DOT reiterates rule on staycation hotels
The Department of Tourism (DOT) reiterates that there are only fifteen (15) accredited accommodation establishments (AEs) in Metro Manila that operate as staycation hotels as of 05 January 2021.
These are: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Okada Manila Hotel, Shangri-La at the Fort, Nobu Hotel, Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila, EDSA Shangri-La Manila, Solaire Resort, Hyatt Regency City of Dreams, Nuwa Hotel City of Dreams, The Peninsula Manila, Aruga by Rockwell, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila and Hotel Okura Manila.
Other AEs not in the list are either operating as quarantine hotels, which are banned from accepting guests for leisure purposes or may not be in operation at this time.
“We would like to correct the misperception that all four- or five-star rated accommodation establishments (AEs) can operate as staycation hotels. For such hotel to accept guests for leisure purposes, it has to apply for a Certificate of Authority to Operate as Staycation (CAOS) hotel. With the authority is the responsibility to strictly adhere to the minimum health and safety guidelines. One has to pass the rigid inspection to ascertain that measures and systems are put in place and diligently practiced on a daily basis. It cannot, above all things, concurrently operate as a quarantine facility,” DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat warned.
The tourism chief also stressed that with the new COVID variant posing as additional threat, the DOT will be on heightened alert and will have zero tolerance for even the slightest violation of health protocols.
“Lives are on the line and our economic recovery depends on everybody being responsible. Let us all perform our duties well. Each has an important role to play in managing this crisis,” the Secretary urged.
The appeal is also aimed at AEs without CAOS and tour operators and other entities that continue to post invitations or make false, deceptive and misleading claims or statements for the purpose of soliciting business from clients. These non-staycation enterprises have been using social media to carry its ads.
For AEs and new enterprises that are interested to apply for accreditation, the DOT’s online accreditation system can be accessed through Accreditation Portal (https://accreditation.tourism.gov.ph/).
Meanwhile, the public is advised to check the status of the establishment before booking. The AEs for quarantine purposes are found in this link: FACILITIES INSPECTED AS OF December 21, 2020 | Bureau of Quarantine (http://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/facilities-inspected-as-of-december-21-2020/).