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More than couples, there’s another group of people who are feeling all the love this Valentine’s Day and they are the entrepreneurs.

Many businessmen work around the occasion, which is not even a holiday, just to lure more customers and accommodate all the requests for the day.

Mandarin hotel’s E-commerce and PR manager Erika Aquino said that they don’t have as many guests “normal days.” She adds that the hotel’s occupancy reaches to 75 percent during weekends.

However, it’s a different story come Valentine’s Day because all their rooms get booked. “On Valentine’s Day, hotel-wise it’s even more popular than the Christmas season,” Aquino revealed.

To spice up the occasion, their hotel offers room packages complete with expensive champagne bottles, chocolates and even massages and hair cuts.

Also doing brisk business this Valentine’s Day is the restaurant industry. As we all know, a lot of couples like mark the day with an intimate meal.

Caron Santiago-Macasaet of Melo’s Restaurant says that during Valentine’s Day, more than one hundred guests dine in every branch. She added that favorite requests of the diners are the steaks as well as Rockefeller Oysters.

“We make sure our stocks are complete (and) we do a lot of advertising for Valentine’s Day,” she said.

Of course, there is no Valentine’s Day without giving away flowers to the ladies. Dustin Andaya of Philippine Cut Flower Corporation, who runs Island Rose, shared that their sales tend to increase more than 150 percent from their regular days.

Andaya said, “During Valentine’s alone, we deliver more than 12,000 dozen flowers. In terms of packages, it comes out to around 15 to 20 thousand packages because some are three stem roses and some of the packages come with gifts.”

He also said that the bestsellers, by far, are red roses. Most of the time, it is accompanied by chocolates, stuffed toys, and even jewelry. “We always have special requests – one of the most common requests is filling a room with flowers so orders of more than 10 dozen per customer is not really uncommon for us,” Andaya explained.

He also pointed out: “We have lots of customers who email us when they have finally tied the knot. This (really) encourages us to work harder.”

For couples who want to relax, spas are the usual destination. Amuma Spa in Maribago Bluewater Beach resort in Cebu for example offers couple’s massages and a dinner to go with it.

However, in spite of all the commercialization that comes with the occasion, entrepreneurs still advise couples to enjoy the evening with their loved ones.

Nadia Montenegro and her daughter posed for the camera with their bunch of roses from Island Rose after a taping for Kapuso’s Love ni Mister, Love ni Misis.

Pretty as ever, Heart Evangelista showed off her bouquet of Island Rose bouquet after taping for Love ni Mister, Love ni Misis.

Chyna Hortaleza, GMA 7 talent, posed with her red roses after a taping for Love ni Mister, Love ni Misis.

Yayo Aguila showed off her bouquet of Island Rose flowers at GMA 7′s Love ni Mister, Love ni Misis.

Lolit Solis, manager to famous actors and actresses in the Philippine movie industry, received her bouquet of Island Rose flowers at Net 25′s Moments.

Christmas is almost here! We would like to remind you that the last day of ordering your Christmas gifts is on December 21, 2010 for the provinces and December 23, 2010 for Metro Manila at 4pm Philippine time. Send your favorite Island Rose bouquet with our special holiday trimmings. Personalize it with your own holiday greetings.

We’re looking forward to another fruitful year of serving you in 2011.

Wishing you a life full of lasting relationships.

Cheers,

From your friends at Island Rose

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