Joy-Nostalg Hotel sees revenue boost from returning business travelers

Business travelers are flooding back to Manila, and Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites is reaping the rewards.

"2023 was fantastic for us," said Odette Huang, the hotel's general manager. "We actually beat out 2019 and brought in some of the best revenue we've ever seen."

This pet-friendly hotel, known for its roomy apartments perfect for long stays, is seeing a boom with travel picking up again in the region. Businesses are getting back on track, and face-to-face meetings are a must-do again.

"People are realizing that in-person stuff is super important here," Huang explained. "They need to visit their offices and talk to their teams in person."

Another big trend? Companies sending new employees to the Philippines for extended stays. This group now makes up a whopping 40% of the hotel's business. "We still get folks coming in and out for quick work trips, but these long-term stays are what keep us going," Huang said.

Things aren't all sunshine and rainbows though. Hitting pre-pandemic profits again is tricky with rising prices and the war in Ukraine throwing wrenches in the works. "Profitability is still a work in progress," Huang admitted. "We gotta be smart about keeping costs down to get back to healthy profit levels."

Many hotels in Manila are back to their old room rates and revenue, but the slow trickle of international tourists is keeping most from hitting that sweet profit spot.

This is where AccorHotels, the giant hospitality chain that runs Joy-Nostalg, steps in with their focus on sustainability. Buying local produce, for example, helps the hotel keep costs under control. "Going local is the way to go," Huang said, pointing out how they use delicious strawberries from Baguio in their desserts. Win-win for the hotel, the environment, and the local community!

The hotel industry is also facing a bit of a staffing crunch with Filipinos finding better-paying jobs overseas. Huang says the industry needs to adapt to this new reality.

"If we can offer them the best opportunities while they're here, that's a win for us," she said. "And hey, if they decide to head overseas, Accor has hotels in other countries too. They can keep growing with the company and maybe even come back someday."

Speaking of Accor, they currently have eight hotels with 2,500 rooms in the Philippines, and they're planning to add a whopping 13 new properties with over 2,500 rooms in the next four years! Keep an eye out for swanky new spots like the Sofitel Cebu City and the Novotel Cebu Mactan Resort.