Hotels and resorts in the highly urbanized Bacolod City have formed an alliance to help strengthen Bacolod’s position as a premier meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) destination in the country.

City chief tourism operations officer Ma. Teresa Manalili said the formation of the Bacolod Hotel Alliance signifies a milestone in the city’s mission to build a more unified and dynamic tourism sector.

“By strengthening partnerships among accommodation establishments and fostering collaboration across all sectors, we are laying the groundwork for a strong MICE alliance that will position Bacolod as a top destination for business and leisure,” she said in a statement.

Manalili said uniting the hotels and resorts would strengthen the hotel and tourism industry and enhance coordination in preparation for the city’s expanding tourism initiatives, particularly in the MICE sector.

Officers of the Bacolod Hotel Alliance are Sherwin Lucas (Park Inn by Radisson), president; John Victor Go (Roy’s Hotel and Convention Center), vice president; Catherine Gonzalez (Acacia Hotel), secretary; Kim Joseph Guimba (Seda Capitol Central), treasurer; Allen Jimenez (Citadines Bacolod), Regina Guanco (Sugarland Hotel), and Teena Locsin-Javellana (L’Fisher Hotel), board members.

Data from the City Tourism Office showed there are at least 26 hotels and eight resorts in the city, and along with 48 Mabuhay accommodations, have a total of 3,859 available rooms.

Mabuhay accommodations include tourist inns, pension houses, motels, bed and breakfasts, vacation homes, hostels, guest houses, and similar establishments.

“We will convene the Mabuhay accommodations group next to foster camaraderie, collaboration, and eventually form their own alliance,” Manalili said.

She said overnight tourist arrivals in the city have steadily climbed in the past three years, recovering from the pandemic lows in 2020 and 2021.

In 2024, Bacolod recorded a 6.72 percent increase in overnight tourist arrivals, accommodating 833,345 travelers compared to only 780,916 in 2023. (PNA)