The first five-star hotel in the country was born 97 years ago. Many dubbed the hotel as the “Showcase of the Philippines” and “Address of Prestige” as prominent figures milled around Manila Hotel’s ethereal lobby, from heads of state and movie stars to royalty. Its roster of illustrious guests includes Gen. Douglas MacArthur, US Presidents Lyndon Jonson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, their Royal Highnesses Edward and Charles, princes of Wales, Ernest Hemingway, The Beatles and Michael Jackson, just to name a few.
Renovated guest rooms

This year, as the Grand Dame celebrates its 97th anniversary, a new Manila Hotel is presented before select media representatives including The Manila Times by Manila Hotel president, Atty. Marcelo Ele Jr., General Manager Leon Keekstra, and corporate communications assistant, Vice President Nian Liwanag-Rigor.

The hotel’s renovated guest rooms are fully equipped with the most modern facilities and amenities such as waterproof LCD TV’s in the bathrooms, Italian marble baths, premium bathroom amenities, iLuv radios, in-room safes and VingCard electronic door locks. And while the new guest rooms exude elegance and sophistication, they still showcase the beauty of authentic Philippine interior design, remaining true to the classic interiors of the Manila Hotel that its loyal guests know and love.

Mabuhay Palace

Manila Hotel’s 97th year also saw the opening of the Mabuhay Palace, Manila Hotel’s newly opened Chinese restaurant. Its wide array of delectable dishes was inspired from China, Hong Kong and Singapore and cooked to perfection by Master Chefs Hou Zhen Hui, Josephine Candelaria and Lin Jie Min. The food will never disappoint and the interiors of the restaurant complement it perfectly with its imperial neo-classical design that feature a one-of-a-kind wall art that was meticulously sculpted with genuine jade and precious stones to narrate the tale of the great Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Pool and garden

Moreover, just a minute walk away from the five-star restaurant is another newly renovated outlet in the hotel: The Pool and Garden. The pool itself was reconfigured and reengineered with brand new state-of-the-art pumps and filter system, and the installation of decorative spouts and jets add novel flavor and complements the new quartzon finish of the swimming pool. Children can also safely splash around in the new kid’s pool, just as the rest of us who love basking in the sun while enjoying our favorite cocktails can lounge in the Dedon Orbit chairs that line the sun deck—facing the picturesque glimmering waters of the Manila Bay.

But surely, the pool area is more than a place for recreation. Just beside the swimming pool is an event space that overlooks the bay and the sunset that is perfect for outdoor parties and weddings. Timber trellises with colorful flowering vines, punctuated with tall royal, coconut and Madagascar traveler palms filter the sun’s rays, creating a shaded area pleasantly cooled by the sea breeze. Original tree and shrub planting like sea grapes, barringtonia asiatica and bougainvillea were conserved and enhanced with additional landscape and mood lighting. Fiery red gingers, orange heliconias, succulent bromeliads, luscious philodendrons and fashionable dwarf bamboos are some of the thousands of new plants added to the garden.

Hotel spa and health club

Besides all these, also located by the bay is the Manila Hotel Spa that offers an unprecedented five-star relaxation experience to its guests. And to complete our rejuvenation and wellness interests, next to the spa is the Manila Hotel Health Club. Manila Hotel’s newly opened gym features state-of-the-art and high technology Life Fitness Strength Conditioning and Cardio machines. They come with touch screen LCDs,
iPod control and a virtual trainer. In addition, going up a flight of stairs will reveal a superb locker room that feature electronic lockers that use wrist watches instead of keys, and rainfall showers with complete amenities. And just when we think it can’t get any better than this, the Manila Hotel Health Club also has its own Pilates yoga and aerobics room, a dry sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.

On its 100th anniversary by 2012, Manila Hotel aspires to become the most modern hotel in Asia, says Ele.

“This is just the beginning. Ones the renovations are completed, the all new Manila Hotel will definitely be a landmark in Asia and will rank alongside the world’s finest hotels such as Raffles in Singapore; The Ritz in Paris; and The Sukhothai in Bangkok,” enthuses Ele.