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A Family Rest House in Batangas Transforms Into an Exclusive Garden Resort

Sat, 25 May 2024 03:33:13 GMT

The 11-hectare El Jardin de Zaida is a picturesque middle ground for those who want to unplug but not be totally off the grid.

Domestic and international travel is back on its feet these past few years, and trend forecasters continue to see it booming. One of the travel trends that’s currently enjoying a boom is luxury travel, particularly on the wellness front.

And luxury no longer just refers to upscale price points. In the realm of travel, luxury now also entails a high level of exclusivity and comfort, with emphasis on experiences and wellness. Where previously, luxury travel often referred to trips made and destinations visited by celebrities, VIPs, and the world’s elite, now it encompasses premium experiences and accommodations. With more tourists now willing to spend more for comfort, convenience, and deeper experiences, it’s no surprise the luxury travel sector has seen an uptick.

This willingness to spend is seen across various age groups, with the retiree class now opting to spend more on travel—skip-generation travel (grandparents with their grandchildren) is also becoming a trend, with families opting to invest in time together. Millennials and Gen Zs meanwhile lean towards travel plans that emphasize “personal wellness” and “well-being experiences,” reports travel news outlet Skift .

Put in another way, a luxury traveler’s needs would have privacy, indulgence, and wellness or pampering among their priorities. Coming from years of social and physical distance, authentic experiences that engage all the senses are something travelers are also willing to put a premium on.

And with the current return to the so-called “real world”—oversaturated with technology, overstimulated by (social and traditional) media, news, and social interactions, and affected by the uncontrollable extreme heat conditions—it’s no surprise if more travelers, Filipinos in particular, are in search of staycations away from the busy city.

Now there is a wealth of boutique hotels, resorts, and BnBs popping up in nearby provinces, frequented by local, weekend travelers. Batangas, long known as a weekend destination for its beach resorts, is also home to a quietly sought-after staycation spot.

Nestled within 11 hectares of lush greenery, El Jardin de Zaida is a family-owned resort, formerly the rest house of the Mago family. In 2018, they opened the doors of their home to turn it into a sprawling resort, featuring suites and deluxe rooms, pools, verdant gardens, and even a spa, restaurant, and bar.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Tropical flora abound at every corner of El Jardin de Zaida, proving it true to its name. Rudy Mago, family patriarch and one half of the rest house-turned-resort’s founders, excitedly shares that some decades ago, he had planted several of the trees on the property, which have eventually been used in crafting the different furniture and elements seen around El Jardin’s different structures.

He and his wife Zaida, after whom the place was named, are incredibly hands-on with the property’s development—and it shows, as every addition looks so organically placed and built.

The feeling of being at home emanates across the resort’s various facilities, especially in their prized suites. Named after their granddaughters, the different suites feature Filipino-inspired interiors, and are equipped with all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay.

In one of the premiere suites, you can find a spacious living and dining room, with windows boasting views of either greenery or the quaint villa pool. The bedrooms are fitted with the softest sheets and plush pillows. Both the living room and bedroom have smart TVs. But it’s the suite bathroom that serves as the villa’s piece de resistance: an open-air space but private, still, with its high walls, allowing just the safest peep of the trees’ leaves peeking through a narrow space between the walls and the roof. The spacious premiere suite bathroom also features a tub, a separate shower (that also has plants!), and fully stocked, locally-produced toiletries.

It’s tough leaving that bathroom, to be honest, but the resort’s other facilities are all equally compelling—and a shame not to experience.

ROMANTIC VIEWS, ENRICHING EXPERIENCES

El Jardin de Zaida has two dining establishments—the restaurant Rodolfo’s and Rudy’s Bar and Lounge. The restaurant serves a variety of dishes, from Filipino cuisine and Filipino-inspired fare to international dishes. They offer classics like sinuglaw, a spicy and tart dish of grilled pork belly and fish ceviche; pork estofado; and mouthwatering crispy pork belly. Creative fusion dishes like their fresh spring roll featuring the very Filipino tinapa and salted egg with onion, tomato, and mustasa make for a refreshing and crisp mouthful of flavors. They also have very inclusive menus, with dishes like the spaghetti oriental that features vegetables and mushrooms as a meat-free food option.

The simple creativity in their dishes are also evident in their desserts. As if we could’ve loved turon even more, Rodolfo’s take on the quintessential Filipino dessert adds a homemade caramel sauce that makes the turon even more irresistible.

Being a resort so deeply immersed in nature, their salads—from mango shrimp to mesclun—also impress, with fresh greens drizzled with refreshing dressings.

Rodolfo’s also boasts literally homegrown ingredients. Calamansi and tamarind harvested from their farm are turned into fresh juices served to guests as their welcome drinks. Their native coconut trees on the grounds are sourced for dishes that need gata, while their dwarf coconut trees provide their coconut juice—served freshly cut and opened, too.

The dining experience at El Jardin is also more enriching, thanks to the views. Rodolfo’s features large windows that allow diners to gaze into one of their gardens, while Rudy’s offers a wider view of the landscape. The resort also offers to arrange for garden picnics and dinners under the stars.

The garden picnic is set up in front of Casa Molave, where you can ground yourself in greenery, and enjoy viewing the traditional architecture of the house. Casa Molave was a house bought by the Magos from a different town in Batangas and then transplanted into the San Juan property.

Aside from picnics and al fresco meals, El Jardin can also arrange for various other outdoor activities. The vast garden grounds are conducive for yoga sessions and outdoor sports like soccer and volleyball. Bicycles are also available to be rented, which can be used around the property. When calamansi is in season, they also allow guests to visit the calamansi orchard to pick fruits. Outdoor barbecues, bonfires, and even boodle fights can also be arranged.

WELLNESS TREATMENTS

Aside from the relaxation afforded by immersing in nature and being away from the city, El Jardin also has a dedicated spa facility that offers a variety of treatments. Rocio Spa’s Signature Bliss treatment for example is a holistic two-and-a-half hour session that starts with a relaxing bath soak and body scrub, followed by a full body massage, and capped off with a facial tailor fit to the guest’s needs—from hydrating, brightening, and anti-aging.

Specific massages are also available. The Alaga massage is Rocio Spa’s version of hilot, perfect for those who feel the need to release muscle knots and blockages. Sigla, meanwhile, focuses on foot reflexology, making it a perfect post-travel treatment. The Ginhawa package is an Ayurvedic head massage designed to relieve tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. The package also includes hot oil hair treatment and eye detoxing.

For a full body treatment meant to ease tension in the back and limbs, and to aid in overall relaxation, they recommend the Hulay package. (They also say this package is designed to promote restful sleep, truly effective, because I fell asleep halfway through my massage!)

Before starting your massage session, guests can also use the spa’s shower and sauna facilities. Refreshing pandan tea and ginger tea are also served before and after the sessions, respectively.

A SPACE TO DISCONNECT

El Jardin de Zaida truly serves as an oasis, especially for those in need of space and time for quiet. Being away from overly urbanized towns, surrounded by vast greenery, and actually having little to no mobile signal helps pry us away from being perpetually on call and online.

The vast property allows for true relaxation, away from the stimuli and distractions we are bombarded with in the city. While they do have (pretty good!) internet connection in the villas and facilities, having that aspect of being disconnected forces us to really take in the view and the experience in front of us, resulting in a more enriching and restful experience.

They strike the perfect middle ground of being a lush and luxurious space where one can truly disconnect if one wishes to—but not be totally isolated and off the grid, too. For families, friends, and partners who are in need of a space to relax together, El Jardin de Zaida, being only nearly three hours away from Manila, is the complete package.

With luxuriously comfortable accommodations, delectable food and drink choices, a plethora of outdoor activities, and various wellness options, it’ll be a sure joy staying at this home away from home, even if it does cost a pretty penny.

Source:

Pauline Miranda. 2024, May 25. A Family Rest House in Batangas Transforms Into an Exclusive Garden Resort . Nolisoli. <https://nolisoli.ph/109228/el-jardin-de-zaida/>

The Belamy House: A New Boutique Hotel In Makati For Your City Staycations

Fri, 10 May 2024 05:18:30 GMT

The Belamy House offers a cozy yet elegantly chic space for you to call home in Makati City. With its spacious suites, amenities, and must-try dining options, you have more than enough of what you need for a relaxing stay.

There’s a new home away from home you can check out the next time you’re in Makati City—whether for long work nights or fun weekends in the bars, cafes, and restaurants in Poblacion.

The Belamy House is a new boutique hotel along Jupiter St. in Makati City. It’s accessible to both the CBD area and Poblacion, so whether you’re in the area for business or pleasure, The Belamy House offers a great staycation location.

The property also offers free parking for hotel guests, a massive deal in Makati for car owners.

The Belamy House is a 5-story boutique hotel with three room types and amenities to ensure a relaxing and worthwhile stay.

THE BELAMY HOUSE SUITES

We stayed in The Belamy House’s one-bedroom suite, also the biggest room type in the hotel. The suite featured a cozy living area that doubles as a dining area. There’s a cozy couch, a large coffee table, a smart TV, and a glass sliding door that opens to a quaint balcony.

This living & dining space also features a kitchenette complete with a stove, a kitchen sink, a mini fridge, a microwave, a rice cooker, pots & pans, and dinnerware. If you’re staying in Makati for a couple of nights and you really don’t want to eat out every time, you can cook a perfectly good meal in the cozy comforts of your suite.

