GenSan News Online Mag

The hotel industry bandwagon in General Santos City has really gone full steam ahead with the opening of a number of new hotels and the ongoing construction of a few more.

Almost a year ago, a boutique hotel named MLoft Hotel was inaugurated at a prime location along Salvani Street (or Block Eight), a major road artery running from Leon Llido street up to Mabuhay Road in Barangay City Heights.

MLoft Hotel which has only 12 rooms for now, promises a luxurious and intimate stay for all its guests.  Checking it a couple of times made us realize that in due course, it will become known as GenSan’s premiere boutique hotel!

Here then are our 13 reasons why guests should stay at M Loft Hotel:

1. Each of the 12 guest rooms has urban-inspired modern designs that conjure up images of the words “class” and “elegance”.  
2. Their ultra-comfortable beds and lush imported hotel-quality beddings can easily lull one to slumberland.  
3. The spacious spa-inspired bathrooms of MLoft Hotel are adorned with high quality toilet fittings including rain forest shower heads.
4. For their personal use, the guests are gifted with complimentary eco-friendly imported toiletries courtesy of Botanicals. 
5. A flat-screen cable-ready wide TV set may be enjoyed in each guest room in this GenSan hotel
6. So as to connect to the internet world,  MLoft Hotel’s guests can access the complimentary wi-fi in the privacy of their rooms.
7. 24-hour personalized service is available from their friendly and well-trained good-looking staff who can be reached through a phone in every room.  
8. The  Coffee Shop offers a relaxing way to spend time while enjoying through the numerous imported magazines available for guests.  A self-served kiosk, a coffee and mini-alcohol bar will make them want to lounge longer in the chic sofa. 
9. Ample parking is available for 20 or more cars in a secured car lot.
10. Round-the-clock security is provided along with CCTV cameras.
11. The affordability of their room rates is another reason.  The cheapest room is priced at only P1,200 with complimentary breakfast.
12. For the boys, MLoft’s Men’s Boutique beside the hotel’s coffee shop which sells imported and fashionable items and must haves.  MLoft Men’s Boutique is a small-specialty men’s store that carries designer clothing and accessories including sunglasses, leather wallets, bags, watches, shirts, colognes, belts, neckties, etc. If you want truly unique and upscale Men’s fashion wear and yet prices that are not overwhelming, check it out.
13. And lastly, right now, MLoft Hotel is offering a promo for its clients.  Check it out below…

And so with these reasons, what more can you ask for from this chic GenSan hotel?

For more info, please check out M Loft’s official website at www.mlofthotel.com or Like their Facebook Page by CLICKING HERE.  You may also contact them by calling telephone #s (083) 554-3833 or emailing them at infodesk@mlofthotel.com

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Ever since eight-time World Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao started his string of major wins in the field of professional boxing, he has already poured in a lot of money in major business investments in his original hometown, General Santos City.

First was a convenience store in his old barangay, Labangal.  This was followed by a bigger convenience store along Santiago Boulevard which has already closed shop.

Next were two buildings, christened JMP Building 1 (JMP meaning Jinkee-Manny Pacquiao) at the corner of Osmena South-Champaca and JMP Building 2 at corner of Aparente Avenue and Provido Village.

JMP BUILDING 1 AT THE CORNER OF CHAMPACA & OSMENA SOUTH

He has also bought houses for his mother Dionisia, his siblings and a bigger mansion along Salvani Street (Block at Barangay City Heights.  Then there’s the JMP Gymnasium at Barangay Tambler where he holds his cockfight tournaments and where his mother celebrated her birthday party earlier this year.

He has also purchased large parcels of land in Yumang Street (for his radio station) and along the Bula-Lagao Road behind KCC Mall of GenSan (for a large hotel), among other areas within GenSan.

He and wife Jinky has also invested in Team Pacquiao, a novelty store selling all his souvenir items and apparell;  Jinkee’s Fashion World;  Flawless Skin Clinic plus dining and entertainment joints like JMix Resto Bar, Pacman SportsBar, and Blu Gre Coffee Shop; a water refilling station named Pacman and many more.

Right now, Manny and Jinkee are focusing their time and resources in the impending opening of their first foray into the hotel business.  Soon to open is a much bigger mixed-use office-restaurant-and-hotel edifice (which we blogged in June this year) located a stone’s throw away from JMP Building 2 along Aparente Avenue.  Situated right at the corner of Aparente Avenue and Block 1 Dadiangas Heights Subdivision, is Pacquiao’s very own ROAD HOUSE ECONOMY HOTEL.

The hotel is actually located at the back of the building.  The facade will be made available for commercial establishments and offices.

The hotel lobby and office will be along the Block 0 Street, beside the car entrance.  See above photo.

