THE ROYAL Mandaya Hotel, one of the oldest and biggest in Davao City, is continuing with its refurbishments, allocating another P50 million to improve facilities. One of the planned renovations is setting up a new space for its spa. Benjamin J. Banzon Jr., hotel manager, told BusinessWorld the hotel management is embarking on improvements “as part of its contribution to the growth of the (city’s tourism) industry.” The 181-room hotel has renovated its function halls, ballrooms, and the rooms. Meanwhile, the hotel’s owners, the Escandor family, are still exploring possibilities on the development of its other property, the Royal House, which was purchased two years ago from the family of the late speaker Prospero C. Nograles. “They have not decided yet,” Mr. Banzon said. Among the options, he added, is expanding the existing building or setting up a condominium. Davao City Tourism Operations Officer Regina Rosa D. Tecson welcomed the new investment for Royal Mandaya. “Our hotels also need to provide better experience to our visitors for them to visit again,” she said. The city recorded 1.2 million visitors in the first half of the year. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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