Events place, budget hotel highlight new attractions at Aseana City

MANILA, Philippines - Envisioned as a new business and entertainment district,  the 204-hectare Aseana City which stands on property reclaimed from Manila Bay by a consortium led by DM Wenceslao & Associates, is undergoing robust growth as seen by the rise of hotels, offices, commercial establishments and residential towers.

This early, Aseana City has become a hub for tourism with the opening of Solaire Resort and Casino and with the expected completion of Belle Grand Manila Bay with 920 rooms. Still another development will transform this district into a social hub for weddings, debuts, meetings and events – Blue Leaf Filipinas along Belle Ave., right next to the hotel of the same name.

 Even while final touches like landscaping amenities and curtains were being installed last October, Blue Leaf Filipinas at Aseana City was already booked for 90 occasions in December 2013.   “We offer a sophisticated and resort-like setting inside the city. That is its selling point,” said general manager Eugene Sandejas.

“Location is of prime importance. Any Blue Leaf venue has to be accessible and highly visible,” added Sandejas who also spearheaded the conceptualization and establishment of The Blue Leaf Events Pavilions in Taguig City, a popular site for weddings, debuts, conventions and corporate events. 

Blue Leaf Filipinas was set up in Aseana City because of the market potential offered by this strategic Metro Manila location. “Aseana City is about to take off with so many entertainment destinations rising steadily,” said Sandejas. “We’re in a well-balanced and masterplanned development very accessible to the airport as well as to the residential communities of Makati, Manila, Paranaque, Las Pinas and Cavite. 

Aseana City’s other advantage is its closeness to the SM Mall of Asia complex and cultural landmarks such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex and the Baclaran Redemptorist Church.

Six years ago, Blue Leaf Events Pavilion was the only retail establishment in Taguig’s McKinley Hill business district, recalled Sandejas. Word got around about its creative and prolific set-ups for corporate seminars, weddings, parties and impeccable service. It has since become a landmark and one of the busiest venues in Taguig. Blue Leaf Filipinas hopes to replicate its success as one of the pioneer establishments in Aseana City.

 â€œWe’re the kind of tenant that can pull in the traffic,” Sandejas said.

 Blue Leaf Filipinas is a larger venue that offers three ballrooms which can be combined to host 1,000 guests and three small function rooms for intimate events.  Corporate facilities such as breakout halls are also provided. The roof deck which faces Manila Bay can be used for weddings and cocktails.

The expected number of weekend as well as weekday visitors to Aseana City has also prompted the popular Tune Hotels chain to set up a property in the area. Early next year, Aseana City will also host a Tune Hotel where many rooms will have bay views.  Known for its compact rooms with luxurious beds and power showers at an affordable price, the 204-room Tune Hotel will be one of the biggest in the chain.

Owned by Red Planets Hotel in Malaysia, the Tune Hotels chain always builds in a location that is strategically close to a commercial area and the airport.  Tune Hotel will rise on Bradco Avenue, Aseana City’s main thoroughfare.