"THE UNFINISHED LOBBY OF MANNY PACQUIAO'S ROAD HOUSE ECONOMY HOTEL. THE STAIRS LEAD TO THE OFFICES OF THE CHAMP'S MULTI-BUSINESS VENTURES."

The 2nd floor of the hotel lobby will reportedly house the new office of Manny and Jinkee’s various ventures, all under the umbrella of the Pacquiao Group of Companies.

"THE COURTYARD OF THE ROAD HOUSE ECONOMY HOTEL AS SEEN FROM THE BACK"

The two-storey hotel which has two wings, will have 40 airconditioned rooms, all equipped with LCD TV with cable, hot & cold showers, Wi-Fi, plus other modern amenities.

The courtyard shown above can actually be used to park the vehicles of the hotel guests.

"THE HALLWAY OF THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE RIGHT WING OF THE HOTEL."

Just recently, Manny Pacquiao’s staff submitted a letter to the Office of the City Mayor of General Santos asking permission to cement the portion of the Block 0 which runs parallel to their hotel.

"THE HALLWAY TERRACE OF THE ROOMS FACING BLOCK ZERO WHICH WILL BE CEMENTED SOON BY MANNY PACQUIAO'S GROUP."

This hotel which is set to open during the first quarter of 2012, is one really good investment of the Pacquiao couple considering that General Santos City is still in dire need of more hotel rooms to be able to fill up the growing number of conventions and conferences being conducted in the city.  And with the numerous guests that the Sarangani Congressman receives regularly, and whom he billets in the city’s various hotel establishments, he might just as well construct his own and save money.

This is basically the reason why the Road House Economy Hotel is just right for that purpose.

General Santos is surely undergoing a hotel boom these days with the opening of new ones this year and the ongoing construction of a few more in various parts of the city.

One of the bigger hotel establishments in progress is being built across the SM City GenSan lot and is right behind the STI Campus.  Its name:  GenSan GreenLeaf Hotel.

Check out the small billboard below announcing its being granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate from the DENR.

Set to open in 2013, GenSan GreenLeaf Hotel which is reportedly worth P145million has already applied for incentives with the GenSan Investment Board.  It will have more than 120 well-appointed rooms to cater to the growing needs of GenSan’s transients and visitors.

Owned by the Teng Family of Kimball Plaza fame, GenSan GreenLeaf Hotel might just well become one of the choice hotels in the city considering its prime location along San Miguel Street in front of SM City GenSan.

Hopefully, in due time, with more hotels coming up in the next few years, General Santos City could now afford to host conventions with more than 1,500 delegates.

Mark my word! 

With Christmas just around the corner, one of General Santos City’s newer and bigger hotels, the SunCity Suites, has just released the mechanics of its Parol Making Contest dubbed “The Christmas Star“.

Even before the local government has launched its own annual Yuletide Program, the Pasko-Sa-GenSan, SunCity Suites is making sure that their very own offering for the Christmas Season will attract the most skillful young men and women we have in the city this early, according to its fantabulous manager Philip Pabelic.

Registration to SunCity Suites’ Parol Making Contest is free.   Here below are its mechanics:

• This Parol Making Contest is open to all secondary schools/high schools and colleges in General Santos City.
• The parol or lantern entry must have a minimum height of 3 feet but must not exceed 5 feet.
• Indigenous materials must be used and proper lighting must b e added to enhance the aesthetic presentation or visual effect.
• Deadline for submission of entries is 3pm, November 25th, wherein the judges will choose the Top 10 entries.  They shall be on display at the SunCity Complex until January 4, 2012.
• The final judging will be on December 8, 2011.
• Entries that no not comply to the rules and regulations of this contest shall be disqualified.
• Registration forms must indicate the names of the contestants and the schools they are representing.
• Winners will be announced on December 17, 2011.

Here are the registration centers where you can get the registration forms and submit them after filling them up:

• SunCity Suites
• Mitchy’s Car & Accessories
• Bench Robinsons

The TOP 3 winners to SunCity Suites’ Parol Making Contest will receive the following cash prizes:

1. First Prize – P10,000
2. Second Prize – P5,000
3. Third Prize – P3,000

For more details to this Christmas Lantern Competition, please contact Ms. Kate Budke at telephone #s (083) 552-3333 or 0922-8009739.

Without so much fanfare, a new hotel calling itself the Richeva GenSan Suites opened very recently in General Santos City.

Conveniently located along the quiet neighborhood of Sampaguita Street, near Laurel East Avenue, this new luxury hotel is just a few meters from the city’s two universities, NDDU and MSU; of walking distance from the Government Center and a stone’s throw away from the busy National Highway.

It is then safe to say that, Richeva (pronounced as “rich-EE-vuh”) GenSan Suites is right at the heart of the city!

