Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, a global upscale hotel centrally located within the Ortigas commercial hub, has responded quickly to changing business dynamics and adopted its business model to deliver profits even in the challenging years of 2020 and 2021.
The hotel has been proactive in aligning strategies to fit in the global situation and is grateful to have filled with essential business, quarantine demand, and long stays.
Barun Jolly, general manager of Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, said the hotel followed the highest standards of cleaning and sanitation with its IHG Way of Clean programme.
“Our various safety and sanitation measures made us the hotel of choice for all guests during the height of the pandemic,” Jolly also said, adding they invested in best in class equipment to ensure a safe environment for guests, and remained compliant with the Department of Tourism’s health and safety guidelines and the World Travel and Tourism Council’s safe travel protocols.
“With the IHG Clean Promise, guests are reassured that good isn’t good enough as we’re committed to high levels of cleanliness,” he said. That means clean, well-maintained, clutter-free rooms that meet their standards.
The hotel delivers the “True Hospitality for Good” by working together to care for its people and communities while preserving the planet. It is embarking on a 10-year action plan to ensure the beauty of travel, right now, and long into the future — which is called “Journey to Tomorrow.”
Jolly stressed the hospitality industry is bright and there’s a strong resurgence of demand both in corporate and leisure.
“Catering and events are really in big demand now both for social and corporate and we see this getting stronger in Q3,” he added, noting that the Q4 could be very close to 2019 levels of business.
Some of the hotel’s plans include the continuation of refurbishments for guest rooms and meeting room spaces to give more value to guests.
The hotel won “The Best Social Sustainability” for caring for its people at the time of COVID-19 in Robinsons Land Corp.’s Sustainability Awards 2021.
“We know how incredibly difficult this time has been for our teams and colleagues.
However, we withstood the toughest times and looked out for each other,” Jolly stated.
Embracing change and taking a proactive approach on providing preventions and solutions are the hotel’s key takeaways from the pandemic.
“We have to look at every problem as an opportunity to grow. We need to gather, understand, analyze and interpret facts and related data in order to come up with sound strategies, and action plans to tackle changing markets and situations,” Jolly pointed out.
For its restaurant outlets, the hotel has focused more on the e-commerce and take-away business during the lockdown. When restrictions eased, it successfully conveyed to the public that it is open and ready to receive guests, and even opened its newest al fresco dining hub.
It likewise took advantage of renovating its club floor rooms, executive lounge, and the Xin Tian Di restaurant.
According to Jolly, during the pandemic, they took advantage of renovating their Club Floor Rooms, Executive Lounge, and Xin Tian Di Restaurant.
The hotel’s packages now are gearing toward “bleisure” and “staycations,” which are picking-up well and are being availed by guests at any time.
Jolly believes that 2022 will have a very strong finish due to the comeback of events, meetings, and conventions at the hotel.
