Winford Resort & Casino Manila has always thought of itself as a “luxury hotel within reach” and that view has not changed in this post-pandemic world. Not only is it situated in close proximity to its primary market who either work or reside in Sta. Cruz and other districts in the City of Manila, but also boasts relatively inexpensive rates for the caliber of hospitality and service it provides that will not put a dent in the wallet of customers.
Jeffrey Rodrigo Evora, Winford Manila president and chief operating officer, told Malaya Business Insight that unknown to many travelers, Winford Manila’s outdoor swimming pool is unique because it is a heated one — perfect for night swimming on chilly evenings. And just recently, Winford Manila has reimagined its casino operations to provide guests with a new and improved gaming experience.
“We will be celebrating our sixth anniversary in April of this year,” Evora shared. In this “next normal,” things are picking up and Winford Manila is slowly but surely regaining the success it enjoyed pre-pandemic.
“One of the key lessons we learned during that dark period was the importance of adaptability,” Evora said. “To stay relevant, we found ourselves reinventing the wheel to suit the times. Fortunately, it paid off.”
More than being a hotel casino, Winford Manila has endeavored to help boost tourism and serve as a lifestyle destination. Being the only luxury hotel within a five-kilometer radius of the Sta. Cruz and Tayuman area in the City of Manila, Winford Manila fills the gap for locals looking for a staycation but find Pasay or Makati too far.
“We also take pride in offering the same level of prestige as five-star hotels, minus the prohibitive rates typically associated with them,” he added. “Our grand ballroom is another key feature that helps us shape the industry in that we have become a popular choice for MICE activities wherein we tap into the corporate market as a venue for their conferences, and also for special events.”
For Evora, being ‘one of the leaders’ in the hospitality industry can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is an advantage because it allows Winford Manila to act as a trailblazer and help shape the industry; but the flipside of that means all eyes are on the hotel and any failure or shortcoming will not go unnoticed.
“It is the very reality of the latter that always keeps us on our toes and inspires us to bring our A-game all the time,” he shared.
Evora always tells employees that Winford Manila’s success is their success, and vice versa.
“Just last week, we celebrated together for the first time since the pandemic with a company party wherein we recognized and awarded our personnel for their exemplary performance,” he added.
And as a nod to its horseracing heritage and the grounds that were once the San Lazaro Hippodrome racetrack where Winford Manila now stands, “we will soon be commemorating this piece of history with a special souvenir for our valued members,” he mentioned.
He defined a real triumph or victory as “customer satisfaction.” Satisfied guests, he explained, will always return for more and even spread the word about their positive experiences at Winford Manila. Profit is merely a byproduct of happy campers and word of mouth.
Winford Manila is a firm believer in giving back to the community and it has an ever-increasing number of corporate social responsibility programs such as Brigada Eskwela, and Green Drive in partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.
While Winford Manila kept the reduced schedules of staff and requested each employee to perform multiple functions during the pandemic,” all employees rose to the challenge, and we would not be here today had it not been for their heroic efforts,” he stressed.
One of Winford Manila’s advocacies has always been to promote local talent and it does this by bringing some of the biggest names in OPM to its entertainment hub, Hippodrome Bar & Lounge. “Because of this, Winford Manila has become synonymous with first-class entertainment not just this side of the metro, but all throughout the country,” he said.
The hospitality industry is a lucrative one and that means there will always be new players.
“We are happy to play a role in moving both the industry and the country forward,” Evora stated.
Winford Manila, inundated by reviews and guest comments about how the warmth and friendliness of its staff are second to none, is considering providing guided tours as its location is viewed as an opportunity to leverage on nearby cultural and historic landmarks such as Intramuros, Manila Cathedral, and even Binondo. It also updated its brand identity and recently unveiled its new logo which has a more modern and contemporary look.
For companies with a considerable workforce, Evora believes longevity is the sum of the right attitude, a nurturing culture, and good old-fashioned integrity. “Incidentally, those three traits happen to be the core values of Winford Manila,” he said.
