Hotel game is strong

The Christmas season is in its final countdown and the hotel and hospitality sector has finally picked up and is stepping up its game toward this festive season and in preparation for next year.

What is interesting is that the big business conglomerates are playing a strong game in the hotel and hospitality sector and have recently unveiled their plans for the coming year.

Razon’s Solaire

Razon-led Solaire had been the first out of the gate long before the Christmas festivities started  by embarking on a series of culinary and entertainment offerings in March, with rock balladeer Sting holding a series of concerts that coincided with Solaire’s 10th anniversary celebration.

Then in September, Solaire scored another victory with the Asian premiere of the Broadway hit Hamilton, which has helped solidify Solaire’s reputation not only as a casino resort, but also as a world-class entertainment venue where families can go to enjoy quality entertainment.

Hard at work behind the scenes is Solaire’s communications and public relations director Joy Wassmer, who also led the Christmas tree lighting ceremony of the casino-resort early last November and unveiled the holiday treats that the hotel is offering at its various dining outlets that include Finestra, Yakumi, Yakumi and Waterside.

However, what was more interesting to learn was the ongoing completion of Solaire North, which aims to finally open next year. Joy revealed that Razon scion, the artistically inclined Enzo, is helping curate the artwork of the still to be opened casino hotel in Quezon City, bringing the high-end gambling resort hotel to the north complete with Razon’s impeccable taste for quality.

Gokongwei’s Robinson Hotel and Resorts

The Gokongwei Group established its reputation in the manufacturing sector with its highly successful Universal Robina, its airline Cebu Pacific Air, its petrochemical business under JG Summit Olefins, financial services, and even media publications.

However, it has also been quietly building up its hotel portfolio that now ranges from the luxury category Nustar and Fili Hotels in Cebu, the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Westin Manila, Holiday Inn Galleria, Dusit Thani Mactan, Summit Hotel, as well as the affordable Go Hotels.

Of course, the Crowne Plaza Galleria and Holiday Inn Galleria pioneered  RHR’s offering in Ortigas, earning the moniker of the twin towers, and firmly establishing the Gokongweis’ hotel footing in the hospitality sector.

The group, however, has continued putting up a range of offering that include the luxury resort and casino Nustar and Fili, which has already attracted the internationally renowned and discerning Mott 32.

Westin Manila’s GM Alexander Dietzch, who is married to a Filipina and whose kids go to Poveda and Ateneo, is a very affable German national, very much unlike the stereo-typed formal German GMs.

It was interesting to learn that Westin Manila, apart from being an efficient and strategically located business and leisure hotel, is also very much a pet-friendly hotel that even offers a dog bed for guests who cannot leave their
pet babies at home. Surprisingly, GM Alex revealed, pet moms and dads are actually very responsible in making sure that their pet babies do not abuse the hotel’s facilities or inconvenience other guests.

But not to deviate from Gokongwei founder – Mr. John’s motto of inclusion for “every Juan,” RHR continues to grow its value brand hotels under Summit Hotels and Go Hotels. They now offer an even better value proposition of an assured 24 hour check-in and stay, wherein hotel guests can check in at any time and are assured of a 24-hour stay unlike the existing practice where hotel guests can check in only at around 2 p.m. and must check out by 11 a.m.

Likewise, the RHR Group also has their Go App, which allows connected booking for their flight on partner airline Cebu Pacific and their hotel, transacted and paid through the app.

Andrew Tan-led Resorts World

Frontrunner in the hotel game is Andrew Tan’s luxury brand hotel brands that include The Marriot -Bonvoy hotels, The Hilton Group, the Japanese Okura Hotel, the Sheraton, Holiday Inn, as well as its home-grown Richmonde, Belmont and Savoy Hotel.

SM Hotels and Convention Corp.

The Sy family is likewise heavy on their hotel properties that include the luxury Conrad Manila, the various Radisson branded hotel hotels nationwide, the Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay and  Pico Sands in Hamilo Coast.