Moving to the bedroom, we were shocked at the sheer size of the bedroom. It was huge and had more than enough space for the king-sized bed beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s also a smart TV inside the bedroom, because who wouldn’t enjoy falling asleep to your favorite movie?

If you need to get work done, there’s also a workstation that will help you stay productive even when the cozy king bed starts calling to you.

The ensuite bathroom of the one-bedroom suite was also shockingly spacious! It was actually bigger than some luxury hotel bathrooms I’ve seen.

There’s a huge bathtub (for relaxing at the end of a long day), two sinks (so you don’t have to share with your companion), and a roomy shower room with a rainfall showerhead.

The suites at The Belamy House have everything you need and more to ensure you enjoy the coziest and most relaxing stay. But that doesn’t mean there’s not much to do in the hotel.

FOR FITNESS & RELAXATION: THE BELAMY HOUSE AMENITIES

The Belamy House features a variety of amenities that will keep you relaxed and/or active during your stay, depending on what you want to experience.

On the roof deck is an outdoor pool with a poolside lounge. You can enjoy the view of the city while swimming or relaxing in the lounge. This outdoor pool is basically a summer staycation essential, so we’re glad there’s one to enjoy here, complete with a city view!

And on the hotel’s lower ground floor, there’s a fitness center for guests who want to stay active during their staycation. It’s well-furnished with gym equipment to help you keep your active lifestyle.

But if you’re adamant about completely destressing during your stay at The Belamy House, you can enjoy a relaxing in-room massage! The services start at PHP 1,000 per hour. We highly recommend trying their signature massage. Their talented masseuses will guarantee a soothing massage that we won’t be surprised if you fall asleep, especially since you’re already in the comfy hotel bed.

INTERNATIONAL DINING OPTIONS AT THE BELAMY HOUSE

If you’re not in the mood to go on a Poblacion food trip during your staycation, you can enjoy the delicious international food options at the hotel.

There’s Kaokee Singaporean Kitchen where you can enjoy Singaporean classics such as claypot rice, Hainanese chicken, and the highly recommended prawn laksa. While this food spot may be a newcomer to the local scene, we’re sure it’s set to be a crowd favorite and one of the go-to Singaporean restaurants in the Metro.

You can also dine at Ria Ayam Penyet, an Indonesian restaurant with locations all over Southeast Asia and Australia. This is Ria’s first location in the Philippines, so if you want savory Indonesian street food, this is where to go. Be sure to try the nasi goreng, the grilled beef ribs, and the massive prawn crackers.

You don’t even have to leave The Belamy House to enjoy an international food trip in Makati!

If you want to explore the area for more food options, you can also enjoy some delicious hot meals, picture-perfect cakes, desserts, and freshly prepared macarons at Dylan Patisserie. It’s only a few steps away from The Belamy House and is perfect for date nights and special celebrations.

A COZY HOME AWAY FROM HOME IN MAKATI

The Belamy House offers a cozy yet elegantly chic space for you to call home in Makati City. With its spacious suites, amenities, and must-try dining options, you have more than enough of what you need for a relaxing stay.

So, on your next long work week in Makati City, weekend out in Poblacion with the barkada, or relaxing city staycation, make sure to book a suite at The Belamy House.

Source:

Vivien del Valle. 2024, May 10. The Belamy House: A New Boutique Hotel In Makati For Your City Staycations. When In Manila. <https://www.wheninmanila.com/the-belamy-house-makati/>

This New Co-Living Space in Makati Makes Dormitories Work for Young Professionals

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 08:28:18 GMT

A new co-living space in the Metro claims to be the solution to this problem. Located in San Antonio Village, The Grid Co-Living is students and working professionals in Makati City who want the affordability of a dormitory with the amenities of a condominium.

It’s typical for students to live in a dormitory, where a smaller space and communal living is often worth the compromise for cheaper rent and easier logistics. For young professionals, renting a condominium might seem like the next level to experiencing adulthood, but this becomes near impossible for those who are on (or are starting with) a tight budget.

This is especially true for those who work in busy cities like Makati, where condominium rent will cost over P30,000 on average for a studio unit in Salcedo Village and Legaspi Village. Nearing Rockwell Center, this figure shoots up to P40,000—and all this data was from the pre-pandemic (and pre-inflation) era of 2019. We can only imagine how much the cost of living has skyrocketed since then.

The growing traffic problem isn't giving Filipinos much of a choice but to succumb to these rental prices, either.

A new co-living space in the Metro claims to be the solution to this problem. Located in San Antonio Village, The Grid Co-Living is students and working professionals in Makati City who want the affordability of a dormitory with the amenities of a condominium.

The Grid Co-Living is a Celebration of Community and Convenience

Where traditional dormitories are simply a place where people go to sleep, Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII) Founder Luis Monserrat said The Grid Co-Living is a next level evolution to that with “an endeavor to provide residents with a holistic lifestyle.”

At The Grid Co-Living, there’s a study and work lounge on every floor. On the rooftop is a swimming pool and a lounge area. A fully-equipped gym is also available for those who like to keep in shape. This co-living experience makes for social opportunities that can't be found in condominiums, which is especially beneficial for students or professionals who are new to the city.

You’ll also find a café, laundromat, and convenience store at the commercial spaces in the first and second floor of the building, which make these everyday services much more accessible to its residents.

This new space is just a few minutes away from the Makati Central Business District. The Grid Co-Living is also strategically placed near public transportation like the Ayala MRT Station, as well as the Buendia and Chino Roces bus stops.

Renting bunk beds in the Triple and Quadruple Rooms are easily the cheapest options at P5,400 to P7,000 on The Grid Co-Living’s offering. You pay per bed, which is priced differently for upper and lower bed. Each unit is inclusive of a shared pantry, dining area, and en-suite bathroom.

Multi-bedroom options like the 4-in-1 and the 8-in-1 Rooms are also available for a larger co-living experience. You can each have a solo bedroom in a more spacious apartment with a price of P10,000.

Those who want to live on a budget without sacrificing privacy can opt for the Single Room for P15,000 that is akin to a small studio unit. It’s a completely private space for one that can allow residents to “jump back into communal spaces at a moment’s notice."

The Grid Co-Living is also offering short-term stays for transient guests starting at P1,750. You can avail of The Grid Co-Living's special pre-opening rates until May 31.

Source:

Micah Avry Guiao. 2023, April 19. This New Co-Living Space in Makati Makes Dormitories Work for Young Professionals . Spot. <https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/adulting/104497/for-students-and-professionals-the-grid-co-living-in-makati-city-a5229-20230419>

First Georgetown Ventures Planning to Open The Grid Co-Living in January

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:58:33 GMT

FGVI recently appointed Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII) to operate The Grid, a 10-storey building located along Yakal, Lumbayao, and Bakawan Streets, in San Antonio Village, Makati City.

First Georgetown Ventures, Inc. (FGVI) is set to open in January a new community-based complex, The Grid Co-Living, in Makati City.

FGVI recently appointed Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII) to operate The Grid, a 10-storey building located along Yakal, Lumbayao, and Bakawan Streets, in San Antonio Village, Makati City.

The Grid’s first two floors are allocated for commercial establishments and the rest for residential living.

“We chose to partner with HII given their well-established reputation and experience in operations and property management of hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments. We want to be able to serve our clients well and, at the same time, we want our building to be properly maintained. We believe that HII is the perfect partner for these objectives,” FGVI President Kristopher Yang said.

The Grid targets office workers, medical frontliners, and students who want to live near their workplaces and schools in Makati.

“The influx of working professionals in Makati and the horrible traffic going to and from workplaces prompted us to venture into a co-living project. We envision The Grid to be the young urban workers’ home near their offices. We hope that cutting their travel time to and from work would improve their overall well-being,” Mr. Yang said.

The Grid offers different unit types such as single (13.67-13.91 square meters), triple (14.18-17.52 sq.m.), and quadruple (15.98-20.71 sq.m.), which include bunk beds.

For four-in-one (36.1-39.99 sq.m.) and eight-in-one (36.1 sq.m.) units, there are multiple rooms with single beds, a shared kitchen and living/dining space.

Amenities include a swimming pool, gym, roof deck, retail shops, and several open spaces.

The company, led by George Yang, operates hotels in Laguna and El Nido, Palawan. FGVI also develops primary and secondary homes catering to the middle-income segment.

HII has over 24 years of experience in hotel and property management. It currently has 17 properties in its portfolio, including Hue Hotels & Resorts Boracay & Puerto Princesa, Charlie’s El Nido, The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, Parque España Residence Hotel, and Harvest Hotel.

Source:

Cathy Rose A. Garcia. 2022, November 15. First Georgetown Ventures planning to open The Grid Co-Living in January . Business World Online. <https://www.bworldonline.com/property/2022/11/15/486976/first-georgetown-ventures-planning-to-open-the-grid-co-living-in-january/?fbclid=IwAR38hdxrQqVNMW95dUVN3ppnRQXXv4gltntrSSEqqe993La62M-YNL5CoPI>

Hues of Paradise in Puerto Princesa

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 06:58:00 GMT

This cozy and upscale hotel boasts eclectic colors, an inviting lobby, a splendid restaurant, well-appointed gym and spa and the most competent staff you could meet.

