Lanson Place Mall of Asia, a collaborative venture between SM Hotels & Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) and Wing Tai Asia Group, has unveiled its new property in Pasay City, a stunning addition to Manila’s hospitality scene.
Featuring 247 hotel rooms and 143 serviced residences, this upscale destination targets business travelers and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) delegates.
Strategically situated near the SMX Convention Center Manila and the iconic e-Com office buildings, Lanson Place Mall of Asia is the culmination of years of planning that started in 2016 temporarily challenged by the pandemic.
“What was once envisioned as a 250-room hotel has now blossomed into 390 hotel and service apartment units. Our initial plans for an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar, and a resident lounge have given birth to additional gems like BLK 12 Café and Bar, Bytes and Madeleine. Our initial investment has multiplied, reaching P3.6 billion, thanks to the confidence and commitment of the Sy family, SM Prime Holdings, and our SMHCC family,” said Peggy Angeles, SMHCC executive vice president, in her speech at the opening ceremonies on April 24.
Serviced residences
Angeles said SMHCC incorporated serviced apartments in Lanson Place MOA to address demand for long-stay accommodation of business travelers in Pasay City.
Angeles cited a global service apartment industry report of 2023 which noted the growing demand for serviced apartments, particularly among corporate travelers.
With longer stays becoming the norm, Lanson Place Mall of Asia is poised to meet this demand, providing a home away from home for executives, expatriates, and leisure travelers alike.
“The global service apartment industry report of 2023 says there has been an increase in the uptake of service apartments from corporate travelers…close to 40 percent actually over 2022 are on project assignment so their length of stays are longer than your typical business travelers commuting between Hong Kong or Singapore or elsewhere. It’s not your usual one-nighter or overnighter,” Angeles said.
She said SMHCC sees a lot of opportunities in Pasay City for this type of traveller.
“That’s how we came up with the idea of introducing the serviced apartments,” Angeles said.
Angeles said the addition of the Lanson Place brand fully complements SM Hotel’s prestigious portfolio, with its impressive track record in the serviced suites category.
“As such, we take on the opportunity to serve a new market, with our very first serviced apartment-hotel hybrid property,” Angeles said.
Accommodations, amenities
Lanson Place Mall of Asia offers convenience and luxury.
Accommodation types include Deluxe Rooms, Superior Rooms, Hotel Suites, Studio Residences and One-and Two-Bedroom Suite Residences. All are perfectly designed to meet the needs of stylish business travellers, tourists and residents, whether staying for short or long-term periods.
Guests can indulge in a variety of dining options, including Cyan Modern Kitchen, Bytes Grab & Go, Madeleine High Tea, and Blk 12 Café Bar.
A state-of-the-art fitness center and a rooftop infinity pool with Edge Pool Bar provide relaxation and breathtaking views of Manila Bay.
The crown jewel of the property is its pillarless grand ballroom, Saffron, ideal for events of all sizes. Intimate gatherings can be hosted in meeting rooms overlooking the courtyard on the third floor.
“But beyond the physical amenities, what truly sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to service excellence. Over the past two years, our team of devoted hosts has cultivated a strong service culture and expertise in long-stay experience, centered on guest satisfaction. We try to recreate the home-away-from-home-feeling which in turn makes our guests feel valued and special, through anticipation of their needs and by taking care of things seen and unseen,” said Laurent Boisdron, vice president and general manager of Lanson Place Mall of Asia.
Brand presence
Boisdron said Lanson Place Mall of Asia aims to amplify its brand presence and emerge as a frontrunner in the hospitality landscape. With a pledge to uphold new standards of service quality, value for money, and overall excellence, Lanson Place Mall of Asia is poised to dominate the industry and remain the top choice for discerning guests.
Boisdron said the property is a remarkable addition to the portfolio of SMHCC and Wing Tai.
Wing Tai currently manages six properties (in which Wing Tai has equity in two) under the Lanson Place brand, comprising luxury Personal Hotels and Residences in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, Manila and Melbourne in (to be opened in 2024).
The Group aims to grow the Lanson Place brand across the Asia-Pacific region and continues to explore both investment and management opportunities in major gateway cities.
SMHCC has a portfolio of 10 hotel properties with a combined inventory of more than 2,600 rooms and over 42,000 square meters of leasable convention space. Properties under SMHCC include Taal Vista Hotel, Pico Sands Hotel, Conrad Manila, Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Radisson Blu Cebu, Park Inn by Radisson Clark, Park Inn by Radisson Davao, Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo, Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA, Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, and the SMX Convention Centers and trade halls.
Attendance
The ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Porte Cochí¨re was led by Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano; Elizabeth Sy, president of SMHCC; Angeles; Karen Li, director for corporate development of Wing Tai Asia; Michael Hobson, chief executive officer of Lanson Place Hospitality Management (LPHM); Mark Burns, director for Operations of LPHM andBoisdron.
Hans Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings and Harley Sy, executive director of SM Investments Corp. were guests of honor.
