John Gokongwei Jr. draws from his Cebuano roots for Summit Galleria Cebu

Sold in 60 seconds!

That’s how fast JG Summit Holdings chairman emeritus John “Big John” Gokongwei Jr. sealed the deal with Cebu City Mayor Tomas “Tommy” Osmeña in acquiring the 4.3-hectare property on Cebu’s north reclamation area. And the negotiation took place in a wedding reception where both of them were guests of honor.

“While waiting for the newlyweds, Big John took the opportunity to ask me if the property was for sale,” the Mayor said during the launch of Summit Galleria Hotel, the flagship property of Summit Hotel & Resorts. “Well, we wouldn’t all be standing here now if I didn’t say yes.”

The property, which was supposed to be the site of the new city hall, was sequestered by President Ferdinand Marcos during martial law.

“I was able to get it back when I became mayor,” Mayor Osmeña recalled.

Mayor Osmeña didn’t have second thoughts about selling the property to Big John because “I knew he would create something that would be beneficial to the city and its residents.”

Well, the mayor was right. The 4.3-hectare lot is now home to Robinsons Galleria Cebu, which Mayor Osmeña described as the “most beautiful mall in Cebu,” and Summit Galleria Cebu, the 220-room business and leisure hotel. Both developments not only help boost the city’s economy and promote Cebuano culture, but also provide employment to the locals.

Meet you at the summit

Located near the commercial port and just a 45-minute drive to the airport, Summit Galleria Cebu is your home away from home when vacationing in the Queen City of the South. It is a short drive to Cebu’s landmarks such as the Magellan’s Cross, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, the Taboan Public Market and its latest attraction, The Temple of Leah.

The hotel has everything your weary body needs to recharge. It boasts 220 tastefully done-up rooms. There are 57 regular rooms (the Super King), 125 Super Queen; 17 Family Rooms; 16 Super Suites; and five PWD rooms all equipped with individual Wi-Fi router, separate shower room and toilet, chiropractic-designed beds covered in layers of high-thread count linens for maximum comfort, which are standard fixtures in every Summit Hotels and Resorts property.

Unlike other hotel rooms that are made for sleeping and freshening up, Summit Galleria Cebu encourages guests to cocoon.

For its corporate clients and MICE guests, Summit Galleria Cebu has a grand ballroom with a maximum capacity of 600 guests, the perfect venue for conferences; a pre-function area and break-out rooms.

“We tested the capability and capacity of the Summit Ballroom last June when we hosted the Cebu Business Month. The event went very well considering it wasn’t fully operational yet,” enthused Pops del Rosario, operations manager, Summit Hotels and Resorts.

The pillar-less ballroom boasts a capiz wall, a nod to Cebu’s world-famous shell craft industry. The wave patterns on the carpet echo the seas along the province’s beaches.

Summit Galleria Cebu is the hospitality company’s fourth hotel in the Philippines and the second in Cebu. Described as a collection of boutique mid-scale hotels, Summit Hotels and Resorts is one of JG Summit Holdings Inc.’s hospitality brands. It opened its first property, Summit Ridge Tagaytay, in 2009. It also operates and manages Summit Hotel Magnolia in New Manila, QC, and Summit Circle Cebu in Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City.

“We call it a collection because with every property you stay in, you get to experience a different design aesthetic and the design is usually inspired by the destination. It’s a different experience every time. Unlike a chain, which follows a generic design and interiors,” explained Lisette Arena, senior marketing manager, Summit Hotels.

The boutique hotel has the comfiest beds and pillows, an indoor swimming pool, a spa and fitness facility and a food and beverage department run by Providore, a popular restaurant from Manila known for its classic comfort food inspired by retro eateries of the past; and its #superstaff that delivers impeccable service.

An homage to Cebu’s past

Built by architectural firm Asya Designs, Summit Galleria Cebu sports a contemporary and sophisticated look characterized by neutral colors with splashes of bold hues and patterns, polished finishes, clean lines, and sculptural lighting.

In weaving the design story, project director architect Bernardo “Berns” Mariano, who worked with Design HQ (Hirayama + Quesada), took the team on a cultural journey of Cebu.

“Being in Cebu, we took into consideration Cebuano elements — from the Sinulog Festival, Lapu-Lapu, the legendary aristocrat warrior, mangoes, to puso, a Cebuano staple — in designing the hotel,” explained architect Berns.

