The first branch of the Islands Stay Hotels is envisioned as part of a chain of “value-chic” hotels that the group plans to operate in Cebu, Manila and Davao, said Jay Aldeguer, chief executive officer.

A P60 million to P72 million investment will jump-start the operation of at least five outlets in Cebu, another one in Manila or Davao within the year, he said.

The first hotel, along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, is right across Cebu Business Park’s commercial center–Ayala Center Cebu.

“The first outlet will have 35 rooms and will still carry our brand’s color, which is orange,” Aldeguer said in an interview at the sidelines of the Philippine Retailers Association Cebu Chapter membership meeting.

Another outlet with 60 rooms will open on May in Lapu-Lapu City across Marina Mall.

Each hotel involves a P10 million to P12 million investment.

Aldeguer described the Islands Group entry in the accommodation sector as offering “more of a value hotel” where they have “stripped those features that aren’t really that important and just put in those that are really expected.”

The hotels cater to people who check in to leave their bags and then go out the whole day to wander around the city, Aldeguer said.

“Basic amenities and services like WiFi connection, hot and cold bath and cable television sets in each room are available,” he said.

“Breakfast is not included but we have a cafe where you can order sandwiches and more.”

Rates start at P950 for a small room, P1, 450 for medium rooms, P1, 950 for a large room and P2, 250 for an extra large room.

Aldeguer said they are looking at other areas in Cebu where they can open three more hotels and another outside Cebu, where two are franchisable.

The hotels are a new business that forms part of a long-term plan to make the Islands Group responsible for “making travel in the Philippines an unforgettable experience.”

“All of what we are doing now is synergized and part of a whole strategy to achieve our goal of becoming known as a brand trusted by anyone for their travel needs,” Aldeguer said.

To date, Islands Group has seven subsidiaries including Islands Souvenirs, Philippine Islands, Islands and More, Talima Adventure and Waterpark, Islands Banca Cruises, Islands Magazine, and Islands Stay Hotel.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/enterprise/view/20110325-327537/New-start-for-value-chic-hotels

An entry involving a photo of the contestant with his or her partner, family or group wearing an I Heart shirt may be uploaded to Islands Souvenirs Facebook fanpage.

Contestants must support their entry with a statement on why they love Cebu, and have your friends supported you by voting online.

The entry with the highest number of votes online within the promo period Aug. 6 to Sept. 24 will win.

There will be one winner in each of the five categories, namely: family, barkada, solo, couple and special award for the most creative.

The winners will receive gift certificates and other gift items from promo partners Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino, Marco Polo Hotel, Maya Restaurant, Abaca Boutique Resort, Timex, Premium Concepts and Islands & More.

The winners will also have an opportunity to appear on I Heart billboard and print ads.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/community/view/20100907-290945/Express-your-Heart-for-Cebu-photo-contest-for-Cebuanos

The VSO is an international development organization that promotes volunteering among 45 developing nations in the world, including the Philippines.

Thirty employee volunteers of the Islands Group joined other volunteers from the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Rotary Club of Mactan and the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation to plant a total of 10,000 mangrove propagules of Bakauan bato or Rhizophora stylosa at the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (OIWS), which serves as a temporary resting place for migratory birds from all over the world.

The Islands Group planted approximately 1,500 propagules in less than an hour.

The Islands Group subsidiaries, composed of Islands Souvenirs, Islands Banca Cruises, Islands and More, Islands Pasalubong Center, non-profit foundation Our Islands and management and staff believe in the idea that people have to give back to nature.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/community/view/20100305-256748/Mangrove-planting-at-Olango-sanctuary

Many families who are into business usually focus on the one started by their fathers, but you have chosen to take different paths and have been successful in each of them. What inspired you to do so?

Jay: I started engaging in business during my college days in Ateneo when I would go around selling T-shirts and other stuff to my classmates to augment my allowance.

Right after college, I started backpacking around Europe and collected T-shirts and other mementos from the different places I would visit. I decided to do the same thing when I arrived back in the Philippines, but discovered that there weren’t many attractive souvenir items.

This served as an inspiration to put up a souvenir store to provide practical and fun souvenirs for both local and foreign tourists. Just a few months after thinking of the concept, I set up shop in Cebu with the Islands Souvenirs brand.

