming and entertainment centers, shopping hubs, and populated residential areas. It's an important gateway to local tourist spots, and a significant stop for business travelers. Which is why it doesn't come as a surprise that Accor is opening the 182-room Mercure Cebu Downtown in 2024, a year before the hospitality brand is opening Sofitel Cebu City.

Artist rendering
PHOTO Courtesy of Accor

Mercure Cebu Downtown is part of the Patria de Cebu masterplan, which will feature a retail center, commercial buildings, and a central plaza. The mixed-use development, which stands on the site of the old Patria de Cebu along Cebu’s heritage trail, spans 21,000 square meters of gross floor area. 

Patria De Cebu, which was built in 1954, was originally a Catholic youth recreation center with a bowling alley and billiard tables. It was regarded as "one of the strongest structures in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building," according to the late Dr. Lindy Morrell as quoted by SunStar. It later served as a convent with a portion converted into offices of Archdiocese of Cebu; then eventually a hostel or dormitory for visiting clergy, lay people, and pilgrims. The redevelopment's design, which was approved by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, is also committed to preserving the historic edifice of the site.

The hotel, on the other hand, is set to house a restaurant, an executive floor lougne, a swimming pool, a gym, a rooftop bar, a ballroom, and meeting rooms. It's expected to sport a contemporary Filipino-Spanish design to match Cebu City's colonial history, especially since it will be in close proximity to the Basilica of Santo Niño, Magellan's Cross, and Fort San Pedro.

“The signing of Mercure Cebu Downtown demonstrates our confidence in the future of tourism for the Philippines. We know that our internationally renowned brands and extensive experience as a leading hotel operator will enable us to drive performance. We have a vast distribution system and global marketing capabilities, allowing us to generate international awareness for the stunning destinations which can be found in this archipelagic country," Garth Simmons, Chief Executive Officer of Accor in Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea, said in a statement.

[ArticleReco:{"articles":["85900","85910","85906","85916"], "widget":"Hot Stories You Might Have Missed"}]

Hey, Spotters! Check us out on Viber to join our Community and subscribe to our Chatbot.

We are now on Quento! Download the app on Google Play or App Store and enjoy more articles and videos from SPOT.ph and other Summit Media websites.


Source: Spot PH

No comments:

Post a Comment