A metal light fixture of a bundle of puso, a triangular-shaped rice wrapped in coconut leaf strips, dominates the foyer. Puso is the Cebuano’s version of extra rice. It’s sold on the streets alongside sugba (grilled fish and barbecue).

“We were all hungry while weaving the design story,” architect Berns says with a hearty laugh. “You’ll also notice that the colors are on the warm side, a far cry from our past designs, which was more wood brown and red hues. Then again, we added some splashes of colors inspired by the Sinology Festival and the mangoes of Cebu.”

These design elements are evident in the 16 Super Suites such as the Lapu-Lapu Suite with ethnic accents and bold geometric patterns suggestive of the pintados; the Mango Suite, which is done in elegant gray with yellow accents on the furnishing and the wall, and the Sinulog Suite, which echoes the festival’s bright and lively atmosphere.

Since Cebu is also known for its furniture industry, all of the hotel’s furnishings are made locally. The lobby is decked with leather couches with wooden and metal accents, coffee tables and accent chairs fit for a queen. It is also dominated by neutral colors like gray, brown and white.

Summit Galleria Cebu also commissioned Cebuano artist Augusto Santiago to create artworks for the hotel. His works, which depict the many businesses built by Big John over the years, are showcased on the fourth floor which will also be transformed into a gallery soon.

“We wanted to make the guests feel that the spaces are an extension of Cebu,” said the amiable architect.

Eats all here!

At Summit Galleria Cebu, food choices abound since the hotel is connected to Robinsons Galleria Cebu, which takes pride in homegrown restaurants you can’t find in Manila. We had a filling and reasonably priced dimsum lunch at Ding How Dimsum House; a delicious, healthy and organic dinner at Bohol Bee Farm restaurant; a warm cup of hot tablea (chocolate) drink specially prepared by “Chocolate Queen” Raquel Choa at The Chocolate Chamber, which went well with the silvanas from Dumaguete’s Sans Rival.

If going to the mall is such a chore, just go to Providore, the hotel’s in-house restaurant and provider of all its F&B needs, which is located on the ground floor.

Providore is one of the restaurant brands of the Raintree Hospitality Group, which is its first venture in Cebu. The restaurant will be handling Summit Galleria Cebu’s buffet breakfast spread, in-room dining, and banquets.

The restaurant is divided into four hubs: the Pantry (cafe and bakery), Study (lobby lounge), Dining Room (sit-down meals and table service area), and Gaming Room (entertainment and bar area).

“We design our restaurant and menus based on the market. Providore in Cebu will be offering something unique — dishes inspired by Cebuano fare,” said Kalel Chan, executive chef, Raintree Restaurants.

Well, if the Cebuano breakfast fare — crispy danggit, the annatto fried rice, the sweet and sticky honey-cured bacon and the organic champorado —  we had was an indication, then guests at Summit Galleria Cebu are in for a delicious treat!

Although the restaurant is set to open in September, guests have plenty of dining options inside the mall.

Summit hotels and resorts is growing

The launch of Summit Galleria Cebu is not only a celebration but also a thanksgiving for three important milestones.

“This year marks the 41st year of JG Summit in the hotel business. Mr. John Gokongwei opened his first Ramada Manila Midtown hotel in 1976. Second, we also celebrate the milestone of having a total of 20 hotels under the umbrella of Robinsons Land Corporation (14 Go Hotels, four Summit Hotels and two international hotels, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn). Summit Hotels and Resorts is also set to open two new properties this year, in Tacloban and Naga. Third, we are celebrating the birthday of Mr. John, the man with a big heart,” enthused Elizabeth “Liz” Gregorio, general manager, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts.

Big John hails from Cebu and the opening of Summit Hotels and Resorts’ flagship property in the Queen City of the South is a homecoming of sort for the man who continues to inspire and empower his kababayans and the entire nation.

* * *

To know more about Summit Galleria Cebu, visit www.summithotels.ph, follow and like www.facebook.com/SummitHotelsAndResortsPH on Facebook and https://www.instagram.com/summit_hotels/ on Instagram.

For reservations, call Summit Galleria Cebu at (032) 888-1777 or its Customer Service hotline 398-8788 or 0998-8887788.