The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) on Tuesday lauded the government’s decision to downgrade the quarantine classification in the National Capital Region (NCR) from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2.

In a statement, the group said this easing in restrictions will help the accommodation industry recoup its lost revenues, especially now that the Yuletide season is fast approaching.

“Most of our hotel members are greatly affected by the lockdowns imposed during the previous surges of Covid-19 cases in the country. We expect that the industry will regain its lost revenues in the last months of 2021, as we commit to providing safe and convenient hotel services to our guests,” said PHOA president Arthur Lopez,

Lopez said the de-escalation would sustain the employment of hotel workers and create a domino effect that will benefit the suppliers of its hotel members.

Since the implementation of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila, the government has permitted staycations in accommodation establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism.

Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 from November 5 to 21.

Under the latest classification, venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) have been allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity for indoors, and 70 percent capacity for outdoors.

“PHOA lauds the government efforts to keep the accommodation business alive. For our part, our hotel-members vow to abide by the safety standards and protocols set by different government agencies to ensure the safe reopening of the economy, especially in the tourism industry” Lopez said. (PNA)