DOT fines hotel where Dacera was found dead, revokes authority to operate
The Department of Tourism (DOT) in a resolution today, Jan. 14, said City Garden Grand Hotel (CGGH) in Makati City is liable for the offense of gross and evident bad faith in dealing with clients/fraudulent solicitation of business or making false, deceptive or misleading claims or statements for the purpose of soliciting business.
CGGH was found to have misrepresented itself to the public as being allowed to accommodate guests for leisure or staycation purposes despite being a quarantine facility. Under DOT Administrative Order No. 2020-002-C, hotels operating as quarantine facilities are prohibited from accepting guests for leisure purposes.
The DOT National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) considered evidence not limited to the circumstances surrounding the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera in the early morning hours of Jan. 1.
DOT found evidence that even prior to the incident and until now, CGGH is marketing packages to accept leisure guests and does not indicate that it is a quarantine hotel.
CGGH is meted the following penalties: six months suspension of DOT accreditation; a fine of P10,000; and revocation of the certificate of authority to operate.
CGGH has the right to appeal within the period prescribed by the DOT rules and regulations.
The DOT warns all accredited accommodation establishments (AEs) to confine their operations to the authority given them, limited to just one per given time. AEs repurposed as quarantine facilities cannot offer their rooms and facilities for leisure purposes. At the same time, staycation hotels cannot not be used for quarantine.
Only four- and five-star rated AEs may be allowed to apply as staycation hotels. At present, there are only 15 AEs in Metro Manila that have been issued the Certificate of Authority to Operate as Staycation (CAOS).
These are the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Okada Manila Hotel, Shangri-La at the Fort, Nobu Hotel, Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila, EDSA Shangri-La Manila, Solaire Resort, Hyatt Regency City of Dreams, Nuwa Hotel City of Dreams, The Peninsula Manila, Aruga by Rockwell, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila and Hotel Okura Manila.
DOT is encouraging guests to report violations to its Office of Tourism Standards and Regulations (OTSR) via [email protected] or [email protected].