Citadines opens in the City of Smiles

ON Lacson Avenue, Bacolod City's main street, Citadines Bacolod offers guests a view of massive Mount Kanlaon in the distance, the volcano that holds dominion over Negros island, a glistening blue sliver of Guimaras Strait, and a glimpse of the busy ports of Banago and Bredco.

The property is The Ascott Limited's newest addition to the Bacolod landscape and is now the province's largest international serviced residence.

Ascott Limited is a trusted Asia-Pacific hospitality brand present in more than 40 countries. In the Philippines, Citadines is present in Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Pasig, Cebu, Iloilo, and now Bacolod, with a future opening date in Davao.

During Citadines Bacolod's opening last month, Patrick Vaysse, country general manager of The Ascott Limited Philippines, said they wanted «to provide an exceptional living experience for our guests, blending the comforts of home with the dynamism of Bacolod's cultural heritage.»

Cecille Teodoro, cluster general manager and general manager of Ascott Makati and Somerset Millennium Makati, said that the decision to venture into Bacolod was pre-meditated as «all eyes were on how the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry would perform post-pandemic.»

She cited Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2022 figures, which credited Negros Occidental as the highest contributor, with contributions amounting to 25.8 percent of the Western Visayas' gross domestic product (GDP). Bacolod contributed 13.9 percent (P132 billion), ushering in an increased economic growth of 9.8 percent.

These numbers and their optimistic projections, coupled with the city's 780,000 tourists, gave them «ample reason to venture and open a property in the City of Smiles,» she added.

Department of Tourism (DoT) Western Visayas Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said that Citadines Bacolod's entry into the city aligns with the increasing interest in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, which Bacolod is actively developing as a key tourism product. The city's strategic location and robust infrastructure make it an attractive destination for both leisure and business travelers.

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