Cebuano Furniture Maker Opens ‘Suites and Residences’ in Cebu

Cebu’s thriving tourism industry has spurred the owners of the export furniture company to diversify into the hotel business.

APY Cane Inc. owner Noreen Hazel Yu officially opened their hospitality business last June 17 through their flagship Azia Suites and Residences located along Rahmann Extension, between Mango and Gorordo Avenues in Cebu City.

Yu said the hotel was opened in order to share Cebuano hospitality to the market and showcase Cebuano skills in hospitality business. She said her clients, usually hotels based in the United States, inspired her to come up with the idea of running a hotel. This idea, she said, was backed by the strategic lot owned by her family.

‘Suites and Residences’

Hotel Azia, which means “sunrise” in Greek, offers a pleasant warmth that one often gets when at home. It is situated in a quiet and safe neighborhood, a few walks from the center of nightlife, malls, wellness and fitness centers, church, hospitals and schools.

Yu brought her signature designed furniture to Azia, making a unique themes of wood designs in every floor and room entrance.

Azia has dining places to relax such as Café Lazat on the second floor, which offers a twist to Southeast Asian dishes, Platela Grill, which serves seafood and Filipino food, and a bar in the 10th floor of the hotel that is overlooking the city lights at night.

Rooms

The nine-storey hotel has 60 rooms including 15 standard double rooms, 37 standard twin sharing rooms, 3 family suites, 1 bridal suites, and 3 customized rooms for persons with disabilities (PWD). Azia accepts transient and long-term stay at affordable room rates range from P2,500 to P3,500.

Eco-Friendly

The hotel aims to preserve and protect the environment with its solar-powered water heaters, LED lights, energy efficient inverter air-conditioning. This affirms that guests can be pampered without the expense of the environment.

Generate jobs

Azia hired around 20 employees who were vocational graduates from the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).

“I really prefer to hire 2 years or vocational graduates since I believe that to operate such a hotel needs skilled staffs and crews. This is also a way to help them get out of poverty.” Yu disclosed.

Yu added the Azia gives opportunity to hotel job-seekers especially those who are graduates of vocational and skill courses.

Azia started operating last January this year.

Photo above: From(R-L) Azia Director Piere Yu, Managing Director Noreen Hazel Yu, Director Felipe Yu with Cebu City mayor Mike Rama and some City government officials during the formal opening of Azia Suites and Residences. (Photo by Mary Jane Catriz)