Now, the Islands Souvenirs Group is composed of different divisions—retail, adventure, design and media. The Retail Division carries the Islands Souvenirs, Pasalubong Center, and the new Islands and More brands.

Michael: I got into boxing through my father, Antonio, who is a boxing enthusiast. We started our training gym ALA Gym in 1984 and the promotions company, ALA Promotions in 1990. Here, we train and develop young boxers, some of the most famous of which are AJ Banal, Ray “Boom-Boom” Bautista and Z Gorres, who had to retire recently because of his injury.

We also do promotions and tie-ups with international promoters like Top Rank and Golden Boy promotions for international events.

I also dabble in the garments industry with our Bisaya Ispisyal products, which have been carried in SM for quite sometime.

Chris: My parents, Antonio and Lou Aldeguer, have been in the garment business for the last 30 plus years. Loalde started as a production and manufacturing company, but as the retail industry boomed in the Philippines, we were able to adapt to the change and we now have 12 stores.

When we were growing up, we were exposed to the garment industry, so it was very natural for myself to manage such a business.
Why do you think Cebu has such a vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship?

Jay: The business environment in Cebu makes Cebuanos very forward-looking and bullish. I would consider Cebuanos visionaries, well-balanced and very well-grounded. We are also very resilient, as the past years have shown.

Michael: Cebu is the 8th most progressive city in Asia, and a lot of investors are coming in because of its potential.

Chris: Cebuanos are very talented, have good instincts and entrepreneurial skills. Being around this environment has inspired me to be more innovative and aggressive with new ideas, especially in the retail and fashion business.

What do you love most about Cebu?

Jay: It is very hard to leave Cebu, it is only there where you can have a progressive city life with the charm of the province. Here, you can do your business in the metro, and after a tiring day, drive within minutes to where the beaches and the mountains are. I particularly love Bantayan Island and Malapascua.

I also love the food here as well, especially the barbecue and the puso.

Michael: Cebu has both urban and rural settings—it has everything in one place. I like the versatile lifestyle here—you can be in the beaches in 30 minutes, then if you want to go malling, you can be there in another 30 minutes.

I also like Cebu’s mangoes and barbecues.

Chris: I love the beaches, which I consider the major attractions in Cebu.

What do you love about SM?

Jay: SM has made the Cebu business landscape even more exciting, providing us with a new place to do business in. In our store’s third year, Henry Sy loved the concept and immediately installed Islands Souvenirs stores in SM’s Manila mall.

I love going to SM to attend events, shop at ACE Hardware and take my kids to the movies.

Michael: SM has helped the Cebu economy, and our company as well. We have promotional tie-ups with SM City Cebu for our boxing matches, which have brought the sport closer to the people. We have done our awareness programs by doing public workouts, where boxers train, as well as the weigh ins in SM for the past three years.

We also had a recent tie-up with Smart and Manny Pangilinan for the Bakbakan sa Sinulog last Jan. 14 at SM.

Chris: SM has played a very significant role in our business, and most of our stores are located at SM malls nationwide. We have Loalde stores in SM supermalls in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Davao in the Vismin area, as well as stores in SM City North EDSA and SM City Fairview in Metro Manila.

More than that, it’s a great place to shop, eat, and have fun with the family.

http://mycitymysm.com/?p=93

in Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu and Mactan Marina Mall. These all-inclusive Island hopping packages, care of Islands Banca Cruises, Cebu’s premier island hopping venture, come in the form of gift certificates that takes care of all related expenses – from boat rental, snorkeling equipment, to food and island entrance fees.

Islands Banca Cruises’ “Buy a Boatload of Fun” offers three kinds of packages: Family Adventure Barkada Beaching, and Talima for Two.

Parents and Children will enjoy spending time together with The Family Adventure Package. Children who were fans of the movie “Finding Nemo” will experience that film come to life while snorkeling or simply feeding the colorful pipefish, frogfish, razorfish, and triggerfish. A delicious lunch follows at a floating restaurant in Cao-uy. Complete with snorkeling gears, the whole package is priced at only Php9,800, good for a group family of ten.

