Go Hotels at SampWhoa! Celebrating a Decade of Quality and Value
Robinsons Hotels and Resorts knew that the year 2010 was extra special. Aside from the start of a brand-new decade, it was also a start of a new, fresh, value-essential brand. A brand that is affordable yet with high quality rooms and services. A brand that was very straight-forward. No frills. A brand that became a beacon for value essential travel. A brand for “Every Juan”.
The Go Hotels concept was the brainchild of Frederick Go, President and CEO of Robinsons Land Corporation. Go recalls that the idea came about during one of his local business trips. “Even though the area we were in was well developed, I had difficulty looking for suitable accommodations.” The concept of the “essential value” hotel was further inspired by the value-for-money offerings of other companies under the Gokongwei Group, which include Cebu Pacific and, at that time, Sun Cellular. “Just like the no-frills approach of the pocketfriendly airline Cebu Pacific, Go Hotels offers a way for savvy travelers to save money by providing hotel essentials at a base room rate.” This business model continue to appeal to travelers who want a no-frills, hassle-free stay.
Our first property, Go Hotels Mandaluyong opened with 223 rooms, split between 93 rooms with queen size beds and 130 twin-bed rooms. For value-conscious travelers, the base rate offered at the time was simply unbeatable. For as low as P388+ a night, they could get a room that was simply but tastefully appointed, with a comfortable bed and pillows, 100% cotton sheets, a shower, free Wi-Fi, and an LCD TV. This was also the first time we used the “book early, pay less” concept which became an instant hit to our valued guests. Cohesive with the Cebu Pacific tagline “Where Every Juan Flies, “A Place for Every Juan,” became the initial slogan of GO Hotels.
By 2012, the chain had expanded further to Puerto Princesa in the beautiful island of Palawan, and to the Visayas region with properties in key areas in Tacloban, Bacolod, and Dumaguete. The following year (2013), Go Hotels Otis opened in the City of Manila, and the group opened its 7th Go Hotel in Iloilo.
Since then, the GO Hotels chain grew much stronger in destinations served by Cebu Pacific; equally leveraging its strategic location mostly beside or near a Robinsons Mall. With this unique selling point, GO Hotels became an instant pitstop for travelers who are eager to explore the country’s exciting tourist destinations.
The year 2014 welcomed a new GO Hotel in Metro Manila, this time in the dynamic and bustling business district of Ortigas. This was followed by GO Hotels Butuan, our first value essential property in Mindanao serving the growing needs of travelers in the South. GO Hotels Lanang-Davao followed suit and opened its doors in 2016.
With GO Hotels’ increasing reputation for affordable yet high quality accommodations, the brand looked to expand its footprint by offering franchising opportunities to the public. In 2016, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, in partnership with Roxaco Asia Hospitality Corporation, www.gohotels.ph opened 5 new GO Hotels in Metro Manila, Airport Road, Ermita-Manila, North Edsa, Cubao and Timog.
In 2018, a new GO Hotel opened in Iligan to cater to the increasing demand in Southern Philippines.
Soon, we shall welcome 2 more additions to the growing GO Hotels portfolio. GO Hotels Naga and GO Hotels Tuguegarao, which are slated to open next year, will give more reasons for travelers to #GoExploreMore.
Go Hotels @ SampWhoa: Pivoting to the New Normal on Health and Safety
The current pandemic tested the resilience of the local tourism industry, but Go Hotels has been quick to respond to the evolving needs of its guests, which include an assurance of safety and wellness. Thus, the launch of “Circle of Clean” – a program focused on implementing an elevated standard of hygiene and sanitation protocols based on the WHO and DOH New Normal recommendations to ensure a safe stay for all of our guests.
At the height of the Community Quarantine Period, select Go Hotels pivoted to new business models and catered to changing consumer demands amid the pandemic. We began offering “Working On-The-Go”, marketed to be the new definition of Work-From-Home.
In addition, select Go Hotels accredited by the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration opened its doors to returning OFWs serving their mandatory quarantine requirements at the convenience and comfort of a hotel.
“Our thrust is to build a stronger Go Hotels brand, one that is a solid and strong value hotel by introducing new unique selling points.” – says Arthur Gindap, Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts on his vision for the next decade.
Soon to be introduced are the new GO Hotels unique selling points - The 5Gs. Go Relax, where all aspects relating to comfort are delivered; Go Connect, which ensures guests’ internet connectivity and reliability; Go Handy, which highlights convenience, whether in terms of services or location; Go Local, which aims to provide recommendations on immersive localized experience for guests; Go Green, which promotes cooperative, sustainable, and eco-friendly tourism practices. As Gindap explains, the next time they visit, Go Hotels guests will be pleasantly surprised to discover how much good value they can receive for a low price.