Robinsons Hotels and Resorts knew that the year 2010 was extra special. Aside from the start of a brand-new decade, it was also the start of a new, fresh, and value-essential brand. A brand that is affordable yet with high quality rooms and services. A brand that is very straight-forward and with no frills. A brand that is now 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 Corp. He 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,” he shared.
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 pocket-friendly airline Cebu Pacific, GO Hotels offers a way for savvy travelers to save money by providing hotel essentials at a base room rate,” added Go. This business model continues to appeal to travelers who want a no-frills, hassle-free stay.
Its 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-percent cotton sheets, a shower, free Wi-Fi, and an LCD TV.
This was also the first time it used the “book early, pay less” concept which became an instant hit to its 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, 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, its 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 Corp., opened five 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, it shall welcome two more additions to the growing GO Hotels portfolio, GO Hotels Naga and GO Hotels Tuguegarao, which are slated to open next year.