I often say it’s difficult to leave the comforts of one’s home unless it’s for a better, more luxurious place. This philosophy is my barometer for embarking on travels here and abroad.

With the Philippines slowly but surely opening up, it’s officially “revenge travel season.” Feeling like the Mona Lisa, I discovered a haven between the mountains for some fresh air and the glorious beach for the radiant sun. In between verdant forests and marine life (plus food tourism) are the colors of leisure at the Hue Hotel and Resorts in Puerto Princesa.

The incredible people behind Luana Lifestyle and Leisure Hotel Inc., who have created Hue Hotels and Resorts Boracay — with Hue Hotels and Resorts Siargao in the pipeline — toast as they celebrate the fifth anniversary of their property in Puerto Princesa.

This cozy and upscale hotel boasts eclectic colors, an inviting lobby, a splendid restaurant, well-appointed gym and spa and the most competent staff you could meet.

It was an honor to meet the owners, charming couple Dennis and Yvonne Lee, and Dexter Lee, as well as group GM Chris Guballa.

At the salsa-themed celebration with a splendid show of fireworks, we were welcomed with Palawan personalities like Rep. Edward Hagedorn and tourism head Toto Alvior. As we raised our champagne glasses and the sound of clinking filled the air, we were in joyful reverie.

We learned from the indefatigable Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron and city sports director Atty. Rocky Austria that the amazing Ironman contest, which involves 1,700 athletes from all over the world, will be joining this incredible feat that Mayor Bayron plans to have for the next 10 years.

Toto Alvior also shared his tourism plans like sustainable projects, food tourism and cruise liner dockings.

In the Balayong People´s Park, 1,000 endemic Palawan balayong trees (like Japan’s cherry blossoms) have been planted and will be the focus of the Balayong Festival next year.

We also learned from Guballa that they want the hotel to be the ultimate destination in the city.

It was indeed refreshing to know from the Lee brothers that they started their business in property management. They opted to create community-based projects to elevate the standard of living for anyone who aspires for a better life. They have embarked on development projects not just for themselves but for the community as well. Such endeavors bring these fine gentlemen the ultimate fulfillment.

Here in Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa, their ingenuity celebrates the flavor of Filipino culture and nature’s finest treasures. One can travel solo, as a family, group or even for business. You can organize your meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exhibitions here.

I immensely enjoyed my spacious and well-appointed 50-sqm. suite room with the most comfortable beds plus en-suite bathrooms with the most fragrant amenities ever.

As if that wasn’t enough, my professional masseuse from their in-house Aminah Spa gently kneaded my weary muscles after I explored the sun-kissed sand and azure waters of Honda Bay.

Rep. Hagedorn shared that Puerto Princesa has two heritage sites, namely Tubbataha Reef and the magnificent Puerto Princesa Underground River, where quietly discovering the centuries-old stalactites and stalagmites in the immaculate caverns is like watching a National Geographic episode come alive in front of you.

In the city that is still 73-percent forested, it is most interesting to visit the Iwahig Prison and Penal Colony Farm. The epitome of justice with respect, this facility, which is twice the size of Paris, is known worldwide as the “Prison without Bars.” According to information officer Levi Evangelista, over 2,000 inmates can freely roam around and enjoy physical and livelihood projects.

At La-ud, the showcase restaurant of Hue Hotel Puerto Princesa, we savored the delicious smoked pork ribs, the most savory crispy pork binagoongan, chicken binacol cooked in fresh buco juice, Thai chicken curry, tender, fall-off-the-bone spicy spareribs and the iconic halo-halo to refresh after a day of basking in dreamy tropical fervor, all prepared and cooked by chef Nonoy Rodriguez. We also celebrated the birthday of our beloved friend Buddy Recio, who was with his lovely wife, Divine. (You haven’t been to Puerto Princesa if you have not experienced the gustatory delights at Kinabuch and Badjao Seafood Restaurant.)

It’s worth noting that Puerto Princesa has very impressive piña fiber-weaving centers where the youth learn this craft. We also visited a microbrewery that serves among the best beers worldwide. Publicists Marc de la Cruz and Gemma Batoon made sure we would experience them — and more!

The Puerto Princesa experience became more complete with the presence of Val Julius Roland S. Pillerva, tourism operations assistant, as part of the team who welcomed us at the Puerto Princesa airport. How often does one leave the comforts of home to be welcomed not as a guest but as family?

At the end of the day, I would be delighted to relish and cherish my home away from home — Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa — over and over. What could be more luxurious than the eclectic hues that shine so radiantly here? Need I say more?

Source:

Christine S. Dayrit. 2022, August 14. Hues of Paradise in Puerto Princesa . Philippine Star. <https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/sunday-life/2022/08/14/2202454/hues-paradise-puerto-princesa>

Charlie’s El Nido: How A Posh Hotel Survived The Challenges of The Pandemic

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 06:32:55 GMT

Not only a sophisticated or stylish product is important, but also the genuine enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication of the individuals that work ceaselessly behind the scenes are truly the essence of a resort’s success.

Eighteen days after Charlie’s El Nido opened on March 1, 2020, it was forced to temporarily cease operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was the month in which the country began registering new cases of COVID-19 following the confirmation of the first three instances in January and February. A 48-year-old male Filipino with a history of travel to Japan was diagnosed with the fatal disease on March 5, following his return on February 25 in the same year.

On March 9, President Rodrigo Duterte issued a declaration proclaiming a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 threat. In the days that followed, he ordered the shutdown of all airports in Luzon’s main island to stop the spread.

Ed Franco, pre-opening General Manager of Charlie’s El Nido, said they found themselves in this situation after expecting significant success as a hotel offering secluded comfort to domestic and international travelers within the lush terrain of one of the country’s most famous destinations.

“From March 18, we were closed not knowing exactly when we would be able to reopen. So, wala kaming tinatanggap na guest at all. Those were the times we were trying to comply with various government regulations, implement new health and safety standards, invest in new equipment endorsed by the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Tourism (DOT). The natural course of direction, of course, is to look for alternative sources of business and to manage our operational expenses. Overhead costs and variables had to be controlled,” he said.

Charlie’s El Nido is a sister property of Hue Hotels and Resorts (Puerto Princesa & Boracay), which is also managed by Hospitality Innovators Incorporated (HII), a company that specializes in providing excellent value, personalized experiences, and the best in hospitality through its various hotels & resorts throughout the Philippines.

In order to stay afloat and manage its finances, the resort, like other businesses in El Nido, were forced to retrench personnel. This was a difficult decision to make for obvious reasons. Franco said their remaining staff learned to multi-task on the job after 87 employees were cut by 45% by late September 2020.

He admired how the remaining personnel maintained their emotional and mental strength in the face of overwhelming uncertainty and hardship. Throughout the process, the HII management team, as well as the hotel owners, provided unwavering support. Psychologists were employed to assist hotel managers, supervisors, and rank-and-file staff in nurturing their mental health throughout the pandemic.

“No matter how fragile the business environment was, seeing the capability and resiliency of the staff lifted us out of the most difficult moments in the last 2 years. Kahit ganoon ang sitwasyon sa kapaligiran, pumapasok pa rin ang mga staff and their respective supervisors, without complaints. In hindsight, we were all drawing strength from each other to get through the day,” he said.

Franco himself feels fortunate to work with a team that demonstrates a proactive attitude towards teamwork and collaboration. Admittedly, it was from here that he drew the strength necessary to continue leading the resort’s operation.

He also noted that the skill sets of local workers have improved and can be further strengthened through training provided by private firms and the local government.

“Ang realization ko dito ay – we must always value our hotel staff. They’re the real asset of every hotel organization, full stop. I have been challenged in all angles during the shutdown. Pressures were mounting in all aspects of operations, but at the end of the day, when you have a team that’s nurtured, challenged and inspired, anything is possible. No matter how tough things get, they can be resolved by an inspired team,” he explained.

Adjustments and Slow Recovery

When the resort reopened in October 2020, there was a notable number of bookings. The tourism sector returned, specifically coming from local markets, such as Puerto Princesa residents and “staycationers” who wanted to seek refuge due to frequent power shortages.

However, a few short months after on April 2021, Lio Airport was forced to close due to a new wave of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and El Nido, creating a roller-coaster ride for residents of the town.

Charlie’s El Nido opted to once again temporarily cease operations in July, August, and September 2021 due to a lack of bookings and leads.

Franco flew back home to Cagayan Valley, where he decided to receive his vaccination.

“Most of my department heads returned home under “Work From Home” arrangements. We left behind a skeleton workforce composed of the security team, housekeeping supervisor, and engineering personnel. It was very challenging for us not knowing what would transpire again, “ he said.

Fortunately, he was able to secure an agreement with a well-known international television reality show by October 2021, reviving Charlie’s El Nido.

“I was given only eight days to reopen the entire hotel with a skeletal workforce present on-site. We all had to work together to swiftly jumpstart operations. I even acted as a gardener, along with the security team, to trim all overgrown plants and remove dead leaves, while the housekeeping team endeavored to wash, sanitize, and disinfect all rooms, linens, and public areas. The restaurant staff had their fair share of work too, washing down the entire kitchen and all equipment to ensure proper compliance with health protocols,” he said.

