Condotel helps spur local tourism in Iloilo

Iloilo’s coast is blessed with beautiful beaches and off-shore islands teeming with scenic seascapes and marine life, making it one of the top destinations for local and foreign tourists.
Following an increase in tourist arrivals in 2014, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog expressed optimism that the tourism industry in this city will soon become more formidable in the coming years.
Mayor Mabilog cited a report from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Western Visayas, which stated that the city registered 676,287 visitor arrivals for 2014. Iloilo is on its way towards achieving the DOT’s goal of attracting 4.6 million tourists to the region in 2016, especially after the National Tourism Development Plan has identified it as a culture-based Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibition (MICE) destination.
Sta. Lucia Land, Inc., one of the country’s leading real estate developers with over 40 years of experience, is one of those who believe that such vision is attainable; that is why it has decided to go to Iloilo and put up quality developments in the area.
One of these developments is Sotogrande Iloilo, the first condotel development which will soon rise inside Green Meadows, a prime residential lake community in Iloilo.
Sotogrande Iloilo is expected to become a prime residential and leisure landmark in the province that offers unique amenities such as the Lake Victoria, a five-hectare man-made lake that is ideal for boating.
During the launch last March. From left: Mike Hechanova (Lead Broker), John Eric Escanillas (VP for National Sales and Marketing of Sta. Lucia Marketing), Hon. Michael Gorriceta (Mayor of Pavia), Liezel Tuason-Magpoc (CEO and EVP of Sta. Lucia Marketing), Ms. Bea Alonzo (brand ambassador of Sta. Lucia), Hon. Arcadio Gorriceta (2nd District Representative), Ludovico Alfaro (Barangay Chairman of Pavia), Raymund Gumban (Regional Chairman of Pavia), and Joey Escalante (Regional Operations Manager of Sta. Lucia Realty).
During the launch last March. From left: Mike Hechanova (Lead Broker), John Eric Escanillas (VP for National Sales and Marketing of Sta. Lucia Marketing), Hon. Michael Gorriceta (Mayor of Pavia), Liezel Tuason-Magpoc (CEO and EVP of Sta. Lucia Marketing), Ms. Bea Alonzo (brand ambassador of Sta. Lucia), Hon. Arcadio Gorriceta (2nd District Representative), Ludovico Alfaro (Barangay Chairman of Pavia), Raymund Gumban (Regional Chairman of Pavia), and Joey Escalante (Regional Operations Manager of Sta. Lucia Realty).
There is also the Paradise Island located in the middle of the lake, which offers a venue for recreation with its picnic groves and cabañas set amid lush green surroundings.
With continuous developments rising in the central part of Iloilo, the recent launch of Sta. Lucia’s Sotogrande Iloilo, a six-storey, condotel development with a total of 149 units, is seen to provide the needed impetus for the city’s continuing growth as a tourism hub.
Ideal investment
Those who wish to take advantage of the impending tourism boom in the province will surely find Sotogrande an ideal real estate venture as it offers an opportunity for Filipinos to become a part of the fast-growing condotel industry.
Sotogrande Iloilo does not only offer a celebration of the tourist hub’s charm – buying any of its units also means getting a piece of the good life as owners stand to earn passive income through quarterly dividends.
The Sta. Lucia Hotel Management Group, which is in charge of leasing, marketing and maintenance, will lease back and operate the unit for 15 years, making the investment hassle-free while generating income.
Unit owners can also enjoy complimentary 30 hotel room nights at Sotogrande hotel per year with the option to use three hotel room nights at other Sta. Lucia hotels nationwide.
Once completed, the condotel shall offer studio-type, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units that are spacious and comes with hotel perks such as a full-service concierge and housekeeping team ready to serve and attend to guests’ needs.
Guests and visitors will also be given the opportunity to enjoy the facilities of Green Meadows Country Club, including the covered basketball, tennis and badminton courts, bowling center, swimming pool, fitness gym, and sauna.
Higher occupancy rates can be expected at Sotogrande Iloilo because of its proximity to the new airport, which is just 13 kilometers away or 15 minute drive via the National Highway.
Combined with luxe accommodation, competitive pricing and good location, it is expected to draw more property investors to Iloilo as condotels usually offer better returns than a pure residential condominium.