2012-12-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — 100 years ago, the grand edifice of Manila Hotel was built and the first five-star hotel in the country was born. Soon after, many dubbed the hotel as the Showcase of the Philippines and Address of Prestige. For decades, prominent figures milled around in the Grand Dame’s ethereal lobby, from heads of state and movie stars to royalty. Its roster of illustrious guests includes Gen. Douglas MacArthur, US Presidents Lyndon Jonson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, their Royal Highnesses Edward and Charles Princes of Wales, Ernest Hemingway, The Beatles and Michael Jackson.
Today, a new Manila Hotel is presented before us. While it opted to maintain its distinct classic interiors, full of poise and elegance, Manila Hotel has recently concluded its renovations in its rooms. The rooms are fully equipped with the most modern facilities and amenities such as waterproof LCD TV’s in the bathrooms, Italian marble baths, premium bathroom amenities, iLuv mp3 docks, in-room safes, and VingCard electronic door locks. And while the new guest rooms exude elegance and sophistication, they still showcase the beauty of authentic Philippine interior design, remaining true to the classic interiors of the Manila Hotel that we know and love.
But the renovation of the rooms is just a part of the many good changes that the hotel has undergone in the past year. The public also saw the MacArthur Lounge, which was conceptualized to be a luxurious VIP area complete with top of the line amenities, breathtaking views of Manila Bay and Intramuros, a state-of-the-art conference room that can seat up to eight people and private nooks perfect for quiet reading or relaxation. The lounge showcases local materials such as capiz accents, laminated coco shells, and weave materials in the furniture. They all blend together beautifully in a vibrant play of colors in rich hues of reds, yellows and greens that one normally sees in Filipino trademarks such as jeepney banderitas.
Just a minute walk away from the five-star restaurant is also another newly-renovated outlet in the Hotel: The Pool and Garden. The pool itself was reconfigured and re-engineered with brand new state-of-the-art pumps and filter system. Further, the installation of decorative spouts and jets add novel flavor and complements the new “Quartzon” finish of the swimming pool. Other new features include a sun deck that beckons guests to relax on its comfortable Dedon Orbit lounge chairs for hours and a newly-refurbished wet bar.
In Manila Hotel, the pool area is more than a place for recreation. Just beside the swimming pool is an event space that overlooks the bay and the sunset that is perfect for outdoor parties and weddings. Timber trellises with colorful flowering vines, punctuated with tall royal, coconut and Madagascar traveler palms filter the sun’s rays, creating a shaded area pleasantly cooled by the sea breeze. Original tree and shrub planting like Sea Grapes, Barringtonia Asiatica and Bougainvillea were conserved and enhanced with additional landscape and mood lighting. Fiery red gingers, orange heliconias, succulent bromeliads, luscious philodendrons and fashionable dwarf bamboos are some of the thousands of new plants added to the garden.
Apart from all these, also located by the bay is the Manila Hotel Spa which offers a five-star relaxation experience to its guests. And to complete their rejuvenation and wellness interests, next to the spa is the Manila Hotel Health Club. Manila Hotel’s newly opened gym features state-of-the-art and high technology Life Fitness Elevation series machines such as the Treadmill, Crosstrainer, Upright exercise bike and Recumbent exercise bike. All of these come with touch screen LCD, iPod control and a virtual trainer. The Manila Hotel Health Club also has its own dry sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.
“It’s a good story if it’s like Manila Hotel,” Ernest Hemingway once said. With Manila Hotel’s commitment to maintain the elegance of its history while constantly striving to exceed the expectations of its modern clientele, indeed, the story just keeps getting better and better.
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