GenSan’s newest hotel has 26 well-appointed rooms distributed among the three floors of its simple yet strikingly beautiful building designed by the famous Brixton Teng.

From afar, it stands out in the midst of residential houses and apartments akin to a queen’s crown!

At the ground floor directly facing the road is its Information Desk cum Coffee Shop which has a non-smoking section outside.

Currently, the coffee shop serves only sumptuous breakfast meals for its clients but they have a wide variety of delicious cakes courtesy of GenSan’s famous Cake Galerie.

Hopefully, they will be serving other fares as well since it is a cool place to hang out and a comfy hide-away for those who abhor the din of passers-by and the clutter of traffic.  And yes, it is a wifi hotspot too, as with all of the rooms on its three floors!

"ROAD VIEW OF SAMPAGUITA STREET FROM THE 3RD FLOOR OF RICHEVA GENSAN SUITES"

If the building exterior impressed you with its understated elegance, here’s what the fully air-conditioned Richeva GenSan Suites hotel rooms are like….

Above is the hotel’s  Superior Room – Matrimonial.  It comes with a cable ready LCD TV, Free internet access, hot and cold shower and PABX telephone system.  This hotel room costs only P950 per night inclusive of a complimentary breakfast.

Richeva GenSan Suites has 15 rooms of this kind.

Above photo is one of Richeva Gensan Suites‘ nine Superior Room Twin Bed which is priced at P950 inclusive of breakfast.  It has all the amenities found in the Superior Room Matrimonial.

Then finally, here is one of this newest GenSan hotel’s two Suite Rooms, both priced at P1,450.00.

The two Suite Rooms each located at the 2nd and 3rd floors both face the road and have a good view of the surrounding communities through the glass walls behind their bed headboards.  They also share the same features of the cheaper rooms plus their own mini-refrigerators.

What’s also good about Richeva GenSan Suites is the fact the owners care much about the security and safety of their guests that aside from its round-the-clock security guard, it has state-of-the-art CCTV cameras mounted in different spots of the hotel.   And need we mention that it has also a 24-hour standby generator?

As for hotel guests with their own vehicles, they have an entirely secured parking lot for more than ten cars!

Richeva GenSan Suites may be relatively new but with all these amenities at very affordable rates PLUS its prime location, we here at GenSan News Online Mag are pretty sure that it will soon register HIGH in the radar of General Santos City’s must-try hotel establishments.  PROMISE!

Richeva GenSan Suites is located at #11 Sampaguita Street, General Santos City.  For reservations and more information, please call them at +63-83-5540410, +63-919-7936227 or +63-932-3753001.  You may also email them at gensansuites@gmail.com.  Like them on Facebook to be updated on their promos and offerings.

Check out the exact location of Richeva GenSan Suites at the Google Map below.

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A GenSan resort hotel is also cashing in on the upcoming Father’s Day 2011.

A member of the RD Hotels Group, the Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel has come up with a promotion they have dubbed as their “Father’s Day Special Promo“!

This Special Promo is actually a 50% Price-Off on the Entrance Fees of the #1 GenSan Resort Hotel. And this price off  is not just on Father’s Day, June 19, 2011.  The Father’s Day Special Promo of Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel actually extends from June 13 to June 30, 2011!

So whether it’s on a weekday or the much livelier “Father’s Day” weekend, for two weeks straight, you can bring the whole family over at Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel, the Home of the Bikini Babes and Hunk Search and spend only half of their regular entrance rates!

The first time Bariles visited Driggs Pension House, a GenSan Hotel in the suburbs of the Tuna Capital, he could not believe what he saw.  As its name itself suggests, a Pension House is basically a teeny-weeny  nondescript version of a hotel and so that was what he was looking forward to see when he accepted an invitation to grace its grand opening!

Lo and behold!  He was amazed at the sight of what greeted him when he drove over to Driggs Pension House‘s suburbs address at Eve’s Street, Paradise Subdivision, Aparente Avenue, City Heights… right at the center of one of GenSan’s residential areas.

Driggs Pension House basically is a villa type of hotel and its name is actually a misnomer! It has 19 well-appointed rooms distributed in its two floors!  Its location is good for those who want some peace and quiet since it is located inside a subdivision and therefore, guests could hardly hear the sound of traffic along the main road of City Heights.

The exteriors of Driggs Pension House is impressive but Bariles was more excited about how the rooms look.  Here is what he found out in this new GenSan hotel…

Below is their nicely-decorated Family Room painted in relaxing earth colors.   This one costs only P1,750 inclusive of two breakfasts!  Hey! That’s very affordable, don’t you think? And the room is quite large and has an extra sofa for hotel occupants and their guests.

Bariles checked their DeLuxe room which has two beds and costs only P950!   So cheap considering that it comes with a free breakfast too!

