Thread by @cnnphilippines

Your business is our business.

Join our senior anchor @RicoHizon on #TheExchange.

💻 Facebook cnn.ph/3rKguAC
📱 Live stream cnn.ph/1LXc9jG
📺 Free TV ch. 9, Cignal ch. 10, Sky Cable ch. 14

Hotel Sales and Marketing Association Vice President Loleth So on Valentine's weekend: We're very much excited. Coming from the Christmas holidays, and all of a sudden we were [under stricter alert level] so we're very excited to welcome everybody back.

So: We hope that this is really going to be the start of our recovery programs this year.

So on the rise in hotel reservations: Compared to last year, definitely. The industry now is more dynamic. We're more creative also.

So: Everybody just wants to celebrate Valentine's Day.

So: We have to be creative and recover at the same time.

So: Most hotels prefer outdoor promotions, so if they have a garden or a poolside, that's very much maximized.

So: In terms of pricing, we understand that a lot of people are very price-conscious because of the pandemic. We want to make sure that our packages are always price aligned with what the people can buy.

So: The price, we decreased it a bit, but the quality did not suffer.

So: HSMA is very supportive of the DOT's goal to attract foreigners to the country. We're thankful that we're reopening our borders again. In the long term, it will all benefit us and the tourism industry can start moving again.

So: Boracay is one of the resilient destinations in the country. It survives whether it is open to foreigners or locals. Right now, Boracay is really thriving with the local tourists alone.

So: Cebu, on the other hand, prior to Typhoon Odetta, was already recovering. But unfortunately, the setback there was because of the typhoon. Metro Manila is starting to recover, little by little.

So: The hotels in National Capital Region are already starting to get meeting leads for March and April, that's a very good sign for us.

Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates founder Philo Chua on preparations ahead of Valentine's Day: Definitely this year is better than last year. There are a lot of advanced orders.

Chua: Business is good right now for chocolates.

FlowerStore Group founder and CEO Saul Molla Cuesta: We see the demand is much higher than last year.

Chua: Chocolate bars are the most popular. We have special gift sets for Valentine's.

Cuesta: The red roses are like the classic during Valentine's. The price is more, unlike normal days. It can increase by five to ten times. But we are keeping it as affordable as possible.

Cuesta: What we've been developing is preserved flowers, cake, jewelry so people have other options.

Cuesta: Valentine's is a very important day. We try to have these other options because for us Valentine's is about showing your love, care.

Chua: It has always been dark chocolates, it's the most popular.

Chua on tapping online platforms: Definitely we're using social media to market our products. We invest a lot in creating stuff for social media.

Cuesta: We want to be online, be reachable 24/7.

Chua: One of the sources of revenue for us is the tourism industry so our chocolates are popular for balikbayans, tourists. 2022 will be a good year for us.

Wolfgang's Steakhouse Philippines Managing Partner Raymund Magdaluyo: It's looking good. For the longest, we've been waiting for this.

Magdaluyo: Customers are excited. Our reservations are filling up. They're asking for al fresco seating.

Magdaluyo: But I don't think we can meet the pre-pandemic targets. But the thing is we're calling it Valentine's week, starting Monday.

Magdaluyo: The restaurants have two problems now, supply chain issues and shortage of people.

Magdaluyo: We rely on getting meat from the US every week. Those who are relying on imports are having a harder time. Second is manpower, a lot of them have found different careers.