MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) reminded all hotels in areas under general community quarantine to secure a certificate to operate as staycation hotels first before accepting guests checking in for leisure.
This came after City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City was flagged on Tuesday for accepting overnight guests when it is being used as a quarantine facility.
"The Department of Tourism reiterates that there are only fifteen accredited accommodation establishments (AEs) in Metro Manila that operate as staycation hotels as of 05 January 2021," it said Tuesday.
These staycation hotels are the following:
--Grand Hyatt Hotel
--Makati Shangri-La Hotel
--Okada Manila Hotel
--Shangri-La at the Fort
--Nobu Hotel
--Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila
--EDSA Shangri-La Manila
--Solaire Resort, Hyatt Regency City of Dreams
--Nuwa Hotel City of Dreams
--The Peninsula Manila
--Aruga by Rockwell
--Sheraton Manila Hotel
--Hilton Manila, and;
--Hotel Okura Manila.
Other AEs not on the list are either operating as quarantine hotels, which are banned from accepting guests for leisure or may not be in operation at this time.
“We would like to correct the misperception that all four- or five-star rated accommodation establishments (AEs) can operate as staycation hotels. For such hotel to accept guests for leisure purposes, it has to apply for a Certificate of Authority to Operate as Staycation (CAOS) hotel," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said. "With the authority is the responsibility to strictly adhere to the minimum health and safety guidelines. One has to pass the rigid inspection to ascertain that measures and systems are put in place and diligently practiced on a daily basis.”
She added that concerned AEs cannot concurrently operate as a quarantine facility.
Meanwhile, she also assured that the DOT is on "heightened alert" and will have zero tolerance for even the slightest violation of health protocols as new Covid variant spread outside the region.
“Lives are on the line and our economic recovery depends on everybody being responsible. Let us all perform our duties well. Each has an important role to play in managing this crisis," she said.
It did not drop any names, but the DOT warned hotels and tour operators that continue to post invitations or make false, deceptive, and misleading claims or statements to solicit business from clients.
It said these non-staycation enterprises have been using social media to carry their ads.
For AEs and new enterprises that are interested to apply for accreditation, the DOT’s online accreditation system can be accessed through Accreditation Portal (https://accreditation.tourism.gov.ph/).
Meanwhile, the public is advised to check the status of the establishment before booking. The AEs for quarantine purposes are found in this link: FACILITIES INSPECTED AS OF December 21, 2020 | Bureau of Quarantine (http://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/facilities-inspected-as-of-december-21-2020/). (PNA)