The Barkada Beaching Package features a stop at Talima Marine Sanctuary, a 14-hectare snorkeling and diving spot right off Olango Island. A lunch picnic follows at picturesque Pandanon Island, off the coast of Getafe, Bohol, that features a sprawling sand bar, volleyball net, seaside chapel, pillars and cottages for rent. The entire package is available for only Php9,500 good for a group maximum of ten people.

Couples looking for a unique romantic getaway should try The Talima for Two package which includes a snorkeling adventure at Talima Marine Sanctuary capped off with a romantic sunset dinner for two at Talima Beach Villas. For only Php5,800, lovebirds can avail of these plus snorkeling gear, fish feeding activities, and a choice of a bottle of wine or a soothing massage by the beach.

Buy a Boatload of Fun gift certificates are available for sale at Islands Souvenirs boutiques in SM, Ayala and at Mactan Marina Mall. For inquiries and reservations one may call Islands Banca Cruises at 516 1903 or visit the website at http://www.islandsbanca.com.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=538227&publicationSubCategoryId=111

The brand has been associated with Cebu’s annual fiesta that it has been starting selling Sinulog T-shirts as early as December.

But Island Souvenirs did not start as a T-shirt brand for Sinulog, said Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, Islands Souvenirs founder and chief executive officer.

“Having parents who are entrepreneurs and running their own businesses, I sort of have already in me that enterprising spirit. And I did some small businesses myself even way back in my college years in Ateneo (de Manila),” Aldeguer said.

In college, he used to carry around backpacks with T-shirts to sell to his classmates.

He sold T-shirts to augment his allowance that his parents sent him while he was attending school in Manila.

He was also an avid collector of souvenir items.

“Anywhere I go, I make sure that I buy mementos like figurines and Picasso books,” he said.

Aldgeuer, however, stopped buying figurines and books as souvenirs during his trip to Europe for practical reasons.

He said that he went to Europe in the early 1990s. He was often mobile. But he strained his back because his backback was heavy with figurines and books.

He then decided to just collect T-shirts instead.

“It was also more practical as I have to change clothes. And so buying T-shirts can satisfy both my clothing and souvenir needs,” he said.

After that Europe trip, Aldeguer also traveled around the country and he realized that the souvenir items then were substandard especially the T-shirts.

He said the souvenir items then were mostly handicraft-based such as wooden spoons and forks from Baguio, which sometimes were not practical to buy.

“Although these reflect the creativity of the Filipinos, it also failed to depict the true nature of being a Filipino which is festive and colorful,” he said after his trip around the country, Aldeguer realized a dearth of souvenir items in the tourism sector. So he created Islands Souvenirs in 1993.

“My staff and I were discussing what month we started, was it March or April. But it’s sometime during that period,” he said.

Aldeguer started with a cart in the old White Gold Department Store.

“I approached this bamboo furniture maker named Rene in Lahug. That’s in front of UP and gave him my cart design. At first, it looked like a boat and we had to make revisions. He charged me P800 more for the revisions, “so instead I ended up paying him P1,800,” he said.

His initial capital was P200,000, which came from his savings from his small businesses while in college. He also got a help from his parents.

Aldeguer then launched his brand with a full array of products from t-shirts to caps and other souvenir items.

Within four months of operation, they transferred to an 80-square-meter area inside the mall because they were growing really fast.

Within a year, Aldeguer opened another outlet in Cagayan de Oro City. The outlet grew by over 300 percent in terms of sales in the second year.

To date, there are around 80 to 90 boutiques, kiosks and department store outlets nationwide. Aldeguer said their expansions were funded internally.

“I never had to get a loan. Everything was from internal funds,” he said.

Islands Souvenirs started with 15 people. Now it has now grown to over 500 employees.

There is now an umbrella company, the Islands Group of Companies, which includes Islands Souvenirs and sister companies such as Islands Banca and Islands and More, which caters to the other needs in the tourism industry.

Aldeguer said the fast growth of his business venture was not a walk in the park.

“Back then, souvenir brands were all placed in Filipiniana zones which were usually placed in non-accessible areas of the mall and I have to change that. Somehow my efforts paid off and mall operators now gave us prime locations,” he said.

Aside from that, keeping up with the inventories also proved to be a real challenge for Aldeguer.

