Living high at Bonifacio

Urban living in Metro Manila is reaching new levels  literally. High-rise, high-end condominiums are now poised to raise the bar and redefine luxury living in the metropolis. The settings and locations for these towers are also going upscale. They are now rising in districts that offer a rich mix of amenities, shopping, culture, entertainment, and recreation.

Speaking of location, Bonifacio Global City is now the sought-after address of choice. Within it, a new quarter is rising that aims to take upscale condominium living even higher. In the last 10 years or so, we’ve all seen the western and central quarters of BGC evolve with clusters of condominiums and retail-driven lower-rise development by a slew of different developers. Development has now shifted to the northern section of Bonifacio Global City.

Federal Land, the real estate development arm of the Metrobank Group, has partnered with Orix, one of Japan’s top financial services corporations, to form Bonifacio Landmark Realty Corporation. At a launch and press briefing held recently, Alfred V. Ty, chairman of Bonifacio Landmark Corporation and president of Federal Land, explained that BLR has recently quickened the pace of development in this new quadrant of Bonifacio Global City with a flagship development covering several hectares, in the vicinity of the Lexus Showroom, called Veritown Fort.

Within this new New York City-inspired development, the partnership recently launched Grand Hyatt Residences (GHR) Manila, part of a P20-billion two-tower upscale mixed-use development. The condominium residential development sits in tandem with the Grand Hyatt Hotel, sharing a large two city-block podium complex filled with every conceivable amenity for luxury living.

GHR Manila is a branded residential development that is managed and will offer the same design and service quality of Hyatt hotels. Not many realize that Federal Land effectively pioneered this concept of ‘branded condominium residences’ in the country. A few years ago it developed the Marco Polo Residences in Cebu, a multi-tower development that is anchored around the Marco Polo Hotel. That development, now a premier choice for luxury residences in the Queen City, offers luxury living along with fantastic elevated views of the city.

The Grand Hyatt Manila hotel itself reflects Manila’s entry into the ranks of the world’s progressive capitals. Grand Hyatts are at the top tier of the Hyatt hotel chain and provide accommodations for the highest-end visitor demographic: CEOs, top corporate executives, celebrities, the rich and famous, stay in Grand Hyatts all over the globe.

Federal Land and Bonifacio Landmark Realty are literally bringing its guests here to greater heights, as the Grand Hyatt Manila is being planned to reach 66 stories. The top of this landmark tower is capped by a golden roof, underneath which will be a multi-level restaurant that capitalizes on a fantastic 360-degree panorama of Manila. To the north you can see as far as the Sierra Madre foothills in Bulacan. To the south and southwest you will be able to see Antipolo, Laguna de Bai, and as far as Mt. Makiling. To the west and southwest you will be able to see Cavite and the fabled sunset over our magnificent Manila Bay.

The hotel’s indoor amenities are housed in the podium base. These include ballrooms, restaurants, a business center, hotel retail, reception, expansive lobby and lounges. The hotel’s driveway and entry portal are under roof and the receiving lobby is a dramatic, large-volume space that stretches to skylights on the sixth floor, suffusing it with natural light. The hotel’s podium spaces segue to a high-end shopping section and can be accessed from extensive parking facilities below and at the complexes’ perimeter through secure connecting walkways.

The hotel’s outdoor amenities sit mostly on the podium deck, six stories above ground, on the same floor as the spa and fitness center. The deck is a veritable tropical garden, over half a hectare in area. The lush landscape will include mature palms and large flowering trees along with vine covered trellises and vertical green walls planted with endemic and colorful species.

Water will also be a continuing theme with a large 25-meter lap pool, a children’s pool and numerous water features and fountains. All this water and green is also a setting for a dedicated outdoor barbecue section, generous al-fresco dining facilities, cabanas and a grand lawn for special parties and events. The Grand Hyatt Residences also has its own commodious outdoor amenities, main pool, kids’ pool and water features as well.

The architecture of the complex is by the famed Hong Kong firm of Wong + Ouyang working in collaboration with Casas Architects. The international firm of Ove Arup & Partners are the engineers in charge. Interiors are by Florida-based hospitality experts Bilkey Llinas. The landscape architecture is by PGAA Creative Design. These firms have all worked on high-end hotel, mixed-use and other Hyatt projects worldwide, including the Grand Hyatt Shanghai and Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

The hotel and residences’ offerings do not stop with architectural, engineering and landscape design; the signature Hyatt hospitality is seen in the relationship of the brand to its members and residents. The Grand Hyatt will offer a loyalty program to make guests feel more at home every time they stay at the hotel. Members will be able to enjoy exclusive benefits that include points leading to free room nights, room upgrades and airline miles.

All who acquire a unit at the Grand Hyatt Residences Manila will automatically get a Hyatt Gold Passport at the Diamond Level. (This Diamond Level Elite status will be for a two-year period subject to the program’s terms and conditions.) Aside from local benefits, holders of the Hyatt Gold Passport can use this worldwide at Hyatts everywhere to avail of discounts, complimentary Internet access, guaranteed 48-hour room availability, and four suite upgrades yearly.

The privileges of residents of the Grand Hyatt Residences Manila are extensive. They include concierge, porter, bell and valet services, 24-hour front desk and security services, unit cleaning, repair and maintenance services, common and private area maintenance, plumbing, electrical and landscape service.

GHR owners also have access to Grand Hyatt Manila amenities and services on an a la carte basis. These include use of the spa, fitness center, business center, priority bookings in restaurants, butlers, room service, private chefs or in-residence cooks, daily housekeeping, dry cleaning and laundry services, limousine service, flower supply and even event and party planning. It’s just like living in a hotel.

GHR Manila will set the bar for luxury living in Metro Manila, the country and the region. As we speak, other components of the multi-tower, multi-block Veritown Fort are well on their way to creating the metropolis’ most luxurious and exciting arrondissement, close to the existing shopping and restaurant clusters of Bonifacio, top international schools, and the existing CBD of Makati. Veritown Fort itself is blessed with a high-end mix of uses and amenities and therefore will be, as Alfred Ty expressed, “A symbol of the future of a modern Metro Manila and a modern Philippines.”

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Feedback is welcome. Please email the writer at paulo.alcazaren@gmail.com. For more information visit www.grandhyattresidencesmanila.