ONE OF ZAMBOANGA’S newest and biggest hotels, the L’ Meridian Suites, has literally lighted late Wednesday its nativity and star that adorned the beautiful façade of its 81-room, four-storey building and marking the beginning of the yuletide season in this part of southern Philippines.
The event was well-attended by guests and visitors who enjoyed the musical numbers and dances, and the amazing chorale members who rendered Christmas songs in English and Spanish which reflects Zamboanga’s moniker as the only Asia’s Latin city because of its rich colonial history.
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It also featured staffs and employees in a Christmas video and another corporate video promoting Zamboanga as a major tourism destination.
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Bruce Bollozos, the general manager of L’ Meridian Suites, spoke during the program and recalling how he was mesmerized by the local dialect called “Chavacano,” a Spanish-based creole language.
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Being a Cebuano, who has a long experience in the hotel and tourism industry, Bollozos narrated how the national media portrayed Zamboanga and often paint a rather bleak picture of this beautiful city. “In my previous career, I served as country manager for an Australian company and my role included traveling nationwide, but I was told to exclude south-western Mindanao. It was puzzling as I heard beautiful stories of Zamboanga during my pharma(ceutical) days.” “Perhaps the only close experience I have of this place was a tenant of ours who sold shell crafts – the family hailed from Zamboanga. I remember how the dialect mesmerized me and got me curious about them,” he said.
Bollozos continued and said: “At present, I could not be happier about taking this leap of faith because Zamboanga is as beautiful as the stories, as interesting as the dialect, as mesmerizing as the people.” He said the L’ Meridian Suites has also taken initial steps in being proactive in preserving the culture of Zamboanga and proudly bringing this beautiful city to the world.
“In our Christmas and corporate videos, we did not give so much focus in our rooms, we are already confident with it. We want to challenge the negative imagery of media and showcase the best of Zamboanga City, the truth about how safe this beautiful place is.”
“Tourism will be a driving force moving Zamboanga’s economy forward. Let us all hope and envision this beloved city of ours will become a destination of all people regardless of race, gender, culture and religion. And L’ Meridian Suites is our passion, our heart, your home,” Bollozos said.
The hotel is also scheduled to have the live telecast from Atlanta, Georgia of the most anticipated Miss Universe beauty pageant on December 9 in support to the Filipino pride, Gazini Ganados. And it is also set to launch the first-ever New Year countdown in Zamboanga on December 31 which will be capped with a party and merry-making.
While the concept of the L’ Meridian Suites is a business hotel, Bollozos said they make it sure that it can be a par in terms of the standard of a 5-star hotel. At present, it offers Superior, Deluxe, Junior Suite and Suite rooms, including three function rooms, a roof deck that can accommodate 300 people, and a restaurant called Café Meridian which is best known for its Chinese and Filipino cuisines, and an all-day breakfast menu at reasonable prices.
Following its soft opening on September 28, L’ Meridian Suites located at Governor Camins Road, continues to attract business travellers and tourists, and visitors from other provinces and regions because of its superb amenities, warm reception and outstanding hospitality from staffs and employees, and 5-star accommodation. (Zamboanga Post)
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