Hilton Manila returns to the Philippines in grand style at RWM
In a glittering affair attended by business leaders and members of the diplomatic corps, the Hilton Manila at Resorts World Manila (RWM) celebrated the brand’s return to the Philippine capital after three decades.
With both hospitality brands celebrating milestone years in 2019 - Hilton will be celebrating its 100th year and RWM turning 10 in August - interesting parallels were drawn between the two companies’ penchant for being innovators for the hotel and integrated resort industries.
In his speech, Hilton Manila’s General Manager Simon McGrath talked about Hilton’s rich history and the “Hilton Effect” - a phenomenon of positive changes that the brand has on its guests and communities wherever it operates in the world.
“The Hilton Effect is when Hilton brands have arrived in the different parts of the world where not only open fabulous hotels but change communities through employing and developing people and this can be said in Asia Pacific when the brand first arrived many years ago,” McGrath said. “We are positive contributors to the community through our Travel with Purpose and Corporate Social Responsibility platforms.”
Stephen Reilly, RWM Chief Operating Officer, for his part, welcomed Hilton Manila as the latest addition to RWM’s growing roster of international hotel brands.
“The entry of a brand such as the Hilton on our property validates our long-held belief that the integrated resort business model would be a success in the Philippines,” Reilly said. “When we first opened in 2009, virtually nobody in this country knew what an integrated resort was, and now we’ve created an entire industry, helped revitalize Philippine tourism, and developed a market that would appreciate the presence of brands such as the Hilton.”
McGrath and Reilly were joined by Alliance Global Group, Inc. CEO Kevin Tan, RWM President and CEO Kingson Sian, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto in the ceremonial launch by lighting the Hilton Manila beacon using a “digital key” simulation.
Hilton Manila is the first hotel in the Philippines to have the Digital Key or keyless entry – an innovative feature that can be accessed exclusively via the Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors, is Hilton’s global award-winning guestloyalty program for its world-class brands – comprising more than 5,300 properties in 106 countries and territories. Members get access to instant benefits such as exclusive member discounts, free standard Wi-Fi, and use of the Digital Key.
Hilton Manila at Resorts World Manila has 357 modern and elegant guest rooms furnished with Hilton’s signature features and technology such as the Serenity bed and four-point bathroom and world-class recreational facilities such as its expansive lagoon pool and 24/7 fitness center. The hotel also has unique dining concepts at its various restaurants and event spaces including a Ballroom that can accommodate large-scale corporate and social events.
In choosing RWM as its Manila base, McGrath noted the integrated resort’s ideal location and lifestyle offerings.
“Hilton aims to fill gaps in the market but always with the right brand, the right location and the right time. It is no doubt that RWM is the right the right location – the connection to the airport, the seamlessness, and the entertainment,” McGrath explained. “It is also timely as tourism is booming, both international and domestic arrivals are growing, and the economy is positive; it is the perfect time to bring this brand back to Manila.”
Hilton Manila is one of three hotels in RWM’s newly-opened Grand Wing, which features a state-of-the-art VIP gaming floor. This will be followed by the soon-to-open Sheraton Manila Hotel and The Hotel Okura Manila. Once completed, RWM will have the highest number of hotel rooms for a single property in the Philippines with 3,600 individual rooms and suites.
“It is a great source of pride for us that these top global hotel groups have chosen RWM as the home of some of their flagship brands,” said Reilly. “We have created a healthy business environment for these brands to have a complementary relationship among themselves, rather than a strictly competitive one.”
The Hilton Manila, Sheraton Manila Hotel, and The Hotel Okura Manila join a hotel lineup that includes the Manila Marriott Hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City, along with homegrown brands the Belmont Hotel Manila and Savoy Hotel Manlia. They will soon be joined by the country’s first Ritz-Carlton Hotel once the storied ultra-luxury brand takes over the allsuite Maxims Hotel.
Located just across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, one of the country’s busiest travel hubs, RWM provides unbeatable comfort and convenience for guests. Runway Manila, a fully air-conditioned elevated pedestrian link bridge directly connects NAIA T3 with Newport City and RWM, gives travelers a safe and environmentally-sound way to reach their accommodations within the complex in under 10 minutes.
Hilton Manila at Resorts World Manila is located at 1 Newport Boulevard, Newport City, Pasay City. For more information, or to make a reservation, travelers may visit www.hiltonmanila. com or call +632 239 7788.