Date
of Stay: June 12-13, 2010
RATING
(Scale of 1 to 10)
Location:
*******
Rooms:
********
Condition
and Cleanliness: ********
Staff
Performance: ********
Room
Comfort: *******
Food
and Beverage: ********
Other
Amenities: ********
Value
for Money: *******
The 8-storey Marriott
Hotel Manila, located within the 25-hectare, mixed-use Newport City (which
includes the world-class tourism complex of Resorts World Manila) project of
property giant Megaworld Corp., is the first in Metro Manila to carry the
Marriott name and the second in the Philippines after the 301-room Cebu City
Marriott Hotel.
The Marriott name had its beginnings in food and beverage when, in 1927, J.
Willard and Alice S. Marriott opened their first A&W (after Alice and
Willard) Root Beer stand (with nine stools) in Washington, D.C. During the next
decade, Marriott expanded its food-service business to include “in-flite”
service (later to become the world’s largest airline catering business).
By 1957, its business
extended to hotels when it opened their first Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in
Arlington, Virginia. Today Marriott International Inc. is a leading worldwide
hospitality company, with over 3,100 operating units in the United States and
67 other countries and territories.
Mr. Richard Saul, Marriott Hotel Manila first general manager, sums it all up
when he said that “Marriott represents a five-star international product that
customers can rely on.”
This five-star international
standard, plus the best of Philippine hospitality and a distinctive touch of
Philippine flavor and color, makes this hotel unique among other Marriot
hotels.
As one enters the lobby,
guests are presented with a unique, not-too-stiff and living room-style zoning
arrangement that defies convention and emphasizes convenience, rest and
creation: a front desk (and the panic-and-frantic pace associated with it) that
is almost hidden from view; an interactive social zone with television
sets on both ends (allowing guests to be both social and business-like at the
same time), and the Lobby Bar with its high tables and communal tables (for
groups that may want to enjoy snacks and canapés) and, for the private person,
an individual zone where one can sit down, read a book or enjoy his cake, salad
and cool drink.
From the grand lobby, it is
impossible not to be drawn to Marriott’s seamlessly integrated restaurant
outlets (all with splendid views of the Villamor Golf Club’s fairways) that
literally flow from one to the other, each offering something distinct and
different for the guests.
The casual Marriott Café, a
bright, bold, upbeat and modern version of an all-day dining buffet restaurant,
features live and engaging open-theater kitchens and a vast, sumptuous buffet
of local and international favorites from the Western world all the way up to
China, plus an equally irresistible à la carte menu to order from.
The sophisticated Cru
Steakhouse, a paradise for meat lovers, serves the finest dry-aged, prime cuts
of succulent steak (you can choose your cut and see how it is prepared)
perfectly paired with the freshest seafood (oysters, lobsters, etc.) and fine
red wine.
Meanwhile, the Velocity
Sports and Entertainment Bar, an updated and upgraded version of a contemporary
sports bar (with multiple, giant flat-screen TVs showing the hottest sporting
events from around the globe), offers a central bar, live entertainment, local
tap beer and cocktails (complemented by a simple finger-food menu), private
zones (for guests who want to watch sports at a corner all to themselves),
ample open space for moving around, and distinctive but complementary pieces of
furniture.
Java+Coffee Shop specializes
in excellent grab-and-go choices of energy-boosting gourmet coffee, freshly
baked pastries, breads and other wholesome refreshments and snacks.
Of course, what is a hotel
without its rooms. The 342 exquisite deluxe rooms and suites are all
first-rate, all exuding class and comfort, with luxurious bedding, high-speed
Internet, 40-inch, full high-definition LCD TVs with IPTV, new jack pack
plug-and-play systems, in-room safe, minibar and spacious work areas.
The two top floors house
executive-level rooms and 19 deluxe suites. From the Executive Lounge, guests
can enjoy a spectacular view of the Villamor Golf Course.
To relax and unwind, there’s
Marriott’s signature Quan Spa, a full-service spa that offers various
treatments and services to pamper guests. The spa has four single treatment
rooms, one couple’s room, one bathing suite and a reflexology lounge.
The hotel also has a fully
equipped health club (offers cardio equipment, free weights, fitness classes
and a pool), grand ballroom, six meeting rooms, business center plus a
swimming pool.
Marriott Hotel Manila: No 10
Newport Boulevard,Newport City Complex, Pasay City. Tel: (632)
988-9999. Fax: (632) 836-9998.
