A tour of the upcoming lifestyle hybrid hotel with general manager Laurent Boisdron
A first of its kind in the country and the new kid on the block for the SM Hotels & Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) portfolio, Lanson Place SM Mall of Asia is slated to open in the second quarter of next year. In collaboration with SMHCC, Lanson Place Hospitality Management Limited (LPHM) establishes its foothold in the Philippines with its latest generation property.
In an exclusive interview with the vice president and general manager (GM) of Lanson Place SM Mall of Asia Laurent Boisdron, the French-American national took Manila Bulletin Lifestyle on a private, virtual walkthrough of the boutique hotel.
Before exploring the structure, here’s a brief introduction to the parent company of LPHM, WingTai Asia. Recognized for many things, including property and hospitality development, investment, and management, WingTai Asia is particularly famous worldwide for its excellence in residential development in the Asia-Pacific.
“The reputation management and service level are quite high because they are specialists in extended stays,” explains GM Laurent. “That’s what we’re going to focus on.” The tagline of Lansons Place, “Make yourself at home,” is an adage close to the Filipinos’ heart, being warm, welcoming people. Localizing the brand would focus not only on comfort but community building as well.
The development is conveniently located at the heart of SM Mall of Asia complex, a center for retail and entertainment establishments.
The property will have 390 key rooms, split into 247 hotel suites and 143 service apartments, which would vary in size from 27 to 84 square meters. There are two points for check-in, which are the third and 11th floors for hotel and service apartment stays respectively.
The façade is clad in waves, as an homage to the splendor of Manila Bay. The service apartments face the east, the natural harbor that serves as the port of Manila. The hotel side, on the other hand, has the city view of Makati.
There’s a club feel to the overall design, combined with familiarity and hominess. Responsible for the brilliant interior design was the Kanko Kikaku Sekkeisha (KKS) group in Singapore.
In consideration of the warm climate in the Philippines, there’s an interior courtyard that brings more air and light inside. As with all green spaces, the nook is filled with foliage that creates a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
Only a 15-minute drive away from two international airports, among Lanson Place Mall of Asia’s unique selling propositions is its strategic location. Being in one of the most sought-after areas in the metro, it allows access to several historical landmarks, museums, the SMX Convention Center Manila, and the eCom office buildings, an ideal setting for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), and business travels.
For large-scale conferences and events, the second level has a pillarless ballroom that accommodates 350 people. The 700-square-meter venue could be split into three smaller rooms. There is also a bar, before the ballroom, which on weekends will serve high-end afternoon tea in the style of the British food tradition as observed in Hong Kong and in the UK.
Co-working facilities, a signature of Lanson Place, will be on the third floor, which includes seven meeting rooms with daylight, some of which open to the courtyard. Also on the same level are the gym, kid zone, a 250-square-meter spa, food and beverage outlets, as well as grab and gos.
The main dining establishment seats 155 people indoor and outdoor. The restaurant, which overlooks Manila Bay, offers buffet and ala carte with Indian cuisine as its signature.
‘I’m the only ex-pat on the team. We’re having 100 percent Filipino staff… Or to be more exact 99.2 percent.’
A café that turns into a wine bar in the evening is found in the welcome lobby on the ground floor. Situated beside the two pools on the 11th floor is a pool bar that will provide pub staples.
“I’m the only expat on the team,” enthuses Laurent. “We’re having 100 percent Filipino staff… Or to be more exact 99.2 percent.” The Lanson Place Mall of Asia workforce, from the executive to entry-level jobs, will consist of only locals. The corporate-social-responsibility-travel advocate also highlights the fact that a lot of women have been hired for leadership positions.
For Laurent, the right hiring is one of the most important aspects of a successful hospitality brand. “At the end of the day, everything is about service,” he says. “I’m very impressed with the service level in the Philippines compared to the US or other countries.”
Nes Jardin, former Culture Center of the Philippines (CCP) board trustee and president, and a dedicated devotee of the finer things in life, curated the local artworks that would decorate the walls of the hotel.
As of press time, the development has reached 80 percent. The brand is gearing up for its target soft opening in April 2023. Full inventory will be ready by August.
Here’s a short backgrounder on Laurent: He has an extensive background in the hospitality industry tucked under his belt with almost three decades of experience managing brands from Belgium to France, from Spain to the US, from the United Arab Emirates to the Philippines. He was at the forefront of the opening of Sable Navy Pier, Curio Collection by Hilton in Chicago, Illinois, as its GM. From 2018 to 2020, he was also the GM of SMHCC luxury property, Conrad Manila.
Laurent is a multi-awarded industry veteran, who has received numerous distinctions such as the 2021 Hotel Management’s GMs To Watch (US), the 2019 CMO Asia Award for one of the Best General Managers in the Philippines, 2017 Asia Pacific Hotel of the Year Award (Radisson Blu Cebu), and the 2015 President's Award for outstanding quality for Radisson North America, to name a few.
As the GM of Lanson Place SM Mall of Asia, Laurent is looking forward to his second time staying and working in the country. “I love the Philippines, that’s why I’m back,” he ends.