MANILA - A group of hotels and resorts on Sunday urged Filipinos to travel but following health protocols as businesses struggle to stay afloat due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Local tourism lang talaga ang inaasahan namin (We are really just relying on local tourism). Sabi ko nga (I've said), 'Be a hero, you travel and help us out also'," said Christine Anne Ibarreta, president of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association which has some 155 members.

• DOT eyes local tourism boost as arrivals plummet 84 pct in 2020 due to pandemic

Hotels have decreased their rates by "more than 50 percent", with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included, Ibarreta told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

• DOT releases guidelines for holiday staycations as COVID-19 threat remains

"We have to hold on and we’re still positive as Filipinos, hoteliers na malalagpasan namin ito (that we'll get past this). Kaya (so), please travel and help us out," she said.

For Valentines' Day, staycation hotels or those allowed to operate for travelers have an occupancy rate of more than 30 percent, according to Ibarreta.

"Tumaas siya kasi dati, 5-10 percent. Nakakaawa talaga," she said.

(It increased because it was only around 5-10 percent before.)

"In terms of occupancies, madami po ang occupancy ng quarantine hotels kasi maraming OFWs na dumating. For the staycation hotels, medyo kailangan po ng push. Yung F&B (food and beverage) talaga medyo pumatok ngayon."

(Quarantine hotels have high occupancy because many overseas Filipino workers arrived. Staycation hotels need push. F&B departments now really boomed.)

• Mga hotel na quarantine facility, di puwedeng tumanggap ng 'staycation' guests: DOT

The public is urged to make reservations ahead of their stay and come prepared with their confirmatory swab test result, Ibarreta said.

"The hotels still follow the safety guidelines. Merong masks, pag-check ng temperature and face shield din (There are masks, temperature check and face shields). Hotel employees are (also) safe rin," Ibarreta said.

"Everything is safe and we make sure, we follow the DOT-IATF (Department of Tourism - Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19) guidelines po."

With the temporary shutdown of Makati Shangri-la and the closure of the Legend Villas, Ibarreta expressed hope that their other hotel members will not follow suit, otherwise "many more lives will be affected."

• Makati Shangri-La closing down 'temporarily' as pandemic batters hotel industry
• After 28 years, Mandaluyong hotel Legend Villas announces closure

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv