Traders treads to the future

MANILA, Philippines - Change is good, and Traders Hotel knows it. Despite having kept its essentials intact, Traders Hotel has undergone changes that will impress loyal clients and new guests. See, it has been a significant presence in the bay area and with its stature as a top draw, surely the way to go is to tread further up.

Traders Hotel general manager Gordon Aeria admits being well pleased with the renovations and upgrades. “We are almost complete with the renovations, from the front to the back. By early 2014, everything will be completed,” Aeria says.

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“What we are aiming for is a more vibrant, forward-looking hotel,” he continues. “We feel this development will work in tandem with the increasing tourist arrival and growth in the bay area.”

This development can be seen most notably in Traders Hotel’s newly renovated grand ballroom and function rooms. The brand new Embassy Ballroom, housed in the second floor, can accommodate up to 500 people. The four smaller function rooms can seat 50 to 150 participants.

The fully carpeted ballroom and function rooms now sport a livelier ambience, with crystal chandeliers, art glass and stained mirrors, metal doors, and cream-textured leather padded walls.

The Ambassador’s Sala, a favorite spot in the hotel, also boast of woodworks in dark hazel nut and abstract paintings, as well as natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Eco-friendly LED lights are now used throughout the hotel.

The hotel’s 312 renovated guestrooms and swimming pool are also bound to impress. Aeria shares that the renovation was discreet enough for guests not to notice. He says, “They did not know that a renovation was happening. It was a pleasant surprise for them, so their appreciation went higher.”

The same can be said about Traders Hotel’s food and beverage outlets. Latitude, the flagship restaurant, has been doing great business, owing to the hotel’s increased Japanese business clients. Even the Japanese restaurant Kitsho has been attracting more and more diners.

“There is a better level of awareness now for our F&B outlets. With more tourist arrivals, corporate business and local patronage, we are becoming more popular. With the nearby embassies, we get repeat business,” he avers.

These recent developments within the hotel also raised their growth prospects for 2014. As the only Traders Hotel in the Philippines, the brand is easily recognizable. It also boosts its profile as a Shangri-La-managed property for 18 years now.

“In the bay area, we are the only Shangri-La-managed hotel. We have a strong loyal group of guests,” Aeria says. “People who know that we are a Shangri-La hotel keep us on our toes. It is all good. We are fortunate to be a part of the Shangri-La group, which is always at the forefront. Our market focus has always been about delighting guests, so we know where we work on.”

“All these developments energize us. It gives us a good vibe of what lies ahead in 2014,” Aeria adds.

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Traders Hotel is located at 3001 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila. For more information, call (63 2) 708-4888, fax at (63 2) 708-9850, e-mail at thm@tradershotels.com, or visit its website at www.tradershotels.com. Photos by Fernan Nebres