Traders Hotel Manila goes high-speed

The days when hotel guests were more concerned with room rates are now a thing of the past. Nowadays, when people scout around for hotel accommodations, one of their concerns is Internet connectivity. At Traders Hotel Manila, the management faced this demand from guests by going a step further: It now offers seamless wireless local area network to give guests Broadband Internet access in their rooms and wireless access points in strategic areas within the hotel.

Traders Hotel sales and marketing director Jopy G. Lopez says upgrading the hotel’s facilities with high-speed Internet access was dictated by the needs of the market.

"If we have the technology our guests ask of us, then we will get more business travelers and foreigners at our hotel," Lopez explains.

Of the hotel’s 290 guest rooms, 235 will have Broadband Internet access by the end of July. By the end of August, 95 percent of rooms will have this service. WiFi access points are also available at the hotel lobby, the second floor function rooms, the Paseo del Sol swimming pool area, and at the Traders Club lounge area and boardroom.

Lopez surveyed the Internet connectivity of hotels within the Bay Area. While most hotels had Internet connection, few offered high-speed connection. "We offer high-speed Internet connection at 150 Mbps in more rooms than other hotels in the area," she adds.

Apart from Internet access, Traders has separate smoking areas at the lobby and at the Traders Club lounge area for the convenience of guests.

Traders Club manager Bettina Inovero says many travelers now opt for hotel’s Traders Club rooms from floors 17 to 19 because of the many privileges they offer. Apart from separate private registration and checkout, the Club floor also has a number of complimentary services like all-day non-alcoholic beverages, cocktails from 5 to 7 p.m., and upgraded room amenities.

Guests availing of the Traders Club also have an optional pillow menu. Inovero says the pillow menu addresses specific needs of some guests. Apart from the standard feather pillows in all Traders Club rooms, guests may request for a contour pillow, which offers support to the neck area, an anti-snore pillow, and hypo-allergenic pillows.

All Traders guests with early morning flights are served free coffee from 4 to 6 a.m. Since breakfast often starts at 6 a.m., this is a small extra the hotel serves its guests.

The Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts group, which includes the Makati and Edsa Shangri-La and Traders Hotel, has also been operating a lounge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for its arriving guests since June. All Shangri-La guests have access to the lounge to freshen up before proceeding to their hotel.

"All Shangri-La guests, including those of Traders Hotel, are offered drinks, a cold or hot towel, and reading materials at the lounge. They can rest and relax after their flights at the lounge before going to their hotel."

All these added services are designed to make Shangri-La guests, including those of Traders Hotel, feel like they are home away from home.

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Traders Hotel Manila is along Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. For inquiries and room reservations, call 523-7011.