There are endless reasons why the province of Iloilo is known as the “Heart of the Philippines” and the “City of Love”—from the mouth-watering food, well-preserved houses and churches from the Spanish colonial period, the genuine and soft-speaking characteristics of its people and the vibrant culture and its famed Dinagyang festival.

Staying true to its moniker, Iloilo is a perfect place for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of metro life. And what better way to experience all those reasons firsthand than with the genuine warmth and welcoming hospitality of Ilonggos at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.

Located at the Iloilo Business Park which is Megaworld Corporation’s 72-hectare township, the 149-room hotel elevated the standards of the hospitality industry in Western Visayas when it opened in July 2015.

“The developments around Iloilo Business Park, the charm and character of Iloilo City as the City of Love are some of the reasons why people should stay in Iloilo. This township is very historic as this site used to be the old Mandurriao Airport of Iloilo City and the Boulevard beside the hotel used to be the runway of the airport,” Megaworld Senior Assistant Vice President Harold Brian Geronimo explained to The Manila Times and selected members of the press on May 24.

As the pioneering first-class hotel in Iloilo City, the property delivers its promise of world-class facilities and signature Ilonggo hospitality to its guests. Already, it has earned itself a number of awards in a span of just two years. These include a Highly Commended Hotel Interior Design award during the 2015 Philippines Property Awards; Guest Review Awards from Booking.com in 2016 and 2017; Certificate of Excellence Awards from TripAdvisor in 2017 for the hotel and The Granary, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant; and PWD-Friendly Establishment recognition from the Iloilo City Government.

The hotel also became the home of international guests and envoys during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit last year as well as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in September 2015.

Genuine Ilonggo hospitality

Designed by Gettys—an internationally-renowned design company of popular 5-star hospitality brands, the hotel’s lobby, guest rooms, restaurant outlets, and other public areas showcase global interior design trends fused with thoughtful references and homage to the Ilonggo culture, history, and lifestyle.

“Our guest rooms are the most spacious in the city. The floor starts at 36-square meters, that’s why it allows effortless movement within the room’s lavish confines that include hotel’s signature Luxe bed, plush beddings of 300 thread-count sheets, soft duvets, and duck-feather pillows,” said Natalie Lim, the hotel’s resident manager.

Available bed types include king size and twin beds, while room types include the Deluxe room, Premier room, and One-Bedroom Suite. PWD rooms, which are equipped with facilities and space that offer the differently-abled with easy mobility.

Finest cuisine and delicacies

Beside the province’s famous Lapaz Batchoy and Pansit Molo, gourmands in Iloilo City can also find haven for delectable and satisfying dishes at the hotel’s The Granary—the 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 Iloilo 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. Richmonde Hotel’s main restaurant is also famous for its home-made ensaymadas and Cabatuan chocolate.

“It’s a sweet pairing that we have. Cabatuan is an area outside Iloilo City where they produce cacao. One reason to visit the hotel is because of our ensaymadas. They are freshly made everyday and almost always run out of stocks. That’s how in demand it is. People mostly come to have it for breakfast, snack, dessert or pasalubong,” Lim enthused.

Guests can also head to BizBar for the ultimate spot for winding down with fine drinks and good company.

“This is one of a kind in Iloilo because there’s not really a lot of bars that you can sit, chill and noise is kept to a minimum, with enough space for privacy. There is a 20-inch video wall where guests can watch live telecast of popular sports tournaments and games. We also have live musical performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from our hotel’s resident talents,” she shared.

At the seventh floor, meanwhile, is the Pool Bar that serves up refreshing cocktails and snacks in a charming al fresco setting. Here, guests have the best view in all of Western Visayas where they can bask in the sun or watch the glorious sunset.

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, while banquet facilities that can accommodate a maximum of 100 guests are ideal venues for social functions and business events.

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo offerings serve to complement the dynamism of the entire Iloilo Business Park, highlighted by a diverse portfolio of attractions, which also include the 1.1-kilometer Festive Walk Parade, the soon-to-open Festive Walk Mall, and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), the first art institution of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao.

 

From manilatimes.net – Perfect place to experience Ilonggo hospitality | Iza Iglesias | 31 May 2018