“It was a humbling experience kasi kulang ng tao. Skeletal workforce kami, less than 10 staff spread out in all areas and departments. We reopened the hotel on October 1, 2021. Gradually nadagdagan nang nadagdagan ang workforce—medyo controlled kasi we were also watching our hotel occupancy. We had to ensure that our revenue would be able to sustain our operational expenses,” he added.

Upon the hotel’s initial closure in 2020, its leftover stocks were donated to the local community. Additionally, resort staff assisted in other community activities such as collaborating with Villa Libertad’s Barangay Council to plant Narra trees in the mountains of Lio.

The resort subsequently began to slowly rehire previously retrenched staff while also offering opportunities to a new set of employees.

“We were beyond ecstatic that we survived all the shutdowns, curfews, and community lockdowns during this pandemic. Reopening the hotel gave us a ray of hope for the El Nido community’s recovery,” he said.

Why Charlie’s El Nido in the New Normal

Charlie’s El Nido is located in Barangay Villa Libertad, along the National Highway, and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and Cadlao Island.

“Charlie’s sits accessibly on higher grounds, while still remaining very close to LIO Beach and the trekking-friendly Eco-Trail. Inside the confines of the resort, Charlie’s offers a pristine and cozy place in the evening. Guests can go partying on the beach, hangout in bars downtown, but upon return, resort guests get to enjoy the peace and quiet they deserve. Truly a place to relax and rest,” Franco quipped.

Away from the crowds of El Nido town and Lio Estate Resorts, the hotel is a stylish, self-contained, and quiet retreat. It boasts seven different accommodation styles to provide the ideal backdrop for anyone’s tropical getaway, according to its website.

Its rooms have exclusive access to a refreshing well-maintained swimming pool and have terraces with breathtaking views of the municipality’s terrain, whether visiting as a couple, with friends and family, or on a single holiday.

Well thought-out Facilities & Amenities at Charlie’s El Nido focus on pampering the body and energizing the mind. Whether it’s a relaxing massage or a yoga and meditation sessions, or even simply a dip in the pool, guests may rediscover their inner peace and reconnect with the natural environment.

It also offers a restaurant where freshly-cooked meals are served, a cocktail bar for cool and invigorating drinks, and a fully-equipped fitness center for workout junkies. Charlie’s El Nido also has a gift shop that sells exclusive resort souvenirs and small items that are suitable for “pasalubongs” (gifts).

Those who want to visit nearby local establishments can take advantage of the hotel’s free shuttle service, which runs between Lio Beach, El Nido town, and the resort (a 5 to 15 minute drive).

“It’s like you get to retire from an active busy day outside and sleep comfortably as soon as the guestroom door shuts. With El Nido’s notorious power outage and internet shutdown, Charlie’s offers uninterrupted services. That’s really something we can guarantee for our hotel guests,” he added.

It promotes an organic lifestyle and food conservation through the farm-to-table concept, along with a few hotels. It decreases the amount of plastic wastes produced by functioning with less plastics. All food wastes from the bar, restaurant and kitchen are donated to KALAWILI FARMS, which in turn converts it into organic fertilizers by way of feeding food wastes to black army flies.

Taking Care of Guests’ Health vs COVID-19

“Charlie’s El Nido, HII and Stakeholders’ top priority right now is to invest in new cleaning and sanitizing tools and equipment in accordance with safety protocols designed to protect the public from local virus transmission”, Franco said.

The ultimate goal, he explained, is to keep hotel guests, employees, and suppliers safe. Acrylic barriers at the front desk, automatic hand sanitizing and body temperature checking equipment, signage on the floors, bedrooms, and public areas, misting machines, UV lights, personal protection equipment (PPE), and footbaths are among the new features for safety.

Employees are encouraged to be vaccinated in addition to wearing face masks, which resulted to a 100% turnout. Every month, in collaboration with Adventist Clinic, random swab testing for employees is undertaken, as a measure for employees safety and monitor health conditions.

Charlie’s El Nido was one of the first hotels in town to have its own supply of antigen test kits, made available for employees, as early as April 2020.

Franco finally quipped, Charlie’s El Nido is living proof that staying in the game through these tough times reveals the true and genuine value of the resort. Not only a sophisticated or stylish product is important, but also the genuine enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication of the individuals that work ceaselessly behind the scenes are truly the essence of a resort’s success.

Source:

Rachel Ganancial. 2022, March 9. Charlie’s El Nido: How A Posh Hotel Survived The Challenges of The Pandemic . Palawan News. <https://palawan-news.com/charlies-el-nido-how-a-posh-hotel-survived-the-challenges-of-the-pandemic/>

Go Back To Boracay For You, But Go For The Locals, Too

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 15:57:40 GMT

Boracay still feels like paradise. And the hardest part is still leaving.

There’s something the employees of Hue Hotels and Resorts Boracay do when they cross paths with you. They smile, place their hands over their hearts and bow their heads in greeting. It’s a gesture of warmth, of welcome, one the Department of Tourism introduced to hotel front-liners in 2019.

“We train all of our employees to do it. It’s hospitality, it’s service from the heart,” said Sheryl Cham, the property’s general manager.

And in the time of a pandemic, it’s also a contactless way to greet guests.

It wasn’t my first time at Hue and Station X. In 2019, I spent a lot of time there on vacation with my family, alone and also with my mom—hanging out and drinking at Prisma, admiring that pool, wolfing down a burger at Supermagic, getting Coco Mama and ordering way too many things at the food hall.

This was months before COVID-19, a more carefree time, when we were still blissfully unaware of the horrors coming our way, that life as we knew it was about to end and that we would spend more than a year in lockdown.

Home away from home

In March, I returned to Boracay armed with my negative RT-PCR test results, Aklan Tourist QR code, Traze app, bottles of alcohol and so many masks and face shields. To travel to Boracay now, you need negative RT-PCR test results, roundtrip plane tickets, confirmed booking at a DOT-accredited establishment, health declaration card with QR code (get it from aklan.gov.ph or touristboracay.com ), approved S-Pass registration ( s-pass.ph ), and a government-issued ID, of course.

Since I first set foot on that powdery white sand many years ago, I had always considered Boracay a home away from home. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been there. I remember realizing one December that I had visited the island with friends 10 times that year.

But this time, I went with trepidation. I was worried about going back under such strange circumstances. Will Boracay still feel like the Boracay I’ve always loved?

On the flight to Caticlan, as I listened to an announcement about how “every three minutes, the entire cabin is refreshed so you are breathing the safest possible air,” I stared at the clouds outside my window, a view I hadn’t seen in so long.

And while I watched the waves splash against the boat as we sped to Boracay, it hit me: I was out! In nature! After spending an entire year in my room! I felt like crying, but instead I grinned behind my mask and shield.

Warm welcome

Leis of seashells and flowers were hung around our necks as percussionists beat on tribal drums. Behind them, a huge sign read “I ♥ HUE.”

We had arrived. Our bags were brought to the luggage disinfection area and our temperatures were checked before we were handed refreshing welcome drinks.

I drank mine while staring at Hue’s beautiful pool, the glorious centerpiece of the hotel. It was the beginning of a couple of days away from constant worry, a much-needed escape from COVID.

Hue has done such a good job with their safety protocols that it was easy to feel secure there.

“We at Hue Hotels and Station X are very, very mindful about the safety protocols, and that all the practices are in place,” said Dexter Lee who, along with his brother Dennis, are the managing directors of Luana Lifestyle and Leisure Inc. and owners of Hue Hotels and Resorts Boracay.

The hotel has gone above and beyond following the minimum health protocols.

Cham said, “Prior to opening, we made sure that our employees also went through RT-PCR tests and quarantine before they went back on duty. This is to ensure that the guests that are coming into our hotel are well protected also.”

Employees don’t leave the island—if they do, they have to undergo testing and quarantine again.

Apart from doing temperature checks, providing alcohol and foot sanitizing pads at entrances, contactless check-in and checkout, and the disinfection of luggage, the hotel also partnered with Lysol.

People from the brand’s regional office trained Hue’s staff in using their products and following guidelines for different surfaces and high-touch areas.

Also in the room is a hygiene kit that includes alcohol, face masks and gloves. There’s also a disinfectant spray for hands and surfaces.

Hospital-grade UV lights are used to sanitize the rooms after guests check out. “There are no back-to-back check-ins. The room isn’t used for 24 hours,” said Ryan Pangilinan of Hospitality Innovators Inc., which manages Hue Hotels and Resorts Boracay.

Happy hour

You’d feel so comfortable there—both at Hue and Station X—that it’s tempting not to leave the area. And why would you? The rooms are lovely and those beds so cozy that it’s hard to get out of them. When you finally manage to get up, everything you need for a fun and relaxing time is there—the pool, those daybeds, so much good food, open spaces for chilling and, if you feel like shopping, there’s always Local Color, which houses some great Filipino brands. (Love the Amihan Healing Salve and the postcards by designer Isai Araneta that I bought from there.)

Plus, happy hour is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Every hour here at Hue and Station X is happy hour,” Cham said. We can’t disagree.

But we did venture out—to head to the beach, of course. We went paraw sailing and watched the sunset from boats. As we sailed, we talked to Ayeng, the paraw man. We asked him how things had been for them during the pandemic. His income, reliant on tourists, changed drastically. His savings ran out in October 2020 but they were still fortunate, he said, because the owners of the hotels and resorts really came together to help the locals.

