FIRST SAY:
The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
—Gilbert K. Chesterton
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Tourism projects should be huge and ambitious because that is what the world’s competitive tourism industry requires. This is the reality that Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco recognized early on, and her timely programs are beginning to pay dividends for the PH tourism industry.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said the tourism industry’s growth in 2023 is a confirmation that the country is fast becoming a “destination of choice” for both foreign and domestic tourists.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the tourism sector contributed 8.6 percent to the Philippine economy as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023.
The industry also generated and sustained 6.21 million employment for Filipinos in the same year, almost breaching the DOT’s target tourism employment of 6.3 million by 2028.
Part of the Marcos administration’s strong emphasis on prioritizing the tourism sector is its encouragement of bigger and more modern infrastructure complexes in the hotel and resort industry, an initiative that is vigorously pursued by the private sector. A case in point is Megaworld’s first five-star hotel, the Grand Westside Hotel (GWH) in the Mall of Asia and Entertainment City in Paranaque.
Grand Westside may be considered as the latest addition to the high-end accommodation facilities of Metro Manila, with President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos gracing its recent inauguration and blessing.
With its 1,530 rooms, the GWH is the biggest hotel in the Philippines and the latest lifestyle destination in the capital. The latest property in Megaworld Hotels & Resorts’ (MHR) portfolio, the hotel welcomes guests with new leisure experiences that further enrich their stay.
This significant addition to the nation's hospitality scene showcases MHR’s commitment to advancing the hospitality industry and underscores its contribution to tourism as a significant driver of the country's economic growth.
Moreover, the Grand Westside Hotel’s room capacity attracts decision-makers to host their large-scale MICE events in the Philippines. As it attracts a considerable number of tourists, business travelers and MICE attendees, this will stimulate growth in ancillary industries such as retail, dining, transportation and entertainment.
Cleofe Albiso, managing director of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR), highlighted the hotel’s appeal to both business and leisure travelers, noting its strategic location along Manila Bay, which provides guests with stunning sunset views.
“Grand Westside Hotel is the latest addition to Megaworld’s Westside City township, which continues to take shape today as the ‘Broadway of Asia.’ The hotel offers guests a wide variety of room selections, each one designed for the varied preferences of guests,” Albiso added.
Lifestyle reporters and editors were treated to a look-see visit by Grand Westside’s officers recently, and were amazed at just how MHR conceptualized this very ambitious project.
Included in the group of visitors were veterans in lifestyle and travel features Pete Dacuycuy, Amadis Ma. Guerrero and Benjie Layug. Among the officers of the hotel who welcomed the media aside from Albiso were Arturo Boncato Jr., Group General Manager, Jun Justo, Cluster GM, and Joe Fijardo, General Manager of the Grand Westside Hotel.
Kristin Mariano, digital marketing manager, Jewel Chuaunsu and Nico Ivan Velasquez were also on hand to meet the media and show them the much-talked about amenities offered by Grand Westside, that even Bongbong and Liza Marcos enjoyed during the soft opening and blessing, prodding them to stay for several hours in the hotel.
What did we notice in this truly “grand” hotel? Well, the 19-story, two-tower building is strategically located in the Westside City township at the heart of the Entertainment City is only eight minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The area is known for its thriving entertainment and business hubs and features numerous gaming options, shopping complexes and convention facilities, making it an ideal destination for leisure and business travelers.
GWH offers several room categories which include a superior, deluxe, junior suite, executive suite and premier executive suite. The hotel also has two spacious presidential suites decked with living, dining and kitchen spaces topping both towers.
Looking after the special needs of certain tourists, the GWH has special rooms for the physically challenged, the PWDs, a feature that we have not seen in other hotels.
Talking with Managing Director Cleofe Albiso over a sumptuous lunch at the hotel’s well-appointed LaMeza, we were informed that the Grand Westside wanted to uplift the level of the Filipino hospitality industry using home-grown, personalized service that is at par with international standards. The hotel has adopted the Sampaguita, the Philippines’ national flower, as a symbol of its pure and truly Filipino way of doing business, said Cleofe.
How the Grand Westside Hotel is associated with the Sampaguita flower is a topic that is worth another column for another time.
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Medical tourism
St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) has announced with pride that it has been officially accredited by the Department of Tourism as the lead facility in the country for medical tourism. Dr. Dennis Serrano, president and CEO of SLMC, said this recognition underscores St. Luke’s commitment to providing world-class medical services and establishing the Philippines as a premier destination for medical travelers.
The medical center treasures this accreditation from the DOT headed by Secretary Christina Frasco, saying this reflects the institution’s pioneering contributions to the healthcare industry. It highlights SLMC’s exceptional facilities, comprehensive range of healthcare services, advanced medical technologies from the simplest to the most complex diagnostic and surgical procedures, and highly skilled and world-renowned medical professionals.
The SLMC said as the lead medical tourism facility, it will play a pivotal role in championing the Philippines as an attractive option for individuals seeking high-quality, affordable medical treatments combined with the opportunity to experience the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural wonders.
Another feather in the cap of Secretary Frasco.
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