Dabawenyos travelling to the country’s capital often find it difficult to find the right balance of accessibility and convenience. More often than not, we would rather plan our activities and meetings around the hotel we are staying at just to save time and evade Metro Manila’s monstrous traffic jams which is why I love staying at the Marriott Manila.
Located at Resorts World Manila, just across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 and just a short ride from Terminal 2 via Resorts World Manila complimentary shuttle, the Marriott Manila is an oasis for business and leisure travellers who are in Manila just for a few days and want the perfect balance of live, play, and work and just recently, I was able to experience Marriott’s new West Wing.
The West Wing is Marriott Manila’s newest expansion with 101 Premium Rooms, 97 Executive Rooms, 28 Deluxe Suites, the Marriott Suite and the Chairman’s Suite as well as two new restaurants, an executive lounge, and a roof-top infinity pool. The development comes a year after Marriott Manila launched one of the country’s most technologically advanced meeting facilities. Considered the biggest hotel meeting space in the Philippines, the Marriott Grand Ballroom offers 28 multifunctional rooms spread across 8,000 square meters of space.
The Premium Room I was staying in was modern and spacious, with a comfortable king-sized bed, separate bathtub and shower areas, luxury toiletries by Than, a lounge area, dining table, and a massive 60” LED TV. The internet connection at the Marriott was also fast and reliable ensuring that I can do any work concerns efficiently and hassle-free.
But who would want to spend all their time cooped up in their room right? Beyond rooms, the West Wing is a culinary destination with a unique tea and whisky bar called “Still” on the ground floor and a 140-seater Chinese Restaurant, Man Ho, which offers Cantonese dishes expertly prepared by Industry Veteran Chef Law Wing Wui who previously launched Man Ho restaurants at JW Marriott Hotels in Shanghai and Seoul.
But since I had to work a little during my stay at the Marriott, I became a regular fixture at the West Wing’s stare-of-the-art Executive Lounge where breakfast, afternoon tea, and cocktails were served. What I loved about spending time here were the intimate reading nooks and private meeting facilities which helped me meet my deadlines in relative privacy. It also helped that the lounge faces the adjacent Villamor Golf course (attention to all golfers who need a quick break).
Families who just want a break from Davao life, will also love the fact that the Marriott Manila is just a short walk away from Resorts World’s Newport Theatre and Mall where one can catch the latest theatre productions as well as shop for the latest fashions and trends. For those who want to do even more shopping, the Marriott Manila is just a short traffic-free ride to SM’s Mall of Asia complex thanks to the new NAIA Expressway.
In their press releases, the Marriott Manila promises to excite Philippine tourism with its rooms and premier dining facilities. And I can agree with that as it delivers comfort, luxury, great food, and a wonderful travel experience all in spades.
To know more about Marriott Hotel Manila, visit www.manilamarriott.com, or follow facebook.com/marriotthotelmanila and Twitter @marriottmanila.