You’d feel that urge to help locals, too, when you’re in Boracay. You’d realize that your trip isn’t just good for you and your mental health after being cooped up for so long; it’s also a good way to making a positive impact on people’s lives, even by just eating at local restaurants, handing out tips, getting your hair braided, or going on that banana boat ride.

“Here in Boracay we have a fantastic community; young and old nagsasama ’yan,” said Binggoy Remedios, the owner of Boracay landmark Dos Mestizos, as we ate cochinillo and paella and nursed our glasses of sangria.

Support local

We heard about how, to support one another, restaurant owners would eat at each other’s establishments.

Despite their businesses suffering because of the pandemic, people like Nowie and Odette Potenciano of The Sunny Side Group held feeding programs in some of the hardest-hit communities on the island.

“In Manila, we also conducted several feeding sessions for people who were trying to return to their provinces but were stranded at the airport,” Odette said. “And at the height of the pandemic, we converted all our social media pages into venues that provided information and connected those who wanted to donate or help with those who needed it the most.”

With the help of their friends from Gouache Bags, they also donated personal protective equipment to medical front-liners in Boracay and Aklan during the time hospitals around the country were struggling to get supplies.

“Support local when you’re here,” said Odette. “Try other places that you haven’t tried before, give them a chance. Enjoy Boracay without the hordes of tourists. And stay as long as you want. You can safely practice social distancing here. The beach is amazing. The sunsets are still amazing. And there’s great food.”

Even for the owners of Hue, it’s the locals who make all the difference. “There’s magic in Boracay where it’s work but it’s still not work, especially when I’m talking to locals. ’Yun talaga ’yung nagpapa-excite sa amin ni Dexter, eh,” said Dennis.

“Our favorite spot in Station X is that circular table near Little Wave. For hours, I would sit and work there. What’s fun about sitting there is you get to meet locals, and the most exciting part is when they talk about their passion.”

Those conversations often lead to great things—that was how they met Tolits, the artist who has become Station X’s resident painter.

Empower people

Dennis said, “Hue Hotels and Station X were born out of our calling and our passion to empower people by providing opportunities … At the heart of our purpose for all our community development projects like this is to gather and grow.”

Near Budget Mart, a man asked me, “Activity kayo bukas, ma’am? Pandemic price po.”

I shook my head sadly and said, “Aalis na po ako, eh.”

I didn’t want to leave Boracay. I didn’t want to leave Hue. And a lot of people have been making the choice to stay in Boracay longer than they ever have before.

“DOT coined the term ‘digital nomad’ for this kind of traveler,” said Dexter.

Digital nomads are lucky people who, instead of working from home, get to choose to work from the island. They’ve been taking advantage of great rates, like Hue’s Alternative Abode packages.

Dexter said, “We offer them the proper space for them to work, and at the same time, balance that with some leisurely activities as well.”

Meanwhile, those who can’t stay long can go for the We Got Hue package for three days and two nights for two people that includes RT-PCR tests.

Unlike those digital nomads, I had to get back to the city fast. But those few days turned out to be a gift, a revelation and a reminder—of how good it is to be out in nature, how precious it is to be able to laugh with friends old and new, and that what makes Boracay Boracay is its people: locals and transplants who have made the island their home, people who’ve faced all kinds of challenges not just because of the pandemic but also the rehabilitation closure, but who continue to smile and persevere and shower visitors like us with so much warmth and kindness.

I can’t believe I was worried about Boracay feeling different this time—but maybe it did feel a little different. In a good way. This trip made me love the island even more.

Boracay still feels like paradise. And the hardest part is still leaving.

Source:

Pam Pastor. 2021, July 11. Go back To Boracay For You, But Go For The Locals, Too . Philippine Daily Inquirer.

HII Hotels and Lysol Promise Safe Havens For All

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 15:59:13 GMT

In this pandemic-ridden world, safety protocols are now part and parcel of any travel experience. While minimum standards are in place for travel and tourism companies to follow, some choose to go above and beyond for their guests to create a space where they can feel completely reassured of their safety.

In this pandemic-ridden world, safety protocols are now part and parcel of any travel experience. While minimum standards are in place for travel and tourism companies to follow, some choose to go above and beyond for their guests to create a space where they can feel completely reassured of their safety.

Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII) is one such company that knows the value of trust and going the extra mile for their guests’ health and safety. Just recently, the premier hospitality management company cemented its partnership with Lysol, a leading brand of cleaning & disinfectant products, to strengthen their internal “Safe Haven” protocols, the company’s way of reassuring its stakeholders of their commitment to the gold-standards of health, hygiene, and safety.

“The tie-up with Lysol is anchored on our promise to provide our guests with a higher standard of protection against COVID-19,” says Luis C. Monserrat, HII Founder and CEO. “Working with a well-known brand that people trust was key to ensuring we don’t only promise to provide our guests with the safest place to stay, but rather follow it through with extensive health and safety protocols, training, use of hospital-grade sanitation equipment, and use of products like Lysol—trusted the world-over for their high standard of protection.”

Under this partnership, Lysol will train HII’s Operations teams in each of its 10 participating hotels: Charlie’s El Nido; The Cirque Serviced Residences; The Exchange Regency Residence Hotel; Hue Hotels & Resorts Boracay; Hue Hotels & Resorts Puerto Princesa; KL Serviced Residences; Parque Espana Residence Hotel; The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences; The Sphere Serviced Residences; and Y2 Residence Hotel.

The training will focus on the proper use of Lysol products based on the best practices of Lysol’s extensive research & development, which will complement HII’s own health and safety protocols. This is to ensure that guests can sleep well at night knowing that their rooms, the common areas of the hotel, any high-touch points, and the back of the house, are all sanitized properly using Lysol products.

HII hotels also use UV light machines, ULV fogging machines, and other sanitary precautions to ensure the safety of all guests, employees, and the community. Each hotel’s General Manager serves as the overall Health and Safety Champion of the property, while individual departments also have a designated Health and Safety Champion who sees to it that hotel staff comply with the necessary procedures. Health and Safety Champions receive periodic briefings on changes in the health and safety standards of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

Source:

Che Francisco. 2021, July 8. HII Hotels and Lysol Promise Safe Havens For All . Malaya Business Insight. <https://malaya.com.ph/news_living/hii-hotels-and-lysol-promise-safe-havens-for-all/?fbclid=IwAR2yOsRWIGkarisz4DMePz7ps-Ez4D6ZY8n_ukVJyrc_u9lE6-sGrZif7Ho>

Hospitality Group HII Branches Out To Co-Working Spaces

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 05:03:05 GMT

Sometimes, not even the familiar space in your own home or your favorite cafe can be conducive to productivity. Often, an ideal work space is a constant problem for most professionals and students alike.

MANILA — Sometimes, not even the familiar space in your own home or your favorite cafe can be conducive to productivity. Often, an ideal work space is a constant problem for most professionals and students alike.

This is perhaps the reason why collaborative working spaces have been opening up, particularly in the metro’s central business districts like Makati and Bonifacio Global City.

Work Folk, strategically located at the M1 Tower in Makati’s Salcedo Village, is among the new players in this scene. The place has all the amenities one looks for in an office – a professional set up, high-speed business grade internet and basically a one-stop-shop for clients to work, hold meetings and events.

Opened in August 2018, Work Folk is managed by Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII), a local hospitality and property management companies with a total of 20 properties in its portfolio.

It is not surprising that after two decades, HII got into the business of offering collaborative working spaces, bringing its expertise in customer service and care to this fast-rising category.

“Given the track record and background of Hospitality Innovators, Inc. in the hotel and serviced residence industry, it felt like a very organic and natural next step to get into co-working and serviced offices,” said Shirley Marie Santos, community head of Work Folk.

“HII wanted to offer the same standard and level of hospitality that we provide in our hotels and translate that to the office setting,” she added.

HII manages The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, KL Serviced Residences and Y2 Residence Hotel in Makati, Azumi Boutique Hotel and Parque España Residence Hotel in Alabang and Hue Hotels and Resorts in Puerto Princesa and Boracay, among others.

As an additional come-on, clients of Work Folk get to enjoy special rates at HII hotels, Santos noted.

IDEAL FOR START-UPS

Creating a dynamic working environment for start-ups, freelancers and remote corporate office workers, Work Folk boasts of modern industrial interiors and provides all the necessary tools to accomplish one’s tasks and work at full productivity.

From comfortable desks and private office spaces to meeting rooms, locker rentals, fast wi-fi and unlimited pours of water, coffee and tea, it offers modern conveniences and services that takes away the worries of running an actual office.

According to Santos, the office is ideal for start-ups. At present, Work Folk has an open space, office space and co-working space. The last area is best shared by young professionals and even working students.

Clients who are simply walking in can avail of the Open Desk, which offers affordable membership package fees for as little as three hours to as long as weekly or monthly basis.

The Dedicated Desk, on the other hand, provides you your own work station in a shared office space, with monthly rates that come with free locker rentals and three hours of meeting room use per month included in the package.

Start-up companies or those looking to expand their business can also benefit from Work Folk. For groups or teams requiring four seats to as many as eight or more, there is Work Folk’s Private Offices, a furnished room with desks, chairs and mobile pedestals, which can even come with a view.

Private Office members can access their work space 24/7 through a door access code, as well as enjoy 10 hours of meeting room use free of charge each month. All these without the worry of costly utility bills and association dues.

