Over the last two years, two major hotel brands spread their wings and set foot on Bonifacio Global City. Grand Hyatt and Shangri-La added branding muscle to their already strong presence showcasing their trademark hospitality.
Earlier, Hyatt’s City of Dreams, Nobu Hotel, Marriott Newport City, Novotel and Mercure Ortigas ignited the opening surge. Hotel rooms in Metro Manila will reach a 26-year high and growth for the country’s hotel industry is expected to rise in the next five years. With that, hopes are high that the Philippines can easily surpass its 6-million target by the end of this year.
According to real-estate consultancy firm Pinnacle: “Even with a slight dip in hotel occupancy in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is doing much better than most countries in the region, where drops ranged from 2.1 percentage points to as high as 8.6. Only Thailand and Vietnam bucked the trend with a slight increase in occupancy.”
Another leading real-estate company, Colliers foresees that “established branded hotel chains will come in to take over old, locally managed resorts that are in excellent locations, but are past their prime. Boutique and lifestyle hotels in tourism areas will be the trend in hotel development over the years to come,” it says.
The Philippines is one of Asia’s most active countries in hotel opening scene. It is set to dazzle anew with the launching of Conrad Manila, the global luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide, in June this year.
The luxurious 347-room hotel aims to inspire seasoned travelers and the local market by redefining the status quo and upgrade their impeccable taste to a new dimension.
With Conrad Manila’s entry, rooms are expected to exceed the country’s current 30,500 total in the next two years. Approximately, 3,300 new hotel rooms were completed in Metro Manila from 2014 to 2016.
A physically handsome hotel, Conrad Manila will offer best-in-class service and amenities. To date, it has already exemplified excellence prior to the grand opening, winning the Philippines Property Award as Best Hotel Development, Best Hotel in Architectural Design and Best Hotel Interior Design.
Picture this: The whole shape is iconic, derived from a ship that has permanently docked in Manila Bay waters. Inside is a unique blend of modern art and Filipino artistry, inspired by air and sea wave elements across the bay. In one of its breathtaking lounges, the design allows you to experience an infinite ringside view of Manila’s jaw-dropping sunset, better than what you have probably previously experienced.
On a Friday and Saturday, a stay at the hotel becomes a multiple treat. As soon as dusk settles, fireworks joyfully welcome your distinguished presence. Here, like everyone else, your stay is celebrated for being an honored guest.
“The Conrad way is luxuriously excellent, physically and experientially. We aspire to inspire so that we exceed expectations. We anticipate and we have things ready for you even before you ask,” says Harald Feurstein, newly appointed general manager of Conrad Manila.
An Austrian with excellent credentials like the hotel, Feurstein has worked with the best hotels in Asia and was Conrad Manila’s first employee from ground zero till the beautiful structure surfaced behind the SMX Convention Center.
“I consider it a badge of honor being part of Conrad Manila’s history from Day One,” Feurstein takes pride in saying.
He is upbeat about Manila’s tourism prospects and acknowledges that the Philippines has a bright future ahead, even brighter than the rest of the former Southeast Asian dragons, which have lorded the scene in the last 15 years. “With consistent above-average 6-percent growth, the Philippines is poised to shine even more,” he says.
How will the hotel market its way in reaching its core market? Feurstein says, “Diversification will be the key.”
“Hotels are not just for tourism anymore. We do not want to rely on a single market alone. We would like to be known as the most innovative among luxury-hotel brands in the Philippines. We want to promote domestic leisure, “staycation” and show the unique Conrad way of excellence with our MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions/Events] capabilities,” he stresses.
Destination concept
“Conrad Manila is for the new generation of smart luxury travelers for whom life, business and pleasure seamlessly intersect,” according to Feurstein. As a global luxury brand with 23 properties across five continents, Conrad connects guests to people and places around the corner or halfway around the world.
“It is a privilege for us to reintroduce Hilton Worldwide through the first Conrad hotel in the Philippines, especially in these exciting times as the country is on the brink of rapid economic growth across all sectors,” says Feurstein, who reports to Peter Webster, Hilton Worldwide’s regional general manager for Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines.
On Feurstein’s appointment, Webster says, “I am certain that the hotel will be a significant addition to Manila’s dynamic cityscape. With Harald’s 25-year industry expertise and deep knowledge in hotel operations, I am confident that Conrad Manila is primed for great success in this growing Philippines tourism market. It will be a landmark where one-of-a-kind, inspired experiences will be created for guests.”
