Welcome to The Oriental

MANILA, Philippines - The hotel industry is populated by many successful brands, all of which have one common characteristic: consistency. From the quality of the rooms to the level of service, a hotel chain that is consistently good across its entire network receives the most number of returning guests. It takes dedication to get that one particular detail right, but if you are Wilbert Lee, president and CEO of The Oriental Hotels and Resorts, dedication is par for the course.

Last year, The Oriental Hotels and Resorts opened The Oriental Legazpi in Legazpi City, Albay. Situated on Taysan Hill with the majestic Mayon Volcano as backdrop, it is considered the finest hotel resort for leisure and business travelers in the Bicol region. Many may still remember the structure as the former Mayon Imperial Hotel, but with Lee’s entry, the hotel has been revitalized featuring the best luxury facilities in the area. In fact, were it not for The Oriental, Queen Sofia of Spain would have no place to go for lunch when she was there for a visit a few weeks ago.

The presence of The Oriental Legazpi has completely changed the landscape of the province. People were excited not because another new hotel came to town — this was more than that. The Oriental bears a mark of quality that is comparable to the international hotel brands. It’s a hotel that Lee would replicate in places such as Leyte, and soon, in Bataan. There are plans to situate the brand in many more places but it’s not the quantity that really matters. It’s how they can make the guest experience across all of their properties consistent.

‘We want to be the largest hotel chain. That’s the ultimate goal,’ says Wilbert Lee, president and CEO of The Oriental Hotels and Resorts.

Lee places specific importance on brand value. “We needed to have brand service standards, identity, and distinction so that when you go to an Oriental hotel, you expect the same service as with any other Oriental brand hotel,” he says.

“When you come to a place that you have not been to, the first thing you should be able to ask when you arrive is, ‘Is there an Oriental hotel here? Bring me to The Oriental.’ Because you are already confident of what to expect. That’s our vision,” he adds.

Aside from offering one of the most complete views of Mayon Volcano, The Oriental Legazpi places much emphasis on reducing its carbon footprint and becoming a green environmental standard for hotels in the country.

“In Legazpi, we are the only hotel with a sewage treatment plant,” says Lee. “We are the only hotel using 99 percent LED and energy-saving lights and we make full use of natural lighting.”

The Oriental was designed to make use of all available natural light featuring wide, floor-to-ceiling windows and glass ceilings. It is an aesthetic that can also be seen at the newly opened The Oriental Leyte which enjoyed a soft launch last March. That property has the distinction of having the historic MacArthur Park nearby.

The Oriental Hotels and Resorts actually has two types of hotels with the brand. The full-service luxury side covers the hotels in Legazpi and Leyte, while the business or “express” side covers the basics with minimal facilities.

“The express hotels are for people on-the-go,” says Lee. The only things you will see here aside from the rooms are a coffee shop, gym, and business center. As much as possible, the express hotel side of the brand shares the same green initiatives as its full-service counterparts. The business hotel in Iloilo features the same wide windows but also have “void decks,” large, open spaces and corridors where wind can freely pass through providing ample ventilation.

The Oriental’s other express hotels are the Swagman in Manila, Sylvia Manor in Bacolod, and upcoming hotels in Pagsanjan and Balanga.

“If you look at the industry now, talking about the local scene, there are no real homegrown brands,” shares Lee. “There’s lots of potential in this area, not only because our local tourism is booming, but in terms of managing properties also.”

Deluxe queen (left) and deluxe twin rooms.

Speaking of tourism, Lee says that having The Oriental Hotels near well-known tourist and historical sites is more than just helping the business. He expresses a need to appreciate the country’s natural offerings and legacy.

“In places like Singapore, the tourist attractions are man-made. In the Philippines, it’s all natural. Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna and MacArthur Park in Leyte are well-known sites internationally. This generation needs to remember what happened at the Bataan Death March. We want the association to these places to be part of our brand,” he says.

Lee confesses a certain love for hotels. Not just all of them, only the best kind. You will likely find him hanging out at hotel lobbies of the top-tier brands here and abroad. His family even knows the drill whenever they arrive at a new hotel. “When my family goes abroad, we really go for good hotels,” he says. “When we arrive at a hotel they all hang out and wait at the lobby because they already know, before we even check in to a room, it will take another hour because I go to the front office and ask ‘can you show me all the room types?’ I’m very particular about the smell, the location, the views. If I like something I will go for the upgrade. To me, when I’m in a hotel it’s like being in a large playground.”

What’s next for this young, energetic brand? The Oriental Hotels and Resorts, just more than half a year in the business, is already showing great potential to be the industry’s next big thing. Lee declares: “We want to be the largest hotel chain. That’s the ultimate goal.”

And like all big things, Lee is not afraid to go big. “If everything goes according to plan we will have The Oriental Palau by next year. We are looking at several properties in China as well, but all of these will be managed.”

From the start, consistency in quality and service is the key to a successful hotel chain. The hotels deliver by providing that consistently high standard expected of any great brand. Thankfully, it’s that quality that raises the bar in the areas that the company situates its properties. As long as it keeps having that effect, The Oriental Hotels and Resorts will always be a welcome sight for many a distinguished traveler.

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The Oriental Legazpi is located at Taysan Hill, Sto. Niño Village, Legazpi City, Albay with telephone numbers +63 (52) 435-3333 and +63 (52) 435-5555. The Oriental Leyte is located in Baras, Palo, Leyte with telephone number +63 (53) 323-3881. For more information, contact the Manila Sales Office at +63 (02) 994-5644 or visit www.theorientalhotels.com.