OFFICE OF THE FUTURE

“This is the future of offices,” Santos beamed. “The need for this kind of business is here. The demand for flexibility, instead of a conventional space, is very much here.”

Service space is apparently the “in” thing. There are workers, especially millennials, who need only three hours of co-working space. Work Folk is even sub-leasing new offices. To date, they have 15 seats left and three offices to fill up, according to Santos.

She believes that flexible co-working spaces will grow rapidly in the next few years. “Co-working spaces are already accelerating globally, as we speak. There is an ongoing market demand for collaborative co-working spaces here in the Philippines and abroad.”

“When you secure a work space, you can move in on the same day,” Santos continued. “No need to construct and furnish your space, meaning, no downtime or disruption in the company operation.

“You enjoy all the membership privileges that we have to offer. We aim to make your stay with us as convenient as possible with comfortable workstations, complete pantry and reception services among others.”

A Work Folk client does not only occupy office space in the building once a leasing contract has been made. He also gets the liberty to use the prime office address for his business card, mail and delivery.

Santos insists expanding your space has never been easier. At Work Folk, you move into an office or combine adjacent office spaces by simply upgrading your membership.

“This flexibility gives clients the opportunity to plan for growth with less capex (capital expenditure),” Santos explained. “You can also collaborate with people within the Work Folk community and create dynamic partnerships.”

DIVERSE CLIENTELE

Work Folk accommodates as many types of clients as possible. To date, the company has an extensive mix of industries that make it a colorful and vibrant community of workers — from telecommuters, artists and professionals to start-ups, freelancers and even students.

“Presently, we also have developers and IT/business professionals, both local and international companies, customer service departments, a design, maritime and shipping company, to name a few. We may have to turn down a specific kind of industry due to building limitations,” Santos said.

Most of the clients of Work Folk are multinational companies, although Santos noted that local start-up companies are now seeing the advantages of getting a flexible work space solution.

“Most local companies are strategically located already,” Santos reasoned out. “Flexible work space would be useful to local companies in need of a temporary space or those that are project-based.”

Santos cannot single out any particular hour as the peak in Work Folk, as “every day is a busy day” in the office.

Work Folk also provides an event venue which can be used for talks, workshops and seminars that can enhance skills and further careers. The Work Folk team will be on hand to assist from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

People who visit Work Folk note the “very relaxing and unique aesthetics” of the co-working area and events space and the feedback has been very encouraging.

“When you come in, you will immediately have that feeling of clarity and focus, and the soothing sound will make someone feel like they are in a hotel lounge where they can easily put their minds to work,” Santos said.

“One more thing that we really take pride on is the way we do customer service, the professionalism of the staff and the willingness to help and assist all our clients – an HII trademark.”

Santos is optimistic that a business like Work Folk will thrive in the country in the years to come. In fact, they are extremely happy that in only seven months of operations, the company has exceeded their expectations.

“Co-working spaces are molding a new type of work environment in which we do not see a slow-down anytime soon,” Santos maintained. “Like any other businesses, we experienced challenges when we opened, but most of those challenges serve as learnings now.

“As long as we can provide workspace solutions, a space that is innovative, fun, collaborative and professional, and provide a space that can empower and allow people to work in their full capacity, I’m pretty positive that Work Folk will continue to do good.”

Source:

Leah Salterio. 2019, April 26. Hospitality Group HII Branches Out to Co-Working Spaces . ABS CBN. <https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/27/19/hospitality-group-hii-branches-out-to-co-working-spaces>

This Property Manager Has A Better Deal Than Airbnb or Private Leasing For Condo Investors

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:25:38 GMT

Hospitality Innovators Inc. (HII) is a property management services company that specializes in lodging operations—primarily hotels, condotels and serviced residences.

Hospitality Innovators Inc. (HII) is a property management services company that specializes in lodging operations—primarily hotels, condotels and serviced residences. With tourism in the country still enjoying continuous growth—tourist arrivals were up 12.7 percent in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period the previous year according to the Department of Tourism—the company is poised to ride the wave for the foreseeable future.

“There’s no question that tourism is on the rise and that it has been for several years now,” says Luis Monserrat, founder and CEO of HII. “So yes, the past years have been really good.”

Monserrat, who founded HII in 1999 after a career as an executive in the beverages sector, is quick to issue a cautious reminder, though, about the fickle nature of the business.

“When there’s perceived growth and demand, everybody jumps in and so supply goes very fast, too,” he says. “One of the ways we try to achieve sustainability in the face of that is to make sure we select properties with real potential, properties that, in terms of location, execution and quality, are good enough such that all they really need is good management. And we believe we can provide that.”

There’s only a handful of local property management companies—particularly those focused on hospitality—in the country today as many of the country’s biggest hotels and serviced residences are owned and operated by international corporations. This makes HII a leading figure in the segment.

Luis Monserrat, founder and president of HII, shifted from a career in food and beverages to hospitality in the late 1990s.

Starting out with one residence hotel—Parque España in Alabang, Muntinlupa—HII now counts a portfolio of 19 properties across the country. Some of their more notable partners include The Picasso Serviced Residences in Salcedo Village, Makati; Crosswinds Resort Suites in Tagaytay City; The Exchange Regency Residence Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City; Hue Hotels in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Boracay; and Paseo Verde in Las Piñas City.

“We also have another 11 properties that are in different stages of discussions,” Monserrat adds. “It would be unrealistic to think that we’re going to be able to sign them all, or that they would all pan out. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but we also need to be selective at this point. We’ll see.”

As a property management company, HII’s primarily role is to manage and operate all the key functions of the hotel or lodging business. From making sure that the property has guests or residents (sales and marketing) to managing guests’ satisfaction throughout their stay (operations) to ensuring that the entire business is profitable (management and finance).

“In the end, we’re accountable to the owners, who are (looking) at the bottom line,” Monserrat explains. “And of course, we’re also responsible for ensuring that the assets that the owners have invested their money in are properly looked after and maintained.”

The company earns through management fees. “Those management fees are essentially tied to the revenues and the profits of the business. We have a small, minor component on the revenue side and bulk of our fees are really on the profit line. So I can basically look our owner-partners in the eye and I can say that we’re in a real partnership because if they’re not making money then we’re not making money.”

HII’s business model also allows for some of the unit owners in the properties they manage to earn extra income by joining a rental pool in the building and allowing the company to manage the unit on their behalf.

“Our proposition to them is that if they bought the unit for investment purposes, our business model is far superior to conventional leasing,” he says. “Normally if you buy a condominium, and you don’t really plan to live in it, you’re buying it so you can rent it out. But when you rent it out, you have to put up with the travails of dealing with brokers, dealing with tenants, maintaining the unit. There will be periods of vacancies, et cetera. You have all that to contend with.

“ We basically take all those hassles and worries away. And, with our track record, we can basically say to the owners that we expect to be able to generate high returns (for you) compared to what you would get if you leased it out yourself. And we can do it without causing you any consternation, headaches or hassles."

The convenience they offer to the unit owners—maintenance and care of the unit as well as guaranteeing revenues even if their unit is occupied or not—is one reason Monserrat isn’t concerned yet of the effects of the sharing economy on their business.

“Yes, there will be people who might say they want to try AirBnB first,” he says. “But I don’t think the AirBnB model is necessarily hassle-free for the owners. There’s still some degree of involvement and engagement. Some owners would like that. But some owners would prefer not to have to deal with that. I think there would still be people who appreciate and will be drawn to our model, but there will be others who would go the other way.”

In terms of growth, Monserrat says that HII is targeting three avenues. The first is to maintain their current trajectory, which is to manage and operate third party-owned hotels, condotels and serviced residences, and keep an eye out for future opportunities in this track.

Precisely because all of the properties in their current portfolio are third party-owned, HII’s next goal is to manage, market and occupy an equity position in an HII-branded property.

“This is definitely something that we have been working on for a while, for the better part of 2017, and I don’t want to jinx it, but let’s just say we’re very close to attaining that aspiration right now,” Monserrat says.

For this track, the CEO adds that they are exploring it with a dormitel concept.

Lastly, HII is soon venturing into co-working spaces, which is fast-becoming a high-growth sector with the ever-increasing number of startups and freelancing careers in the country.

“That business has similarities with respect to our core competencies but may not necessarily be purely lodging,” he says. “So we’ve already set-up a company and brought in partners for it. If everything goes according to schedule, we will probably have something by the second quarter of 2018.”

Source:

Paul John Caña. 2018, January 17. This Property Manager Has A Better Deal Than Airbnb or Private Leasing For Condo Investors . Entrepreneur Philippines. <https://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/business-ideas/this-property-manager-has-a-better-deal-than-airbnb-or-private-leasing-for-condo-investors-a00212-20180118-lfrm>

Smooth Operator

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 05:33:53 GMT

With 18 properties in its portfolio, HII will launch three this year in Quezon City, Ortigas and Makati. Last year, it opened four hotels to healthy occupancy and positive reviews from OTA (online travel agency) portals.

A hotel third party operator observes that one positive economic indicator is that more people are asking his company to run their properties.

“If you talk to finance experts, they point out that there is liquidity in the market. Potential investors are interested in tourism, and we get approached by people with that mindset,” says Luis Monserrat, founder and CEO of Hospitality Innovators Inc.