Born and educated in Austria, Feurstein already planned to work in a hotel when he was young. “It was my goal and I had no doubts about pursuing it as a career,” he says. After graduating from college, he worked as a nightclub waiter and bartender. He then worked his way up, moving to Switzerland, his first job outside of his home country.
He spent the rest of his professional life in Asia, and considered each country his home. “All of them has a place in my heart, every place is special,” he intimates.
Feurstein has been actively participating in the development oversight of Conrad Manila since last year. His involvement took him across all facets of hotel management, from planning a good strategy to positioning the hotel as a choice destination for luxury travelers with one aim—give the Philippines a strong competitive advantage in the international hospitality landscape.
Prior to his assignment in Manila, Feurstein was GM of Hilton Pattaya, Conrad Bangkok, Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, Hilton Kuching and Hilton Batang, and director of Business Development for Hilton Beijing, Hilton Seoul, Hilton Kuching and Petaling Jaya.
He was former food and beverage manager of Hilton Petaling Jaya, Hilton Kuching, Hilton Batang, Norfolk Hotel and F&B director of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu and Grand Hyatt Fukuoka. His hospitality career has taken him across the world to continents such as Europe, Africa and Asia. His past experiences in Asia have taken him to China, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam and, now, the Philippines.
A man who describes himself as very adaptable to different cultures, Feurstein loves to do a balancing act. “I love to make people to do their best and I am always deeply supportive in developing their career,” Feurstein says.
The tall, bespectacled man loves to lead by example. When people see it in their leader, they inevitably try to do it,” he says. He is very demanding at work because he says he has a purpose. “I’d like to be in a team surrounded by people with a sense of purpose, because I have a set of goals that I started and want to finish them. I’d like to steer a ship and allow people to do what they’re good at,” he adds.
Outside of work, Feurstein is also a man of action with a lot of passion for extreme sports, like participating in lung-busting ultramarathons. He has participated in many events of this kind in the Philippines. He has also endeared himself to the Philippines and its people and pays homage to the Filipino, whom he says are naturally hospitable. “Hospitally is naturally ingrained in the Filipino. When you are naturally hospitable, half the battle is won,” he says.
Luxurious amenities
“We don’t just check you in and check you out, Feurstein says. “We give you the total package,” he punctuates.
Conrad Manila has a 24-hour Fitness Center, a sparkling outdoor infinity pool, tranquil Conrad Spa and an Executive Lounge for guests staying in an Executive Room or suite.
The hotel’s intelligent rooms are equipped with motion sensors that recognize a guest’s arrival, equipped with wired and Wi-Fi Internet access, bluetooth-enabled entertainment technology, 42-inch flat-screen HDTV, espresso machines and hydrotherapy rain showers, with magic mirrors in the bathrooms available in all suites for an uninterrupted entertainment experience.
Suites and executive rooms offer picturesque bay or city views, plus access to the Executive Lounge. The luxurious Presidential Suite features a spacious outdoor terrace, a private pool and stunning Manila Bay views.
Brasserie on 3 is the all-day dining restaurant serving an extensive buffet selection at breakfast, and an à la carte menu for lunch and dinner. China Blue by Jereme Leung offers a modern Chinese dining experience, with an especially created menu that blends contemporary cooking techniques with local flair.
One can enjoy afternoon tea at C Lounge, which transforms from a laid-back lounge at daytime to a sophisticated destination bar after the sunset. You can sip cocktails as you soak up the sunshine in the Pool Bar.
The hotel is positioned atop “S Maison”, a high-end retail complex on the edge of Manila Bay. Visually striking, Hotel Conrad Manila is situated within the Mall of Asia Complex and adjacent to SMX Convention Center and the sprawling SM Mall of Asia. It is merely minutes away by foot from the Mall of Asia Arena and approximately 20 minutes away from famed historical and cultural landmarks in Manila.
For 96 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company’s portfolio of 12 world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,500 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties.
It has more than 745,000 rooms in 97 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio—A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.
Real-estate watchers say more brands are due to enter Manila until the end of 2017. With that, hopes are high that the Philippines can achieve its tourism goals within that period.
Source: Business Mirror | June 5, 2016
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/hilton-returns-as-philippine-tourism-booms/
