First in the Fort

MANILA, Philippines - Being the first has its advantages. For one, you set the tone and the standard for others to follow. It may be a daunting enterprise, but it is, at the end of the day, an interesting position to be in. That point is very much occupied by Best Western Premier F1 Hotel in Bonifacio Global City at the Fort, Taguig.

As an opening trivia, F1 is so named to stand for “the first in the Fort,” as in Fort 1. It is the first hotel in the Philippines under Best Western, the world’s largest hotel chain with over 4,000 hotels worldwide. It is also the very first Premier brand in the country, with the finest-quality amenities and facilities. With all these distinctions, it is no surprise why F1 Hotel general manager Chad Davis is feeling so upbeat these days.

“It is very exciting for us to be the first!” Davis exclaims. “We are well advanced four to five years from our eventual competitors and so far we have been getting great feedback from our guests.”

Since the hotel’s soft opening in early September, seasoned travelers have been quick to recognize its name as a stickler for quality services and amenities. Davis says that although they are first and foremost a corporate hotel — a wise proposition given that F1 Hotel is right smack in the middle of BGC’s business district — families and newbies have been discovering the joys of staying here.

Davis says, “Our rooms have new larger-than-the-average beds, linens, flat-screen television, iPod docking stations, and strong Wi-Fi. Those things make it easy for guests to simply enjoy themselves in the comfort of their own rooms.”

The hotel currently has 243 elegant, spacious and fully furnished rooms in Superior, Deluxe, City Suite, Fort Suite, Executive Suite, Premier Suite, and Penthouse Suite categories.

“We are really excited about our amenities,” he volunteers. “We have three amazing pools: the kiddie, lap and wading pools. Swim in the early evening and feel the cool breeze. When you stop to look, you see the entire Bonifacio Global City. We are in the heart of this booming new city, a place that is safe, friendly, and well-appointed. Guests can actually be a part of this community.”

Location, as been hinted at earlier, works well for F1 Hotel. It is close to such landmarks and establishments as St. Luke’s Medical Center, Market! Market!, Bonifacio High Street, and Serendra. It is also a quick sprint to malls, commercial centers, restaurants, retail stores, and international schools.

But back at the hotel, Davis is proud that their food and beverage outlets are in place. Their flagship restaurant, aptly called F (“For fresh or fabulous food,” Davis explains), serves up international and local cuisine. The main difference, he stresses, is that their culinary offerings are of the strictest quality.

“We aim for higher quality in our foods and we source the best products we can find. Despite these factors, we go for affordability. We want to be accessible for all guests who want to stay the night or hold weddings or birthday parties here,” he says.

Already earning favorable reviews from F diners are the tuna and pomelo salad, the noodle dishes, the Wagyu steak, seafood, sushi, and blueberry cheesecake. Of course, the other items in the menu are worthy checking out. Those so inclined to stay in can phone in room service.

Davis is also anticipating the popularity of their outdoor dining facilities, which provide a fantastic view of the BGC. “The restaurant I must say is gorgeous at night. The setting is unlike any within any hotel, as it lends a conservatory feel.”

Davis adds than F1 Hotel will soon be known for its banquet space consisting of nine function rooms. Citing the presence of offices within the BGC, F1 Hotel can now provide these companies with a five-star venue, complete with the top-notch service that only a Premier hotel can serve.

“There used to be no alternatives in the BGC for office functions. Now we have function rooms that can accommodate small groups up to 350 people in a cocktail party-style setting. There will be a business center for them as well, which will carry everything that they will need,” he says.

Also meriting positive feedback from their guests is the staff, a team that Davis tells us is well-loved by their clients. He explains, “Our guests love them for their ‘I Can’ attitude. One of our foreign guests took me aside and told me that every interaction he has had with the staff has been first-class.”

He also reveals that his staff calls him by his first name. He laughs, “I let them call me Chad, not Mr. Davis. It is more personable for everyone involved. I mean, if we could get to know our guests, it makes it all the more homely. We are building in our staff the confidence that in knowing our guests, they are able to anticipate their needs more. We want to give our staff a work environment that is enjoyable because that translates to our guests.”

In fact, looking after guests is second nature to F1 Hotel. Davis says, “If they decide to go on a run at the Fort, we join them for runs!” Yes, this hotel general manager is a marathon runner who also does triathlons.

Meanwhile, true to its ideal of affordability, F1 Hotel is offering such promos as a 40 percent off its rates, and 50 percent discount on breakfast. Good deals indeed.

Davis declares, “It is our way of inviting people to try us. Once they do, they will be back. We are very confident with that.”

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Best Western Premier F1 Hotel is located at 32nd St. corner Bonifacio Boulevard, Global City, Taguig. For more information, call +632.928-9888 or visit its website at http://bestwesternpremierf1hotel.com.