CLARK FREEPORT—Citing the booming economy at Clark, South Korean investors on Saturday opened their 200-room hotel here.
“Clark is new and upcoming tourism hub of the country,” said Xenia Hotel officials led by its chairman, Park Jin-yong, when asked by journalists why they had invested P200 million at the new hotel along CM Recto Highway.
“The million-dollar investment in Clark has been unanimously concluded by the Xenia Hotel Corp.board of directors as one of the most strategic management decisions that the group has ever made.
The investors strongly believe in it. And we believe in its potential contribution to the country’s regional economy,” said a statement of the group.
“Clark Freeport has been strongly recognized as one of the most strategic international gateway in the country, affecting positively both local and international business and tourism”
“Business in general and tourism in particular, have been registering a consistent robust growth rates year on year and we would like to leverage on this,” it added.
Xenia officials also cited the growing passengers at the Clark International Airport (CIA), which is about five minutes away from their hotel. There are at least 3.3 million passengers at the CIA from 2012 to 2014.
Daily flights to South Korea via CIA are available.
“But we don’t just target Korean tourists, but all visitors, including Filipinos,” said Yul Duguil, consultant of Xenia Hotel Corp. (XHC).
Tourism Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico said there are “between 15,000 and 20,000” South Koreans in Pampanga, most of whom stay in Clark, Angeles City, Mabalacat City and Porac town. The XHC said its officials, managers and staff are prioritizing service and “the value of hospitality is the core of our business.”
“Xenia Hotel is your new home,” they said in the brochures of their hotel. It has at least 85 workers, most of whom are from the nearby communities.
Xenia can accommodate at least 700 guests for business meetings and conferences.
It has wine bars, coffee shop, restaurants, outdoor swimming pool, fitness gym, wellness spa and other necessary facilities.
Others who joined the ceremonial ribbon-cutting were Dangerous Drugs Board Undersecretary Edgar Galvante, Dr. Jocelyn Purla of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center, Donggwang Corp. Chairman Lee Shin-kun, Park Hye-won, Xenia Vice Chairman Kim Byung-cheol and Thelma Ocampo, manager for marketing and operations of the Clark Development Corp.