“You can’t sell the same products in all outlets like inventories in Cagayan can’t be sold in Cebu because these are novelty items. And so we really have to maintain a level of inventory which is different in every outlet,” he said.

The unpredictability of the market is also another challenge for the Island Souvenirs, said Aldeguer, who oftentimes find himself dealing with different groups of people all the time.

“I can have Japanese and Russians in another time and these groups have different preferences,” he said

“But I don’t feel bad about it as the number of visiting tourists has been increasing over the years and this will always translate to sales,” he said.

Aldeguer also plans to have outlets in most tourism destinations in the country and become a conduit for travel needs like bookings.

“There are still a lot of gaps to fill in the tourism industry and I would like to be a part of that as it has always been my goal to nurture the tourism industry in all destinations in the country,” said Aldeguer.

“Now, we have become like a mini-billboard of these different destinations like Iloilo and we want to push further,” he added.

He also sees an exciting 2010 for the Islands Group because they will be launching a couple more brands under the group.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/enterprise/view/20100104-245417/RP-souvenirs-anyone

Their latest offerings include a discount promo on weekdays and a dreamy package just for couples.
With the title “Weekday Holiday,” Islands Banca Cruises is giving their guests a 15% discount on all Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday trips. Not only will the island hoppers get a relaxing seaside experience, but a great affordable deal, as well. Islands Banca Cruises Marketing Head Ria Redulla said, “As we all know, semestral break is fast approaching. And in a place like Cebu, there’s no better way to spend a vacation than at the beach or island hopping at sea.”

Islands Banca Cruises is also bringing out the love fever at this time of the year. The latest package entitled “Talima for Two” gives couples a chance to break out of their usual date routines and try something new. The package includes a snorkeling adventure at Talima Marine Sanctuary capped off with a sunset dinner at Talima Beach Villas. For only P2900 per person, lovebirds can avail of the Butete boat, towels, snorkeling gear, fish feeding activities, sunset seafood dinner with free drink, and choice of a bottle of wine or massage therapist services – just for two.

With its pioneering lifestyle concept, Islands Banca Cruises endeavors to raise the bar of the island hopping industry by providing world-class services and first-rate activities. The company arranges special packages for not only island hopping, but as well as sunset cruises, lechon/bbq picnics, and themed parties. Islands Banca Cruises offers activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, sea kayaking, dolphin watching, and many others.

For more details, call Islands Banca Cruises at 2364896 or 5161903.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=517074

To start the fun-filled and exciting day, the media guests were escorted via private shuttles to the newly-renovated Islands Souvenirs Flagship Store at the Marina Mall Mactan. It was a shopping experience as guests received key summer items such as Ipanema flipflops, Beach Hut sunblock, Mobile Wonders pouches and other goodies. After loading their loot bags with goodies, everyone then headed to the Islands Banca Cruises dock where they were well-received by the IBC crew –who were clad in the iconic orange color of IBC – with shell necklaces. Two Butanding bancas (the largest boats) awaited the guests, both fully furnished with beanbags, ipod docks and a wide sunbathing deck.- amenites that set the IBC boats from the usual run-of-the-mill bancas. Everybody got on board and the launch was finally all set to go.

The tour took off as Islands Banca Cruises made their first stop at Gilutungan Marine Sanctuary where media folks enjoyed exciting activities like snorkeling and fish feeding as well as soaking up the sun with ice cold drinks, chips and salsa on deck and chillout music for the ears. It was truly a feast for the senses.

The cruise continued on to Pandanon Island, an island in Getafe, Bohol, just in time for lunch. A grand feast for a grand event, the guests indulged in a sumptuous seafood buffet of fresh fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, and with the addition of two whole roasted pigs. After such a meal, the guests settled down to enjoy Pandanon to its fullest – the Islands Banca Cruises way. People lazed on beanbags by the beach, pumped up some energy with kayaking and even enjoyed a private massage at the specially set up tent complete with seven masseuses all ready to pamper. Islands Banca Cruises certainly made no exceptions in giving the best of their services.

