Philippines capital set to boom as a meetings and incentives destination
For years, event planners had to contend with the same facilities for business events in Manila. However, as the Philippine economy grows, Metro Manila is levelling up with new venues for business events. Expect more than the tourism board’s slogan of fun in the Philippines. The number of hotel rooms in Metro Manila is soaring and set to reach a 26-year high in the next three years.
Colliers International analyst Romeo Arahan says an average of 4,300 rooms are expected to be delivered annually from this year until 2016, making it the highest number of units completed since 1988.
Local and foreign developers are on a roll to meet the growing demand for hotel rooms, in line with the government’s target of 10 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2016. Here are five in Metro Manila that meeting planners can choose from, for now:
Marco Polo Ortigas Manila
After two decades, Marco Polo enlivens the Ortigas business and commercial district with the opening of a five-star hotel. The 316-room property had its soft opening in March and all the full amenities are due to be ready this month.
The hotel has an impressive Continental Club Lounge located on the 44th floor. Marketing itself as the country’s first ‘sky hotel’, a sky lobby on the 24th level of the hotel tower offers stunning views of the metro. Vu, the sky bar on the 45th floor serves cocktails, tapas and looks out to the nearby valley, mountain range and lake on the east and the Ortigas cityscape towards the west. Vu’s alfresco and indoor options high up on the 45th floor make for a memorable cocktail setting for groups.