Live and play at Marriott Hotel Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Combining the best in luxury hotel accommodations and a prime location, Marriott Hotel Manila is the ideal place to stay for either work or leisure.

This exquisitely appointed five-star hotel sits perfectly beside Manila’s most lavish entertainment complex, Resorts World Manila at Newport City, just across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Being a few steps away from a host of dining and entertainment options plus the convenient proximity to a bevy of transport options makes Marriott Hotel one of the must-stay destinations in Metro Manila.

According to Scott Sibley, general manager of Marriott Hotel Manila, people can expect a lot more from the hotel in the next couple of years. Ongoing is the construction of the Marriott Convention Center which is expected to open in January 2015. Located adjacent to the hotel property, the convention center will be linked to the main hotel via a walkway.

“It’s 6,900 square meters of meeting space and another 2,000 square meters of lobby space,” he says. “It’s three storys, an entire city block. You cannot miss it.”

Aside from this, Sibley says the Marriott will have an additional 200 rooms constructed on a separate building which will also be linked to the convention center. All three structures will be connected by the planned walkway.

Sibley adds: “This will make us the largest five-star convention center in the Philippines. This will be a one-stop shop — you come in, book your wedding, your event, your function, your car show, whatever it is, and then it will be dressed up like a five-star hotel and ballroom with state-of-the-art lighting and sound. You will be able to do whatever you want and we will service it.”

The addition of the convention center is expected to generate 600 new jobs for the hotel. As one of the largest hotel chains in the world, Marriott’s fastest growth has recently been in China, India, Thailand and Vietnam.

Sibley says Marriott Hotel Manila is poised to join the ranks of its sister hotels. He predicts: “In the next decade, the Philippines will be our next hottest spot, not just in Metro Manila, but in the whole nation.”

Stationed in Manila for almost a year now, Sibley had his start as an executive chef at Marriott 29 years ago. Last stationed at the Marriott in Guam, he reveals that 98 percent of his staffers back there were Filipinos. So, it was not as hard a transition as one would expect.

“Marriot’s known for its service,” Sibley enthuses. “The takeaway here is the Filipino hospitality — how great and fun it is to be in the Philippines, how friendly Filipinos are and how much (guests) enjoy the service here. The hospitality of the Filipinos is outstanding; it’s probably the best in the world. The natural resources here are amazing. Three of the beaches are probably some of the best beaches in the world. For people who like to dive there are some of the best diving spots in the world here.”

Although he heaps praise on the Philippines’ inherent wonders, Sibley is quick to add that Metro Manila is often taken for granted by many foreign tourists. “An hour away from here there’s so much to do,” he says. “I think it’s been overlooked for decades. In the future, I think you are going to see more and more people staying longer in Manila to see more of what it has to offer. This entertainment complex here itself is one of a kind in the Philippines. There’s nothing like Resorts World in the Philippines. You can stay here for three days and never leave the building.”

No truer words have been said. If you are not staying in one of Marriot Manila’s exquisitely appointed guest rooms, you will be spending time at the hotel’s many dining options and leisure facilities. There’s the Marriott Café, Cru Steakhouse, Java+ and Lobby Lounge. For relaxing there’s the Quan Spa, Health Club, Salon and nearby, the Newport Mall and Cinema.

A Grand Ballroom and several meeting rooms also make Marriott Hotel Manila the must-go destination for company meetings and group events from weddings to any kind of celebration.

As if being one of the world’s most successful hotel brands was not enough, Marriott Hotel Manila also engages in the “Spirit to Serve (STS)” campaign which the hotel’s founder started over 60 years ago. Sibley explains: “Mr. J.W. Marriott Jr., who is chairman of the board, has always said that we need to make places that we work in better places to live, work, and play. So we have always tried to give back to the community, in whatever country we are in.”

As it turns out, the STS efforts of Marriott Hotel Manila have impressed Sibley deeply.

“This hotel here does an outstanding job. I have been with Marriott about 29 years now, worked in 16 different countries. The job that the team does here is amazing.”

Marriott Hotel Manila’s STS partners include the Philippine Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and the Timoteo Paez Elementary School in Pasay City.

Sibley adds: “Last year we were able to raise P170,000 for Habitat for Humanity. We are doing that again this Christmas.” Chefs at the hotel have also fed about 4,000 kids this year in partnership with the Red Cross.

Marriott Hotel Manila has proven itself to be more than just one of the top luxury hotels in the city. It has shown its heart and spirit to serve, literally, that reflects deeply in the area it resides in. With the upcoming convention center, guests are given assurance of not just a luxury stay but also the experience of the best in Filipino hospitality.

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Marriott Hotel Manila is located at No. 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City. For more information, call (632) 988-9999 or fax at (632) 836-9998. Contact its sales office at (632) 988-9999 ext. 8014 or fax at (632) 988-9946. Visit its website at http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mnlap-manila-marriott-hotel/. Photos by FERNAN NEBRES