Shang, Peninsula top hotels for businessmen

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Shangri-La and The Peninsula Manila were chosen anew by businessmen in Asia as the top two hotel destinations in the Philippines.

Based on a survey conducted by FinanceAsia, one of the leading business publications in the region, Makati Shangri-La got a rating of 58.6 percent while The Peninsula Manila got a score of 22.4 percent.

The other favored hotels were Mandarin Oriental (5.2 percent), Dusit Thani (3.4 percent), EDSA Shangri-La (3.4 percent), and Renaissance Makati City Hotel (3.4 percent).

Ritz Carlton Hong Kong was chosen as Asia’s best new hotel; Makati Shangri-La, best hotel in Asia; The Upper House (Hong Kong), best boutique hotel; The Ascott Ltd., best serviced-apartment chain in Asia; Blue Canyon Country Club and Sentosa Golf Club, best golf courses; and the Banyan Tree Spa, best spa resort.

In the same survey, businessmen named Singapore Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, and Incheon International Airport as the top three airports in Asia.

In terms of first-class airline service, Singapore Airlines topped the survey followed by Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, British Airways and Qatar Airways.

Meanwhile, a United Nations 2012 report shows that Asia and the Pacific as well as the United States were the most “open” regions for tourists.

The UN World Tourism Organization reported that an average of 20 percent of the world’s population did not require visa to visit Asia and the Pacific, while 19 percent could get a visa upon arrival and only seven percent needed to apply for an electronic visa.