The 'Grand Old Dame' is turning 100 soon

MANILA, Philippines - History has a funny way of reminding you that things have not always been what they seem. Sometimes, all it takes is a glimpse of an old painting, looking through an elegantly framed window or listening to gossip of things that happened within a structure’s stately halls. Then again, one can simply walk through a doorway and be transported to a nobler and much simpler time.

“You should have been here yesterday,” says Léon Keekstra, general manager of the Manila Hotel as we stood at the lobby of the famous establishment. “It was like Grand Central Station.”

It was not hard imagining that scene, of travelers waiting at the hotel’s vast ante-lobby, their chatter echoing to the high ceiling decorated with an array of chandeliers radiating a light amber hue. The sight of them milling about and gathering into small groups with luggage on their feet must have been a throwback to the good old days — when the hotel was as much a luxury address, as it was a portal to a land of exciting culture and great adventure.

Now, Manila Hotel stands at the cusp of history. Keekstra is the first to admit that, yes, the hotel has fallen into some rough patches — especially during the last couple of decades or so. But nearing the celebration of its centennial in 2012, the powers-that-be have made it all too clear: Manila Hotel will be great again.

Keekstra brings a never-say-die attitude to the table when it comes to taking back the prestige, luxury and nobility that many Filipinos have come to remember of the hotel during its golden years. “As we like to call it, the Grand Old Dame is turning 100 soon,” he says. “We’re fixing up the hotel to bring back the glory days as most Filipinos know it. However, we are incorporating all the modern amenities that a well-seasoned traveler needs nowadays.”

These up-to-date improvements include Wi-Fi Internet access, flat-screen TVs, new switches, keycards, etc. — all the bells and whistles and more. The question now being, will these renovations take away from the spirit of what everyone knows as Manila Hotel?

Absolutely not, avers Keekstra. “We’re not trying to put a glass and steel structure in the middle of Intramuros. The look is very authentic, very stylish, yet completely wired to current standards,” he says.

With the contrast between old and new sufficiently blurred, Manila Hotel’s fully renovated rooms retain their authentic Philippine interior design while being fully equipped to satisfy the tastes of today’s modern guests. The elegance and sophistication is further enhanced with large windows that provide a breathtaking view of the famous Manila sunset.

Further renovations affected not just the rooms, but dining choices as well. Last year saw the opening of the Mabuhay Palace, the Manila Hotel’s own five-star Chinese fine dining restaurant. With walls adorned with jade panel artwork depicting the story of Confucius, Mabuhay Palace presents a wide array of delicacies from China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Guests who crave for outdoor enjoyment can relax by the newly renovated pool and garden by renowned landscape architect and urban designer Paulo Alcazaren. Completely redone with brand new, state-of-the-art pumps and a filter system, the pool is complemented by decorative spouts and jets as well as a Quartzon finish that enhances the colors of the pool’s interiors. Nearby, a sun deck invites you to relax among its many comfortable lounge chairs while a wet bar quenches your thirst. Around you, timber trellises are adorned with colorful flowering vines while robust vegetation filters the sun’s rays.

Over by the bay area are the spa and health club. The spa offers a range of services that include Swedish, shiatsu, aromatherapy and the Signature massage. The health club features state-of-the-art Life Fitness Elevation series machines that include treadmills, cross-trainers and upright and recumbent exercise bikes. All the pieces of equipment are complemented with touch-screen LCDs and iPod control with a virtual trainer. The health club has its own dry sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.

Everything, including the kitchen sink, is being renovated. Keekstra, however, says one thing will remain unchanged. “The only thing that we’re not renovating is our logo. Gardens, driveways, façade, ballrooms, restaurants, lobby lounge, rooms, spa, pool, rooftop, elevators, and hallways — everything will be done. But what we’re not going to change is our logo.”

That seems like a sensible way of retaining your identity, especially with a place that is as storied as Manila Hotel. Keeping things the way they are is one thing, but bringing other things back is another.

One small touch is the butler service. “Every floor will have a butler again,” Keekstra says. In a few months, the exclusive Macarthur Lounge and executive floors will reopen, creating a revolution in the hospitality industry. “If your hotel is as grand and as luxurious and as comfortable as ours and you have an executive floor - that means that your guests on those floors are your cream of the crop.”

Upholding that sentiment is Keekstra’s thrust to offer the absolute best service to the hotel’s premier clientele. “I don’t believe in small buffets, I don’t believe that you can walk to a bar and pour your own glass of champagne whether it’s free or not,” he continues. “I believe these are the people we know by name. We know their birthdays and anniversaries. We know exactly who they are and what they do. I also believe they are the ones who don’t walk to a buffet for breakfast or to a bar to get their glass of champagne.”

“Our executive lounge will be, by far, the most expensive and luxurious restaurant in the Philippines,” he adds.

Speaking of food, the renovation of Manila Hotel’s Ilang-Ilang Restaurant will be done in a few weeks’ time. With its completion is a buffet dining experience that will feature seven different Asian kitchens that is also halal-compliant. The Champagne Room will also get a makeover. One of Keekstra’s personal “babies,” however, is the Deli. He says, “A deli, for me, is where all food and drinking come together in one shop. People can expect that before Christmas.”

Keekstra remains confident that Manila Hotel will recapture its place in history as one of the most glamorous and luxurious addresses in the country. Will we then get a pleasant surprise when 2012 comes along? He confesses: “I think things, when it comes to the birthday, have more to do with who we are and what we do rather than what we are. I don’t think the surprise will be in how the structure will be all new and when we open the curtains and everyone cheers and will be happy. It’s more in our events, our festivities, our service levels, the awards that we’ll steal back — those are the focus in 2012. That’s where we’ll want to bring the pride back... If you saw the hotel a year ago from where we are right now, you just know it’s going to happen. Too many people are too busy making it happen.”

* * *

Manila Hotel is located at Rizal Park, Manila. For more information, call (632) 527-0011 or log on to http://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/.