The 497-room Peninsula is in a busy commercial district. Director of marketing, Cristina Cruz, says: “Our room rates for corporate groups range from US$134 to US$150. We have retained our 2008 rates and added more incentives.” The hotel’s Rigodon ballroom can hold up to 700 people for cocktails. There are three other stately meeting rooms, Garcia Villa (80 in theatre style), Balmori (80) and Balagatas (90).

The 699-room Makati Shangri-La is nearby in the heart of Makati. The hotel’s room rates for corporate groups start at US$180. Full-day meeting packages are US$50 with buffet lunch for a minimum of 20 delegates.

Renaissance Makati City Hotel is very near restaurants, shops and bars. Greenbelt 3 is right across the street. Room rates for groups range from US$100 to US$130, depending on the season. Meeting packages start at US$35 including two breaks and lunch. Value-added extras include suite upgrades as well as F&B and spa discounts.

A Makati stalwart, the 335-room InterContinental offers easy access to commerce and recreation with its central location. Right next door is the Ayala Center, a large commercial establishment complete with theatres, shopping and dining.

Mandarin Oriental is also a popular choice on the Makati business hotels line-up. The elegant 18-storey hotel has 443 rooms and a ballroom that can hold up to 1,000 people. Mandarin’s West Meet East residential meeting packages start at US$120 for a superior room, US$135 for a deluxe room and US$145 for a business room. Meetings booked between June and September will receive a five per cent rebate off the master bill. For every 15 rooms booked, the package offers one room upgrade to the next category; and one suite upgrade for every 30 rooms booked.