I have checked in at quite a number of deluxe hotels in many parts of the world, but none of them has triggered a “Wow” from me as the newly opened Conrad Manila did. In fact, I, surprisingly, verbalized such interjection, not just once but three times, in the course of my weekend stay at the hotel. When the elevator door opened upon reaching the third floor Main Lobby, the awesome view I was faced with yanked out a loud “Wow” from me. Then, I said it again when I opened the door to my suite because the room key triggered a mechanism that electronically opened the drapes inside the room, revealing a panoramic, breathtaking view of Manila Bay. And I said “Wow” one more time when I entered the bathroom and saw a small, colorful, rubber “Nemo” replica on my bathtub. What a nice touch!
Conrad Manila’s facade (artist’s rendering) resembles that of a cruise liner
But that’s putting the cart before the horse. The Conrad chain of hotels is the luxury brand of Hilton Hotels worldwide, and is named after their founder, Conrad Hilton. The opening of the 347-room Conrad Manila has long been anticipated by a lot of Metro Manila residents who frequent the Mall of Asia Complex, as they can’t help but take notice of the building’s unique facade, even while still under construction, because it resembles the exterior of a cruise ship.
In sync with such unique design, the hotel’s interior décor carries a “sea” theme. As I entered the Ground Lobby, I was greeted by a giant-sized art installation depicting sea vegetation, crafted by Leeroy New, a young contemporary UP Fine Arts graduate from GenSan, who has made a name for himself in theater, film, fashion and visual arts. This beautiful display is just one of the more than 600 attractive art pieces hotel guests will see throughout the property, all of which were specially chosen by the amiable and distinguished Elizabeth “Betty” Sy herself, president of SM Hotels and Convention Bureaus, the company that owns Conrad Manila.
The elegant chandeliers in the hotels’ two ballrooms pose a sharp and extraordinary contrast to the carpet that has a sea-waves design. The hallway from the Main Lobby to the Brasserie on 3, the all-day dining venue, is lined with large, attractive orange spirals that remind one of underwater currents. And I like the huge swimming pool. It has an “island” right in the middle, equipped with sunbathing chairs, for those who want the feeling of “isolation” from the rest of the crowd.
What other features make Conrad Manila a “jewel of a hotel?” It has China Blue, a specialty restaurant which offers modern Chinese cuisine infused with local flair, curated by master celebrity Chinese chef Jereme Leung. I was curious about how the restaurant got its name. When I had lunch there, I got the answer – the chinaware is colored blue. Now, what could be easier than that?
The hotel is big on food…good food! In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Room Service Menu with so much to offer. The choices are so extensive. They are listed on all of 48 pages.
There is also the C Lounge, which is a lobby lounge during day and a bar at night, where guests can enjoy the breathtaking view of Manila Bay while sipping their favorite beverage, with live entertainment in the background. I like the outdoor section of this lounge because it puts guests right up front and closest to the Bay, in semi-private settings with mellow lighting, with the breeze flowing from all directions, and the background music coming out from speakers under the seats. The set-up is perfect for “two bottles.”
I’m sure business travelers will enjoy the Executive Lounge on the 7th floor, as I did. It offers complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails, matched with the soothing view of Manila Bay. Guests belonging to the same corporate entity may even use the lounge’s meeting room for free, in case they need to do some important strategizing. Guests in the suites and the executive floor have the privilege of making complimentary local calls, and light pressing service of garments, in case they want to look immaculate for their business appointments.
Fitness buffs will also marvel at the modern equipment the 24/7 Fitness Center offers. The latest technology these tools provide makes it easy for guests to maintain their fitness regimen during their stay. And I made sure I indulged my senses at the Conrad Spa, which offers a selection of nourishing body rituals, themed massage, and therapy for “ultimate rejuvenation.” After my 90-minute Deep Tissue massage, I felt so rejuvenated, I thought I heard myself cooing like a newborn baby.
What am I looking forward to in the hotel? The shopping mall on the second floor. The hotel’s gregarious general manager Harald Feurstein told me there are more than a hundred shops of luxury brands getting ready to open in a few weeks, so guests in a hurry do not even have to cross over to the next door Mall of Asia to find what they need. And, those looking for the ultimate cinematic experience, the hotel now has two Director’s Club cinemas showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
It’s been a long while since I last raved about a component of the Tourism Industry, and that was that quaint little hilltop boutique hotel when I made my third visit to the tiny Greek island of Santorini more than a decade ago. It feels good to be “wow’d” again, this time, by Conrad Manila, and I thank Peggy Angeles, the hardworking senior vice-president of SM Hotels and Convention Bureaus, for introducing me to this “Jewel By The Sea.” This hotel is definitely a class of its own, “a world of style and elegance matched with intuitive service” which will now be the standard against which other accommodations will be measured. Since real jewels come rare, aren’t we lucky to have Conrad Manila?
For feedback, I’m at [email protected]