One of the forerunner hotels in Iloilo City, Hotel del Rio remains strong amid the recent public health emergency. It may be recalled that the coronavirus disease has immensely crippled the economy and has forced industries to shut down. One of the most affected industries is the hospitality sector.
Here, Hotel del Rio spawns ‘Mercado del Rio’, a store selling produce from marginalized farmers in both upland and lowland Iloilo Province. The hotel’s coffee shop at the lobby, known as Café del Prado, was transformed into ‘Mercado del Rio’. The ‘mercado’ is the hotel’s initiative to help local farmers sustain their livelihood while enabling consumers to access locally grown produce.
“Just sharing how my love for plants and agriculture saved our hotel, Hotel Del Rio from closing during ECQ and GCQ. Yes, you’ve seen it right we converted half of our coffee shop, Cafe Del Prado, to #MercadoDelRio. We chose to carry our own weather and not give up. When you can’t find the sun, Be the sunshine. We continue to innovate, adapt, and accept the challenge that this Pandemic gives us. We stand strong and mighty true to our tagline “Ilonggo Heritage at it’s finest,” states Hotel del Rio’s Chief Operating Officer Allan Tan, in a social media post.
Hotel del Rio regularly posts the fresh produce on their official Facebook page, Hotel del Rio.