And just when everyone thought they had seen it all, the crew had prepared one last surprise to cap off the day. The ride home to Mactan was no ordinary boat ride. On deck were the skilled bartenders of Formo, handing out bottomless servings of their famous tasty mojitos and sangrias. Those who left on the first departure to the city even saw pilot whales. Cocktails, music, and a sunset cruise – there was definitely no better way to end the launch.

With the success of their media launch, there’s no doubt Islands Banca Cruises will make a big splash not only this summer, but all year round.

Islands Banca Cruises (IBC) is a subsidiary of the Islands Group and is aimed to not only raise the ante and make island hopping truly world-class just as Islands Souvenirs did with souvenir shopping but establish Cebu as the Islands Hopping Destination and Capital of the Philippines. Islands Banca Cruises saw tthe opportunity to improve on an existing and thriving industry by providing first-rate activities for a premier tourist destination such as Cebu.

Islands Banca Cruises (IBC) takes its visitors to discover new island destinations such as Pandanon, the marine sanctuaries of Nalusuan and Gilutungan, the Olango Bird Sanctuary and has put together creative packages and services that Cebu can truly be proud of. Activities and special trips such as sunset cruises, massages, lechon and barbecue picnics on board the banca or on a sandbar, theme parties or a candle-lit dinner for two, can all be arranged. Snorkeling, scuba diving, fish feeding, sea kayaking and dolphin watching are some of the many possibilities while on an Islands Banca Cruise. All packages are customized according to the chosen destinations and services and to suit every traveler’s needs.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=462688

“We were fully-booked during Sinulog week, but we had to cancel most bookings because of the weather,” said IBC president and chief executive officer (CEO) Jay P. Aldeguer in an interview with The Freeman.

The company is currently negotiating close partnership with hotels, resorts, tour operators, and travel agencies to help promote the service to the foreigners.

Island’s Group head for marketing Carlo Borromeo said that the company is hoping to increase its foreign traffic availing of the sophisticated Island Hopping services by the company, including the romantic sunset cruise it offers.

Already, IBC has an ongoing partnership with the Cebu Pacific Air, to include IBC’s packages to the airlines promotional campaign, especially in the online.

Unlike the traditional pumpboat ride, Islands Banca offers beverages, light snacks, and toiletries and Spa (service) on board, with comfortable bean bags. It also offers water-sports equipment for rent.

A banca is an archetypical Philippine boat, fundamentally, a sturdy, deep-hulled outrigger canoe designed primarily for inter-island transport. Despite being very simple, almost rustic, a banca is a stable, reliable and fast vessel.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=542759&publicationSubCategoryId=108

“This is really for management purposes and branding so we are not hurrying up. We are consulting our lawyers here and abroad because at present, there are many investors who want to join the group” Aldeguer told Cebu Daily News.
Aldeguer said the holding company, which will be called The Islands Group, is expected to launch on the second or third quarter of 2009.

“We are also examining how are franchisees will be set up, whether it will be handled by the holding company or the specific subsidiaries,” he added.

“All subsidiaries will carry the Islands brand”, Aldeguer said.

Island Souvenirs, which starting out in selling souvenir T-shirts, will be the flagship subsidiary of The Islands Group.
Other companies under the group are Islands Pasalubong Center, Islands and More, Islands Design and the recently launched, Islands Banca Cruises Corp.

“When you’re traveling, there is a bit of uncertainty on where you want to go. We want to make it (Islands brand) a premium travel and tourism brand in Cebu (to give tourists) a sense of familiarity,” he said.

Islands Pasalubong Center, which has one outlet in Lapu-Lapu City, sells local products, while Islands and More sells beach and travel essentials such as shirts, bags and water bottles.

Aldeguer said they are looking at opening another pasalubong center in Cebu City.

Islands and More has three branches in Lapu-Lapu City. They hope to open two outlets in Boracay before the year ends and another branch inside Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3.

Aldeguer said Islands and More stores are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. but will eventually adapt to the market.
The branch inside newly established Microtel Mactan, for instance, will open until past midnight.
Islands Design develops and design uniforms for tourism-related establishments.

Aldeguer said they have developed several merchandise for companies such as Jollibee, Shangri-La and Microtel.
Islands Banca Cruises Corp. offers sightseeing tours to different islands in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/enterprise/view/20081001-164000/Holding-firm-for-Islands-brand-set-up