Thai hotel group Centara has taken over the former Case Manila, which will reopen as Centara Manila Hotel later this year.
While Resorts World Manila has little to offer corporate groups apart from entertainment, the on-site 342-room Marriott Manila is proving popular with event planners. It is opposite Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Meeting facilities are also extensive, with 1,100 sqm on offer across nine meeting rooms, and a ballroom seating 700 people for banquets.
SMX Convention Center has yet to select a partner to manage its on-site hotel, opening in 2013. The original plan for a single hotel was scrapped in favour of a two-tower model featuring a four and a five-star hotel with 150 rooms in total.
COMING SOON
In contrast to its colonial-era sisters, the long-awaited Raffles Makati will occupy a skyscraper in downtown Manila. The top 20 floors will house Raffles Residences while a Long Bar in the style of Raffles Singapore has also been promised.
Shangri-La has 2014 plans for a 500-room opening at the new Fort Bonafacio district and Banyan Tree will break ground for international hotels on the Unesco-protected island of Palawan by 2012.
FURTHER AFIELD
Centara has also taken over The Residences Fairway and Bluewater, Boracay Island’s largest resort with 246 guestrooms. Now known as Centara Grand Beach Resort and Spa, Boracay, the combined beach and golf club is to be upgraded with an additional 270 guestrooms and villas, and a new spa. There will also be a private welcome centre for groups.
Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu opened last month beside the SM City Cebu Mall, 11km from Cebu Airport. The hotel offers 400 hi-tech guestrooms equipped with 37” inch flatscreen televisions, iPod docking stations and complimentary Wifi. ‘Business Class’ rooms include Nespresso coffee machines and Club Lounge access.
There is an outdoor Event Plaza, Santa Maria Grand Ballroom can accommodate 1,200 people for receptions, while Nina Ballroom seats 650. Ten meeting rooms surround a central Meeting Plaza, San Martin (divisible into three) includes a long balcony overlooking the garden and lagoon pool.