From sweet mangoes, to historic churches and buildings, unique cuisine and a laid-back vibe, there is really much to adore in the “City of Love”, Iloilo City.
I remember landing at the old Mandurriao Airport the first time I visited Iloilo with my family and I was amazed at the different vibe of the city. The old historic core of Iloilo, with structures that date back hundreds of years, harken back to a time when Iloilo was much richer and was the seat of trade and commerce of the South.
Fast forward to today and Iloilo is bustling as ever. There are new developments built around Iloilo’s wide highways as well as riverside esplanades which re-invigorate the city’s core.
Gone is the Mandurriao Airport but on the land where it once stood now stands Iloilo’s crowning jewel, Iloilo Business Park. Megaworld’s 72-hectare modern integrated urban township development. And at the heart of it stands the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.
Elevating the standards of the hotel industry in the entire Western Visayas, the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo is one of first buildings to rise at Iloilo Business Park and is the first of its kind in Western Visayas to provide discriminating travelers with quality service and facilities that can easily rival the best in the world.
From the moment I arrived, the Richmonde Iloilo Hotel’s bright and contemporary lobby and graciously accommodating staff made sure check in was a breeze. Opening the door to my room, I was greeted by a beautifully-designed well-appointed space. From the LED TVs, to the plush king-sized beds, everything about the Richmonde Iloilo Hotel’s room was huge.
“We have the most spacious guest rooms in Iloilo,” shared Richmonde Iloilo’s general manager Natalie Lim “With a floor area that starts at 36-square meters, it allows effortless movement within the room’s lavish confines that include Richmonde’s signature Luxe bed, plush beddings of 300 thread-count sheets, soft duvets, and duck-feather pillows.”
As the pioneering first-class hotel in Iloilo City, the 149-room hotel is committed to delivering its promise of world-class facilities and signature Ilonggo hospitality to its guests. It is likewise notable that this hotel, a homegrown brand by the country’s premier real estate company, Megaworld Corporation, has already earned for itself a number of accolades in a span of just two years.
A rich Ilonggo travel experience
I am a food traveler and from what I gathered, gourmands in Iloilo City have found a haven for delectable and satisfying dishes at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. With its chic and welcoming ambiance and service brimming with Ilonggo cheer. The Granary is the hotel’s main restaurant that serves breakfast buffet daily, dinner buffets every weekend, and an array of tasty international cuisine all day, everyday.
More importantly, The Granary has become a platform for Richmonde Hotel to showcase the finest Ilonggo cuisine and delicacies as part of its thrust to support locals with seafood and vegetable produce harvested from nearby towns.
I remember having lunch where they served Kap Ising’s signature Pancit Molo. Kap Ising is famous in Iloilo for his molo and the flavourful soup that comes with it. “The owner has been making and perfecting his pancit molo for over 60 years and we at Richmond are always happy to share this to our guests,” said Natalie
Personally, I love Richmonde Iloilo’s gigantic cheesy ensaymada which pairs well with their signature Cabatuan cacao chocolate drink. The soft brioche of the ensaymada quickly soaks up the rich and creamy chocolate with the slightly bitter note of the chocolate serving as a counter to the salty and sweet taste of the pastry.
Guests can also head to BizBar for the ultimate spot for winding down with fine drinks and good company. There are live musical performances by the hotel’s resident talents every weekend and even live telecasts of popular sports tournaments and games on the bar’s gigantic video wall.
On the 7th floor, there is the newly opened Zabana Bar that serves up refreshing cocktails and snacks in a charming al fresco setting. Here, you can bask in the sun or watch the glorious view of the sunset with your cold Zabana drink in hand.
For your fitness needs, a well-equipped Fitness Center, which is open 24-hours, and an outdoor swimming pool that offers picturesque views provide essentials for health and wellness. A jog or bike around the Iloilo Business Park is also a refreshing change thanks to the township’s bike and jogging lanes.
A new Iloilo
All of these offerings from Richmonde Hotel Iloilo serve to complement the dynamism of the entire Iloilo Business Park, highlighted by a diverse portfolio of attractions
Food lovers with want to drop by the development’s 1.1-kilometer long Festive Walk Parade which features new food and entertainment concepts. Shopping is easy at the newly opened Festive Walk Mall just a stone’s trow away from the hotel. Dubbed as the most beautiful mall in Western Visayas, the three-level 90,000sqm mall hosts a vast portfolio of first in Iloilo brands, a sky garden, as well as modern Dolby Atmos cinemas with comfy recliner seats.
Culture buffs with have the time of their life at the newly opened Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA). Located at the Casa de Emperador in the heart of Iloilo Business Park, ILOMOCA is the first art institution of its kind in Visayas and Mindanao. It houses a permanent exhibit of Filipino and Ilonggo artists within the realm of modern and contemporary art, with many notable pieces done by modern Philippine national artists.
Life is rich
The travel life is certainly richer at the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, because Richmonde understands each guest’s need for enriching experiences that add meaning and value to their stay in Iloilo. Indeed, the brand’s “Life is Rich!” mantra can be felt in the way the hotel’s staff go out of their way to ensure every stay of each guest is enjoyable, memorable, and if possible, perfect.
Get a taste of the Richmonde experience first-hand and live a life that’s rich! Book at the hotel’s official website, www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph, for instant confirmation and the best rates online. You may also call to inquire or reserve at +63 33 328 7888 or send an email to rhireservations@richmondehotel.com.ph.
Richmonde Hotel Iloilo is located at Megaworld Boulevard cor. Enterprise Road, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines. Be updated with the hotel’s promos and offerings at the hotel’s official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/RichmondeHotelIoilo, and Instagram (@Richmonde.RHI) and Twitter (@Richmonde_RHI) accounts.
