Astoria Plaza: Life away from home
MANILA, Philippines - Nowadays, even the line dividing one’s business time and downtime has been blurred. Work-related concerns still manage to creep up way after you’ve hung up your coat and tie for the day. That is why urban warriors who keep demanding schedules need the all-too important breathing spaces.
For almost 10 years now, the Astoria Plaza Full Service Residential Suites has played the role of providing breathing spaces for the world-weary individual. With its 120 rooms whose sizes range from a minimum of 60 square meters to a maximum of 130 square meters, Astoria Plaza offers the spaces one will ever need and then some.
Hotel manager Ping Regalado says, “Astoria Plaza was established with the objective of providing guests with rooms that are spacious and well-appointed, as well as exceptional service.”
These rooms are just as functional, too. Apart from presenting guests with separate living quarters and work areas in the one- or two-bedroom suites, Astoria Plaza has German-technology electronic door lock systems, audio-video entry phones, cable televisions, DVD players, and electronic safes. For those conducting business in the comfort of their own suites, there are IDD/NDD facilities, data ports, and Internet access available.
“With regards to interior design, no less than the much sought-after sister tandem of Cynthia and Ivy Almario were commissioned to do the rooms which is clean, fresh, minimalist with Zen-like serenity and comfort,” Regalado adds.
Even in the face of new developments in the area — and indeed in the metro — the Astoria Plaza has continued to be in step with the times. Regalado states that constant monitoring of their performance and the guest feedbacks that they receive are what keep them on their toes. He shares that it is because of these factors that rooms, equipment, and services are always new, all in response to the ever-evolving requirements of their guests.
“Phase-by-phase room renovations are ongoing as we speak,” he reveals. “The suites’ kitchens will now have state-of-the-art induction cookers. The rooms will be Wi-Fi connected.” All rooms at Astoria Plaza are equipped with 32” Samsung LCD television in the living area. There is also a DVD player so guests may enjoy their favorite movies or television programs. Inside the bedroom is a 22” Samsung television just right for comfortable viewing.
Even outside one’s suite, facilities and amenities are well taken care of. There is the all-dining pleasure of Café Astoria with its laidback ambience and local and international cuisine. Fitness and beauty buffs can seek refuge in the gym, beauty salon, and outdoor swimming pools for adults and children, among others.
For those with socials and business functions in mind, the Astoria Plaza offers two boardrooms and 11 function rooms. One function room can accommodate up to 250 people. The hotel can supply the audiovisual equipment should the need arise. Attendees bringing their own cars have nothing to worry about: there are six levels of parking allotted for 300 vehicles. The well-trained hotel staff will help assist in secretarial functions and events’ design.
Regalado happily notes that the hotel enjoys a steady stream of new clients as well as long-time ones. “It is really value for money that sets us apart. It’s the word of mouth — the actual testimonies of satisfied guests who tell their colleagues and friends about their memorable stay in the Astoria Plaza.”
Guests, he says, are “a very exciting mix of corporate accounts (businessmen and executives), weekend market, balikbayans, and foreign individual travelers (FITs).”
“While the guests always rave about the courteous and efficient service of our staff, they also mention the very spacious rooms, which we are proud to say are one of the largest, if not the largest, hotel rooms this part of the metropolis. That is surprising to find in today’s space-challenged hotel industry,” he continues.
One thing that flatters them no end is hearing from guests that the “Astoria Plaza is their home away from home.” Truly, if a place is capable of providing a place for work and for enjoying the fruits of one’s labor — someone aptly calls that “life away from home” — then one would not need anything else.
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The Astoria Plaza is located at 15 Escriva Drive, Ortigas Business District, Pasig City. For more information, log on to www.astoriaplaza.com, call 687-1111 or e-mail at sales@astoriaplaza.com.
