Roxaco-Vanguard upbeat on budget-hotel sector

THE country’s budget-hotel sector is expected to prosper in the following years as more millennials travel, according to developer Roxaco-Vanguard Hotel Corp. (RVHC), which partly owns the expansion of the Go Hotels brand in the Philippines.

“As the global tourism landscape continues to evolve, so will the hotel industry. The rising number of millennial travelers, who only need basic amenities, has opened the doors for more budget hotels,” RVHC Assistant Vice President Julio Jude D. Montinola said.

The global travel industry is experiencing a shift as more millennials travel. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the number of youth travelers is expected to hit 320 million annually by 2020.

“The millennial generation is growing up in a technologically dependent world where traveling is made so easy with the emergence of online booking apps for hotels and airlines, as well as tourist-related apps like language guides and navigation maps,” Montinola said.

He added that experience is a huge factor in millennial travel, “as this generation is more focused on authentic local experiences rather than extra amenities and services.”

“This is evident in their social-media pages, where they mostly post about their experiences with the local places, people and their culture.”

RVHC, a joint venture between Roxaco Land Corp. and Singapore-based Vanguard Hotels Pte. Ltd., has already built five Go Hotels within the Philippines. The company aims to have a total of 20 branches in the next 10 years.

According to the company, only a few key items that travelers look for in a hotel room including a clean and comfortable bed, strong water supply, a reliable Wi-Fi connection, and a centrally-located and secure hotel that provides easy access to public transportation and areas of interests.

The company has built its hotels in strategic areas, including in Cubao, Quezon City, which is situated just a stone’s throw away from the Araneta Center.

“We focus on providing the basic necessities and keeping them just a stone’s throw away from the nearest must-visit locales, where visitors can find attractions at every corner,” Montinola said. “Together with our affordable accommodations, they can enjoy a delightful experience that’s just one train ride or bus away.”