Quezon City (QC) and its surrounding areas appear headed for rapid economic growth, ventures Brett Hickey, group general manager of the city’s largest hotel and now a popular venue for travelers doing business in Northern Metro Manila. Since Seda Vertis North owned by AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts opened its doors in September, it has been highly favored by BPO, manufacturing and other executives expanding operations or just setting up shop in the area.
Hickey mentions that suites in particular, with a sizable living area separate from the well-appointed bedroom, have been highly preferred by businessmen for meetings including top-level huddles requiring greater privacy. While hotel occupancy rate in general is an accepted Leading Economic Indicator, the profile of Seda Vertis North’s suite occupants further point to the drivers of economic expansion.
Aside from firms in the BPO industry projected to post 9 percent growth in 2018, companies in construction and infrastructure, or servicing manufacturing firms in Caloocan and Bulacan, and retailers opening up new outlets in the Vertis North business district’s malls, have been strongly patronizing the seventh hotel of the wholly-Filipino Seda chain.
“Quezon City is the largest and highest earning city in Metro Manila.Being the first to offer premier rooms and amenities, we have been generously rewarded,” Hickey explains.
The hotel has several types of room categories from the Deluxe and Club Rooms to studio-style Premier Rooms, and Suites. It also has an extensive range of facilities, including the Club Lounge that occupants of club rooms, premier rooms, and suites are free to access. Guests appreciate its range of privileges including complimentary breakfast, all-day coffee or tea, afternoon refreshments and cocktails; use of iMac computers and secretarial assistance, as well as providing an option for a comfortable yet exclusive working area or meeting place. In fact, it also has a board room with multi-media facilities that guests can use with the hotel’s compliments for two hours a day. The Club Lounge is such a useful facility that families are increasingly booking the room categories that offer access. “We get many stay-cationers on weekends,” says Hickey, who has also set up a children’s activity corner at the lobby with crayons and art materials for busy Saturday afternoons and long holidays to keep the young ones entertained.
But the greatest indicator of the city’s rising affluence is the hotel’s Presidential Suite. It has been frequently booked by top executives and celebrities from the broadcast networks based in the area, says Hickey, who has operated and opened new properties worldwide for a number of international chains. He relates that bookings have been way above industry levels worldwide.
The 160 sqm. suite boasts of understated elegance as reflected in the plush sofas in muted tones in the living room and highly contemporary lighting fixture over the dining table. It has a kitchenette, dining room for 8 persons, living room with guest toilet, andpast the master’s bedroom, a powder room and a free-standing bath tub.
In addition, the Presidential Suite comes with the services of a 24/7 butler ready to help the room’s occupants host small gatherings and cocktails as well as high-level business meetings. The butler virtually acts as a personal concierge.
During the weekends, he serves a totally different set of clients: Families celebrating a birthday or getting ready for a wedding and for whom he performs a variety of tasks from purchasing items at the mall and running errands to taking groufies. The butler usually ends up being part of the celebration – which says much about Filipino and Seda Vertis North’s brand of hospitality.
The 160-sqm. Presidential Suite at Seda Vertis North comes with a sizable living area separate from the well-appointed bedroom, highly preferred by businessmen for meetings including top-level huddles requiring greater privacy.
Occupants of Seda Vertis North's club rooms, premier rooms and suites enjoy a range of privileges at the Club Lounge, including complimentary breakfast, all-day coffee or tea, afternoon refreshments and cocktails; use of iMac computers and secretarial assistance.