Lastly, Bariles took a look at their Standard Rooms, equipped with a Queen-sized bed each,  and costing only P750 a night inclusive of one free breakfast!!!  Here is how it looks below…

And what’s more – all these air-conditioned rooms have hot & cold showers,  PABX Telephone system, LCD Flat screen-wall mounted Televisions with cable programming and FREE WIFI, which is a must among GenSan hotels these days!

It is also safe and secured since Driggs Pension House has its own CCTV Security System  extending to its ample parking lot and a couple of security men on guard.  One thing more is its neighborhood which is basically very quiet but very near the main road where one can just flag a tricycle or jeepney to take him downtown.

It may be in the suburbs but it’s easily reachable by tricycle or jeepney (look for those with PUROK MALAKAS signages).

For room reservations, you may contact Driggs Pension House at +63 (83) 553-0088 or 0917-3089731.  You may also email  this new GenSan hotel at driggspensionhouse@yahoo.com. By the way, it is owned by the very young and goodlooking Dr. Rudy Salangasang Jr. so you know you’re in good hands when checking in.

One of the newer GenSan Hotels have slashed down its room rates for this month!

As a treat to travellers and visitors of the Tuna Capital during these hot summer month of April 2011, Ice Castle Experience has decreased the price for its regular rooms to P1,500!

But wait, there’s more!   What makes this even more of a treat is the fact that it still comes with FREE BREAKFAST at their Cafe Provido!

Ice Castle Experience which is built on top of a cold storage facility, hence the name, has 20+ airconditioned rooms all with a flat-screen wall TV and private bathrooms.  Aside from its dining lounge, Cafe Provido, it houses a spa and a bar, Fire and Ice along with function rooms for private gatherings.

Ice Castle Experience was the Official Home of the Soccksargen Summer Safari last year and has since become a blogger’s favorite.  It is located at the GLEX Business Center, 12 Provido Village, Aparente Street, Barangay City Heights, General Santos City.

For reservations, please call Ice Castle Experience Hotel at (083) 554-4423.  You may check out their website at http://www.gensanice.com or email them at frontdesk@gensanice.com.

Fresh from the online edition of Philippine Star Daily, comes this piece of good news…

MANILA, Philippines – Damosa Land Inc. of the Anflo Group recently signed a franchise agreement with Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas) Inc. for a 66-room hotel in General Santos City. Microtel Gensan will be the 10th Microtel property in the country and the first international hotel chain in the city. The hotel project is also Damosa Land/Anflo Group’s second Microtel franchise after Microtel Davao. Shown in photo are (from left) Demet Lucila (Microtel CFO), Jose Mari del Rosario (Microtel Pilipinas CEO), Ricky Floirendo (Damosa Land Inc. COO) and architect Luis Nakpil (Microtel Pilipinas director).

We blogged about this already as early as two years ago in this article about a new GenSan Hotel. Hopefully, everything comes into fruition once the ground-breaking of this 62-room hotel establishment takes place this month of March 2011 or next month.

One thing is sure though, Damosa Land of the Anflo Group won’t just be constructing the hotel but will also be developing the whole commercial area that will be built inside their highway compound, much like their Damosa Gateway Complex in Davao City.

So expect not only the Microtel hotel in that area containing the 24/7 McDonalds Drive-Thru outlet soon but other restaurants, shops and stores as well.  That makes the GenSan National Highway, the busiest road section of the city when all these materialize.

Super mega Magandang GenSan na nga talaga ito!!!

One of the busiest establishments during Valentine’s Month aside from the dining establishments in the country are the hotels.  It is therefore one of the few times that hotels achieve 100% near capacity and more often than not, are fully booked.

Here in General Santos City, all of the hotels have been preparing for this eventuality and usually, regular rates are up due to the peak season.

But then again, nothing can stop Hotel Dolores from giving its customers more value for their money and so, for Valentine’s Day they have something up their sleeves, after their 2011 Opening Salvo gimmicks!

Hear this!  Dolores Hotel is giving out a 50% Discount on all their Matrimonial Rooms on February 14, 2011!!!

Yes!  They could have maintained their published rates but instead they are treating their guests who will avail of their Matrimonial Rooms to only half their prices!!!  Who else in General Santos City can do that except the RD Hotels and Resorts group?

As for their flagship resort, Dolores Tropicana Resort Hotel at Cabu, Tambler, there’s gonna be a big party there during that same Valentine weekend!

On February 19, 2011, their RED-HOT ENCOUNTER VALENTINE DISCO will fire-up their guests at the beach from 7pm to 2am.

For sure, this is one of the HOTTEST PARTIES ever to explode in GenSan’s top hotel resort!

For enquiries and hotel reservations to their Valentine offerings, please call Dolores Hotel at (083) 552-4139.