Hotel Heroes: Be Inspired by … bai Hotel Cebu

We're thrilled to spotlight bai Hotel Cebu, part of the WorldHotels? Elite collection, which has recently been recognized as the Philippines’ Leading Business Hotel at the 2024 World Travel Awards. In a conversation with General Manager Alfred Reyes, we delved into the hotel’s award-winning journey, its exceptional guest experiences, and its strong commitment to sustainability. Here's a glimpse into what makes bai Hotel Cebu stand out in the industry!

WorldHotels (WH): Mr. Reyes, bai Hotel Cebu has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including the recent SunStar Award for 2023 Hotel of the Year. As a member of WorldHotels, can you share what this recognition means to you and your team?

Alfred Reyes (AR): It was actually two awards from Sunstar Award — 2023 Hotel of the Year and 2023 Best Venue for Meetings and Conferences. This is a tremendous recognition, we have been operating for seven years and have been the only property fully operating since the pandemic. Everything we have worked for has paid off; we’ve stayed focused on being resilient to any challenge presented to us. We are also very focused on how we train our staff ensuring we deliver an authentic and Cebuano hospitality experience. I also owe these achievements to the bai people, as we call our team, the bai Dream Team.

WH: bai Hotel Cebu is known for its stunning harbor and city views. Can you share how the hotel capitalizes on its unique location to provide exceptional experiences for guests?

AR: The city view is the most requested for the simple reason that we have an unobstructed view which is especially stunning when we’re having beautiful weather. As for the harbor view, you can see our neighboring island, Mactan Island and two iconic bridges that connect the city and the island. Our location is also unique in that we are near the airport and the seaport, which connects different islands in the region and to the country’s capital city of Manila. We capitalize on our easy accessibility and proximity. We are literally at the “Heart of Cebu” in Mandaue City.

WH: With eight diverse dining outlets, what culinary experiences can guests expect, and are there any signature dishes or themed events they should not miss?

AR: Our dining outlets are diverse with options for everyone including our buffet restaurant which won 2022 Best Buffet. Our amazing CAFé bai, offers a wide variety of cuisine from Western, Thai, Indian, and many more with 20 stations to choose from including cuisines Cebu is known for such as lechon, taho, among others. Our signature restaurants, Ume and Marble and Grain take the spotlight focusing on ?different personas. Ume Japanese Cuisine is a Japanese restaurant with an exclusive Japanese chef as its captain. The Marble and Grain restaurant, is our fine dining brand serving USDA prime cuts. We also have our rooftop restaurants—the Pool Bar and Twilight Roofdeck Lounge, that provide a wonderful view of the city skyline. At the Twilight Roofdeck Lounge we have DJs and bands on the weekends.

WH: Sustainability is clearly a priority for bai Hotel Cebu. Could you elaborate on the “bai for Life” initiative and its 7 Pillars of Commitment?

AR: The “bai for Life” project was inspired by bai Hotel Cebu’s role as a champion of nature. By collaborating with other organizations, we are focused on safeguarding and preserving our planet and its fragile ecosystems. This long-term commitment underscores our dedication to creating a lasting, positive impact on the world around us. Sustainability is our north star, and we’ve established seven guiding principles to help us reach our goals. These pillars of commitment bind us together, fostering a shared sense of responsibility for a sustainable future. We are more resolute than ever, united in our mission to create a better world.