With 13 properties across the Philippines and counting, Microtel by Wyndham is by far the largest international hotel chain in the country by number of branches.
Its hotels stand in several major destinations, from Boracay to Puerto Princesa, from Davao to Baguio.
But it is also in places that have been outside mainstream travel guides up until now.
Eight years ago, it opened a hotel in the middle of a farm in Cabanatuan City. Microtel by Wyndham Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija opened with 50 rooms in a city where consumption patterns still depend on harvest season and which Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2005) popularized for its beefy longaniza called batutay.
Its arrival was unprecedented of an American hotel brand, but this characterized Microtel’s strategy in the Philippines of putting up hotels not only in city centers like Manila, Baguio, and Davao but also in destinations with large untapped potential for tourism and business.
Nueva Ecija is one of them. And eight years after Microtel opened its doors in the city, Cabanatuan – called “Cab” by locals – is now in a boomtown.
Last year alone, the city welcomed two SM malls. More than 11 major supermarkets now spread across town, and residents have noticed a proliferation of restaurants catering to customers who are increasingly becoming more discriminating with their choices.
Facilities
Microtel brings with it a name and architectural style recognized across the U.S. and Asia-Pacific. Like other branches, Microtel Cabanatuan’s exterior exudes a homey resemblance that is never intimidating. Inside, the spacious hotel lobby welcomes guests with free coffee and WiFi. It also has a swimming pool and outdoor garden area for leisure and events.As a no-frills hotel, Microtel’s main selling point are its rooms, which, in Cabanatuan, are either a suite or double room. Double rooms in Microtel can carry four guests each, making them highly convenient for family and barkada trips. It helps to know that the hotel also customized some rooms for the needs of PWD guests.
Microtel’s rooms carry only the essentials (no minibar or pay-per-view movies) but which don’t equate to compromised quality. Thus, bathrooms have hot and cold showers; bath amenities are sufficient; the towel set is complete; and facilities like television and a Ving Card security system assure customers of a relaxing stay.
One open trade secret of Microtel is its bed – chiropractic-approved and the only item in the hotel that is imported aside from its name.
Microtel Cabanatuan’s location can be a few minutes of drive from the city proper, but even then, it is the nearest hotel to the city’s golf course. It also escapes the noise of Cabanatuan's buzzing town center. And despite Microtel’s international profile, it has maintained a Filipino touch to service sharpened by many years of operations in Cabanatuan. As the boom of restaurants and hotels continue in Cab, travelers and guests will surely patronize a hotel with a track record for good service and facilities. -By Paolo Abellanosa. Photos courtesy of Microtel
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