The Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HHRAC) said on Sunday that hotels in Cebu City are near full occupancy as the Sinulog Festival is just a week away.

HHRAC President Mia Singson-Leon said occupancy levels have reached up to 90%, with some establishments already fully booked.

These hotels, pension houses, and hostels are located near the Cebu Business Park and downtown areas along the procession routes.

"If you go online, you can see that some hotels are also sold out," she cited.

The bookings are predominantly domestic, but international guests have also shown increasing interest.

She also noted that demand this year matches last year’s turnout, despite the decrease in bookings caused by recent calamities that affected the province.

HHRAC reported a decline in bookings after an earthquake struck Cebu on 30 September 2025.

"We have a lot of cancellations following the calamities, but Sinulog weekend was always steady. We did not get any cancellations for that weekend," Singson-Leon stressed.

The Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) expects hotel and property occupancy to reach 80% to 100% this January due to the surge of visitors.

"We are expecting 300,000 visitors just for January. This is not only because of Sinulog, but the balikbayans and visitors that stay as early as the Christmas season," said DOT-7 Regional Director Gelena-Asis Dimpas.

She added that events like the Sinulog Festival have drawn visitors in the past.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival estimated that around four to five million visitors are expected in Cebu City for this year’s celebration, with the peak during the Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog Grand Parade on 18 January 2026.