Dubbed HII, it is one of the few management companies in the hospitality industry.

“As a management company, our role is to handle all aspects of hotel operation. In sales and marketing, we make sure that the hotel has guests, occupancy is good. In service, the guest experience satisfaction is high. We manage financial aspects of the business: Costs are controlled; expenses are incurred efficiently; budgets are met, and the owners get their desired return on investment. Lastly, the assets of the owner are properly maintained. A hotel owner doesn’t have to worry about the day-to-day side of the business,” says Monserrat.

With 18 properties in its portfolio, HII will launch three this year in Quezon City, Ortigas and Makati. Last year, it opened four hotels to healthy occupancy and positive reviews from OTA (online travel agency) portals.

The performances of Hue Resort in Boracay and Hue City resort in Palawan, owned by businessmen Dexter and Dennis Lee, exceeded expectations. Established developers such as Ortigas & Company and Alveo Land likewise tapped HII to run their respective serviced residences at the Cirque in Cirkulo Verde, Pasig and Kasa Luntian in Tagaytay.

“ Monserrat explains that creating awareness, pricing and service are critical factors for success. HII leverages social media as an important tool in marketing to customers."

“We work closely with OTAs as they are a growing channel in the industry. Once these hotels are listed in their sites, they get noticed and, hopefully, bookings. We also do promotional tie-ins with the OTAs,” he says.

Guest feedback is more important than ever since reviews are posted in real time. Aside from helping the hotel improve its product and services, the online reviews can also indicate a market trend.

HII prices range from P4,500 to P6,500 a night for a standard room in Makati—even cheaper with OTAs, compared with five-star hotels that cost P7,000 to P11,400 a night. Most of HII’s properties are existing brands, many of which were either condotels or serviced apartments, whose rooms have owners.

Monserrat says HII runs its condotels like a shared economy. The difference between an alternative lodging company, such as AirBnb for instance, is the business model. The CEO cites Parque España in Alabang, The Exchange Regency in Ortigas, KL Towers and Picasso in Makati, Vista Land’s Crosswinds in Tagaytay as examples wherein the developer provided condo owners another option to generate income.

“In our serviced residence program, we recruit the unit owners and set up a rental pool in the building. You don’t have to worry about your unit because it is operated like a hotel. You get a monthly income whether your unit has been occupied or not. From the revenues, you deduct the operational expenses and the earnings are distributed to the unit owners pro rata to the square meters or area they have in the pool. We’ve established that there is a market for this product. It’s more convenient than buying a unit and going through the conventional route of finding a broker and tenant,” he says.

On the other hand, alternative lodgings only earn when they’ve hosted guests in their room, condo or house. Meanwhile, the service provider/agent gets a commission. Moreover, the owner interacts with the client for collection or maintenance issues.

“With AirBnb, the owner is engaged with the guest. In our models, all of that goes away,” says Monserrat. Another HII advantage over the home sharing services industry is that its properties are in safe and centrally located neighborhoods.

However, Monserrat realized that in running condotels, the third party operator can be more effective when it also handles the property management.

“In a condotel, it’s helpful to run the property management so that everything is seamless,” he says.

Source:

Marge C. Enriquez. 2018, Jan 06. Smooth Operator . Business Inquirer. <https://business.inquirer.net/243654/smooth-operator>

This Year's Local Tourism Trend: Instagrammable Staycations

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 05:44:55 GMT

As founder and CEO of one of the country’s leading hotel and property management companies, Monserrat is pretty well-positioned to comment on current industry trends.

You may not know Luis C. Monserrat, but you’ll definitely be familiar with the hotels he runs. His company, Hospitality Innovators Inc. (HII), operates and manages properties like The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences in Makati, Azumi Boutique Hotel in Alabang, The CrossWinds Resort Suites in Tagaytay, and the new Hue Hotels and Resorts Boracay, among many others. As founder and CEO of one of the country’s leading hotel and property management companies, Monserrat is pretty well-positioned to comment on current industry trends.

One of his observations is that, while foreign tourists are still a big part of the market, local tourism is booming as well. “One of the things that is very clear from the standpoint of our different hotels is that the local market has grown significantly over the past few years,” he says. “It actually represents the single largest source market based on country of origin.”

“Most of our hotels are city business hotels and majority of our guests are foreigners, but it is very apparent that the local market is still growing. This is consistent with the data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) which is saying that local tourism is becoming a key driver in the tourism industry. The evidence of this is the growing popularity of staycations. In fact, the staycation market is the trend in many of our hotels and this is especially true during weekends,” he continues.

Monserrat has also observed that people who stay for the weekend tend to look for “Instagrammable” hotels. But apart from aesthetically appealing interiors, Filipinos are especially value-conscious. “Based on our experience, Filipino tourists are, as often as not, harder to please than foreign guests, but they also tend to be price sensitive,” he says. “They have high standards of service and are sought after as a workforce as excellent service providers. Even if they stay at mid-level rated hotels, the expectation is to get the best value for what they pay for. We look at this as a challenge to up our game and aim to not only meet but surpass their expectations.”

More and more Filipinos are booking through online travel agencies like Traveloka and Expedia, too. In today’s competitive climate, it’s important for hotels to be adept at digital marketing. “Given the contribution of the online travel agencies (OTAs) in the hotel business, digital marketing specifically aimed at these channels is obviously very important,” Monserrat explains. “We develop promotional strategies with the OTAs and strategize with them depending on the market segment we are targeting.”

However, Monserrat adds that OTAs are “essentially manipulations or short-term tools.” The only way to truly stand out and remain top-of-mind is to provide exceptional and memorable service. One way hotels try to do this is through personalization. For example, some welcome their guests by putting up banners in their rooms and leaving cakes decorated with their customers’ company logos.

Others take photos of their guests enjoying themselves and present them at the end of their customers’ stay. At Hue Boracay, pictures from your Instagram account are placed in a frame next to your bed and displayed on the TV along with a welcome message. Some people are pleasantly surprised by these gestures, while others may find them a little creepy.

“There is an old saying, ‘different strokes for different folks,’” Monserrat says. “Some will like it and some will not. To come up with a blanket approach will be difficult.

"What should be done instead is to try to know guests on a personalized basis and be able to determine if this particular guest will appreciate it or not."

Gimmicks aside, Monserrat asserts that there are two ways you can assure that your brand will be different from the others. “It all boils down to the attention to detail and the level of heart that you put into the job,” he says. If hotel managers can effectively pass these values down to all of their staff, they’ll be able to stand out and impress even the most discriminating of guests.

Source:

Angelica Gutierrez. 2017, November 28. This Year's Local Tourism Trend: Instagrammable Staycations . Esquire. <https://www.esquiremag.ph/life/travel/staycations-are-this-year-s-tourism-trend-1-a00225-20171128>

From Asian Financial Crisis, A Hotelier is Born

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 05:51:58 GMT

HII takes pride in handling boutique hotels/serviced residences with unique concepts, created by prominent architects and designers, and restaurants that draw the local crowd.

Luis C. Monserrat is a veteran of reinvention. Monserrat was once a banker, marketing director for the Coca-Cola Company for the Philippines and later North Latin America, and director for E&J Gallo Wineries for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Then Monserrat returned to the Philippines, became president of the subsidiaries of Primetown Property Group, then finally went on his own. In 1999, the then 48-year-old Monserrat established Hospitality Innovators Inc. (HII), which manages condotels, hotels and serviced apartments. He says it took a lot of adjusting before he got used to his new life as an entrepreneur.

“As a marketing director for Coke, doors opened for me because I represented a company that had clout and a big budget. When I become an entrepreneur, nobody cared who I was,” he says.

“You have to be prepared and stick to your vision. I had to unlearn some things. In the corporate world, you are dealing with large budgets and numbers. As an entrepreneur in this field, everything becomes more personal and prudent. You’ve got to work doubly hard to overcome hurdles and rejections,” Monserrat adds.

When the CEO started on the Parque España Residence Hotel in Alabang, people thought the idea was foolish. He persevered because Muntinlupa was accessible to the Laguna Technopark and the Cavite Industrial Estate. Visiting executives, particularly long-staying guests, needed lodgings that were closer to their work.

Parque España was actually built in the mid-1990s as a residential condominium. Buyers bought the units as an investment but then the Asian crisis hit. “The buyers wanted to unload the units but couldn’t sell them. The rental market was soft. I saw then an opportunity to set up a condotel so I got the owners to buy into that,” says Monserrat.

Under this system, owners do not live in their units but rent them out to be used like a hotel room, thus providing them some earnings while retaining their ownership of the property.

“In Parque España, you won’t find any unit that is lived in by the unit owner. All units are part of the hotel pool. As our flagship, it continues to do well,” says Monserrat. He says Parque España taught him another lesson, that if you have a product that is well managed and has a client base, you can retain clients even if there are other options. He attributes the condotel’s success to service and training.

"Hospitality is inbred in our culture. We marry that with professionalism and efficiency. We make sure our guests receive the same service standards as in a pricey hotel but at a much better value," he says.

Monserrat’s portfolio has expanded since then, with HII managing 14 properties with different partners and varying business models.

“We tell prospective partners and owners that in this setup, if they don’t make money, we don’t make money. Our fees are based on profit line. We are married to our individual unit owners. We are not a capital intensive business. Our business is expertise and people,” says Monserrat.

