Movenpick Resort & Spa (241 guestrooms) opened in April (ex-Hilton) and upgrades are underway, including replacing its distinctive pink exterior with a more neutral tone. The Seas restaurant was relaunched in mid-July and will now be open for lunch and dinner, as well as corporate events. The space comfortably seats 150 indoors, 30 on its terraces and 20 in its private Ocean Room, which can also be set up for executive meetings. The 360-degree ocean view at Manny O’s makes it a popular venue for welcome cocktails for up to 120. Gala events can also be held in the ballroom (300), private beach (350) and garden (700). Full-day meeting packages start at US$58 per person including restaurant lunch. GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever and Mary K have recently held events here.
Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa (537) makes the most of its 13-hectare site, with motorised and non-motorised water sports, an impressive Chi Spa and plenty of function facilities. A full renovation of its Shangri-La Wing guestrooms began in early July. There are 82 rooms under renovation until October, with 200 expected to be completed by early 2012. Guestrooms will receive a complete makeover as well as new technology such as flatscreen televisions. The hotel will also launch new teambuilding packages in August, led by its sports and recreation staff.
City hotels
Marco Polo Plaza (329) offers a grand ballroom seating 460 for banquets and 12 additional function rooms. Its Grand Balcony can accommodate 1,500 for receptions overlooking Cebu City. Full-day meeting packages are US$59 per person for groups booking a minimum of 20 room nights.
Radisson Blu Hotel (400) opened last September beside the SM City Cebu Mall. Its hi-tech guestrooms come equipped with flatscreen televisions, iPod docking stations and complimentary WiFi. Function facilities include a main ballroom seating 1,200 people theatre style, junior ballroom seating 650 as well as 10 meeting rooms surrounding a central Meeting Plaza. The highlight is the San Martin, meeting room which includes a long balcony overlooking the garden and lagoon pool. Events can also be held in the Event Plaza garden.
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino (561) has a 2,000 sqm ballroom that comes well-equipped for business events. Also on offer are 10 F&B outlets with several on “Restaurant Row” presenting a great opportunity for on-site dining.
Cebu international Convention Centre (CICC) is also undergoing renovations. An expansion of its Plenary Hall began in mid-July and it will take its seating capacity from 2,200 to 3,000 people. The governor has also announced plans for an on-site hotel. The Philippine MICE Conference 2011 (PhilMICE) on August 3-4 was held here. The conference comprised education, networking and business appointments across several Cebu venues, including a special dance performance by local prison inmates – popularised by a viral video in 2010.
Off-site activities
The resorts offer a range of water sports and group activities, city tours and island hopping by boat. Popular city sights include Fort San Pedro, Santo Nino Church and several dormant volcanoes and of course, SM City Cebu Mall for souvenirs. Teambuilding activities can be organised on the beach, in the jungle or around the city.
Getting there
Daily flights operate between Cebu and Hong Kong or Singapore with Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Silk Air. There are also several connecting flights throughout the day from Manila.