Shangri-la Mactan now ready for the 12th ASEAN Summit
CEBU CITY--The 547-room Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort and Spa has undertaken a "multi-million dollar" renovation in preparation for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Summit in December.
Renovation of the resort's 188-room Ocean wing has just been completed, a statement said.
The Ocean wing faces Paradise Island, Olango Island, the province's famous bird sanctuary, and the Hilutongan Channel Marine Sanctuary.
Relatively, the resort management dismissed reports that it is "under pressure" because of the ASEAN Summit.
"Contrary to reports that we are pressured because the resort is a major venue for the ASEAN Summit, we, at the resort, are in fact anticipating it. We're not stressed, we're excited," Shangri-la's Mactan Island Resort director of communications Sharon Samarista said.
Samarista said Shangri-la has been busy with its preparations for the summit including the resort's façade, facilities, food and beverage, security personnel and staff.
"It's important that, as a private sector, we are doing all we can to ensure that the summit will be a success. Because a good outcome of the summit will not only be beneficial for Cebu but for the entire country," she said.
Samarista also said the renovation of the wing was originally part of a three-year program but "when the venue for the summit was confirmed to be in Cebu, the renovation immediately pushed through."
Apart from the renovation, the hotel will soon unveil The Marquee, a fully air-conditioned giant tent with a ceiling height of 11.5 meters and can accommodate close to 1,000 guests.
Samarista said management has also upgraded its telecommunication facilities to include Wi-fi (wireless fidelity) connection coverage in most of the areas of the resort.
"With the help of the (ASEAN) national organizing committee, most of the equipment in the rooms where business meetings will be held have high-end technology," she said.
She added that the resort has prepared a special menu for the ASEAN delegates that will include, among others, halal food.
Earlier, Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 crops division chief Jorge Paculba said that since most summit delegates will come from Muslim countries, their diet will include mostly vegetables and fruits.
Samarista also assured that the hotel's 800 employees are "well versed" when it comes to entertaining both foreign and local delegates adding that a support team from Shangri-la headquarters abroad will arrive by the end of the month to augment local staff for the summit.
Shangri-la will also maintain the same number of security personnel but the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) will take charge during the four-day summit.
Shangri-la's Mactan Island Resort and Spa will host the opening ceremonies of the summit on Dec. 11-14. (PNA)