HII takes pride in handling boutique hotels/serviced residences with unique concepts, created by prominent architects and designers, and restaurants that draw the local crowd.

These hotels have become known for their striking color schemes, artwork and ambiance. In the course of HII’s collaborations, Monserrat formed Ardent Development Corp. to finance and build hotels and a condominium. It co-developed, for example, The Mondrian Residences in Alabang, Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences and Y2 Residence Hotel in Makati. Monserrat notes that more than capital, his company’s core competence is management.

“We create concepts for the most part. Our ability to expand a concept is greater when we come in as co-developers. The development is on a case-to-case basis and only when the right opportunity presents itself. As developers, we don’t have deep pockets. When we get involved on the development side, we set parameters,” he says.

One of his partners is the Blanco family. He shares that the late Tony Blanco had a passion for real estate and was busy with the Blanco Arms in Alabang before he died. Since the unfinished building was beside Parque España, Monserrat saw its potential. He then forged a joint venture with the Blanco family. They developed the 167-unit Mondrian Residences, which was completed in 2007 and then followed by other projects.

Monserrat says being an entrepreneur has its challenges but it also has its rewards. He finds the greatest fulfillment in developing new concepts and providing employment to a workforce of 700. “I’ve been living my dream,” he says.

Source:

Marge C. Enriquez. 2015, July 12. From Asian Financial Crisis, A Hotelier is Born . Business Inquirer. <https://business.inquirer.net/195153/from-asian-financial-crisis-a-hotelier-is-born>

Transforming Ordinary Properties Into Most-Loved Serviced Residences

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 06:09:31 GMT

The “innovision” behind some of Manila’s most loved concept hotels and serviced residences, hotel and property management company Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII) is making a name for itself for producing design and experience-grounded properties that deliver quality service to hotel guests.

The “innovision” behind some of Manila’s most loved concept hotels and serviced residences, hotel and property management company Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII) is making a name for itself for producing design and experience-grounded properties that deliver quality service to hotel guests.

It transforms ordinary properties into concept spaces that distinguish them in the market. Founded only 15 years ago but already a leading figure in the field, HII is led by a team of seasoned industry practitioners that fully tap into each property’s potential and, combined by its service and operations know-how, make profitable businesses for its partners and create exciting destinations for guests.

“The big property players are now getting into the hospitality space and the reality is that there are smaller guys who also want in. What HII does is partner with these small independents and equips them with our `innovision’ to help create distinct concepts that delight guests and make them want to come back,” said HII founder and chief executive officer Luis C. Monserrat.

"The one-of-kind appeal and first-rate services that we develop for them, lead to each property’s unique and satisfactory brand of experience which allows them to ably compete."

Leading the HII roster is The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences in Salcedo Village, Makati which was transformed into the spacious and stylish serviced residence by HII with architect Dom Galicia. Picasso was initially an apartment building but was reconceptualized to become a serviced residence with walls and rooms that speak of art.

HII also manages both branches of The Henry Hotel: The Henry Cebu, which features 38 rooms each uniquely filled with art collectibles around the world, including those of French designer Delphine de Lorme; and the newly-opened The Henry Manila, which exhibits a nostalgic appeal with its five post-war style houses with rooms adorned with modern vintage furnishings.

Also in HII’s portfolio are two new properties in Makati: the Y2 Residence Hotel which offers a zen-like feel with its Oriental design that epitomizes balance and harmony, and the KL Tower Serviced Residences which is characterized by clean architectural lines that exude modern and sophisticated style.

The company pioneered the concept of condormitels, an idea that’s currently gaining ground. The company presently operates two such properties in the University Belt Manila area and is currently exploring similar other properties.

HII properties also consistently post higher occupancy rates than the industry average. Its properties have received from major travel websites, reaped glowing reviews and feedback from guests.

Among these are Picasso’s TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2014, and consistent rank, along with Y2 Residence Hotel, in TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Hotels in Makati. Also in the winners’ mix is The Exchange Regency Residence Hotel in Ortigas, Winner in the Agoda Gold Circle Awards 2014, the Azumi Boutique Hotel and Parque España Residence Hotel, which are both in Alabang and were given the 2014 Award of Excellence by Booking.com. The Henry Cebu consistently ranks among the top three hotels in Cebu according to TripAdvisor.

Source:

Transforming Ordinary Properties Into Most-Loved Serviced Residences . 2015, April 29. Malaya Business Insight. <https://malaya.com.ph/business-news/special-features/transforming-ordinary-properties-most-loved-service-residences>

The ‘Innovision’ Behind Some of Manila's Concept Hotels and Serviced Residences

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 06:21:27 GMT

At the core of HII is its drive to transform ordinary properties into concept spaces that distinguish them in the market.

MANILA, Philippines – When one talks about the hospitality industry, big-name players are the first that come to mind. They dominate the scene not just in terms of location but also in number of rooms and staff size. But a group of concept hotels and serviced residences is slowly gaining recognition for the distinct experiences and more personalized service they offer.

Behind these new players is a hotel and property management company with a vision to break new ground in the industry: Hospitality Innovators, Inc. or HII. Founded only 15 years ago but already a leading figure in the field, HII produces design and experience-grounded properties that rely on unique character and top-class service to deliver unforgettable stays.

At the core of HII is its drive to transform ordinary properties into concept spaces that distinguish them in the market. With the expertise brought by its team of seasoned industry folks, HII is able to fully tap into each property’s potential and, combined with its service and operations knowhow, make profitable businesses for its partners and create exciting destinations for guests.

Creating distinct concepts to delight guests: Booking.com gave the Azumi Boutique Hotel in Alabang the 2014 Award of Excellence.

“The big property players are now getting into the hospitality space and the reality is that there are smaller guys who also want in,” says HII founder and chief executive officer Luis C. Monserrat. “What HII does is partner with these small independents and equip them with our ‘innovision’ to help create distinct concepts that delight guests and make them want to come back. The one-of-a-kind appeal and first-rate services that we develop for them lead to each property’s unique and satisfactory brand of experience, which allows them to ably compete.”

According to Monserrat, the idea of banking on creating distinct personalities for the properties stems from the fact that they are going against the “Goliaths” and should be clearly different for the market to take notice. “This is what we offer hotel and property developers who want to get into the lodging space: the impressive combination of a unique concept and great service, which can enhance the value of assets and create attractive returns,” he says.

Leading the HII roster is The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences in Salcedo Village, Makati, which flourishes with its creative design befitting its namesake artist. According to Monserrat, Picasso was transformed into the spacious and stylish serviced residence that it is now after he reimagined it with architect Dom Galicia.

“We got Picasso after it was entrusted to us by a partner who liked what we did with their first property. Picasso was initially an apartment building but we reconceptualized it to become a serviced residence with walls and rooms that speak of art. When it was time to think of a name for the property, we went back to its core, what it was about, which is transformation. Dom suggested that no other artist better embodies transformation than Pablo Picasso. And that’s how the property got its name.”

HII also manages both branches of The Henry Hotel: The Henry Cebu, which features 38 rooms uniquely filled with art collectibles around the world, including those of French designer Delphine de Lorme; and the newly opened The Henry Manila, which exhibits a nostalgic appeal with its five postwar style houses with rooms adorned with modern vintage furnishings.

Also in HII’s portfolio are two new properties in Makati: the Y2 Residence Hotel, which offers a zen-like feel with its oriental design that epitomizes balance and harmony, and the KL Tower Serviced Residences, characterized by clean architectural lines that exude modern and sophisticated style. It is also noteworthy that the company pioneered the concept of “condormitels,” an idea that’s currently gaining ground. The company currently operates two such properties in the University Belt Manila area and is exploring other similar properties.

HII also takes great pride in the exceptional service it extends to guests, which Monserrat believes is crucial to their properties’ success. He says,

"Having attractive and interesting properties is one thing, but what really marks the HII brand is the bespoke hospitality we give each of our guests. We go beyond the standard by making all guests feel that they are truly looked after and cared for, so they feel right at home every time."

This approach has allowed HII properties to consistently generate higher occupancy rates than the industry average. It is also the recipe behind all the awards that its properties have received from major travel websites, where HII properties have reaped glowing reviews and feedback from impressed guests. Among these are Picasso’s TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2014, and consistent rank, along with Y2 Residence Hotel, in TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Hotels in Makati.

Also in the winners’ mix is The Exchange Regency Residence Hotel in Ortigas, winner in the Agoda Gold Circle Awards 2014, the Azumi Boutique Hotel and Parque España Residence Hotel, which are both in Alabang and were given the 2014 Award of Excellence by Booking.com. HII has also established a solid reputation in the South as The Henry Cebu consistently ranks among the top three hotels in Cebu, according to TripAdvisor.

Monserrat adds that HII will continue to commit to consistency and a high standard for its concepts and services to keep guests, partners, and employees satisfied.

“We want HII to stand for exceptional creativity and a distinct brand of hospitality. HII is just beginning to redefine the industry, and we’ll continue to do so with concepts that entice and excite, and by extending service that guests will want to come back to.”

Source:

The ‘Innovision’ Behind Some of Manila’s Concept Hotels and Serviced Residences . 2015, March 23. Philippine Star. <https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/business-life/2015/03/23/1435921/innovision-behind-some-manilas-concept-hotels-and-serviced-residences>