Interior design group HBA Manila Design Office, led by its HBA Partner and HBA Manila Design Office Principal Norman Agleron, worked with the Intercontinental Hotels Group (THG) and the Erawan Group to ensure that both the signature IHG brand and spirit of modern Cebu are felt by visitors as soon as they step into the Holiday Inn Cebu City.
“As Holiday Inn’s first hotel in Cebu, there were specific requirements from the Holiday Inn brand guidelines that were incorporated into the interior design. They include the planning of guest amenities that adheres to their operations and guest-centric services. Design-wise, we were tasked with creating a unique character tor the hotel to provide a sense of place for the guests.”
Known worldwide for designs that localize even the most sophisticated spaces, HBA Manila took inspiration from the Cebu heritage and culture and interpreted these in a modern contemporary gesture. They worked to ensure that interiors celebrate the Cebuano culture by subtly applying its characteristics in the textures, materials, and color palette, from the dynamic ribbed walls to the floor and wall patterns, down to the graphics and artworks.
“As an example, the lobby planning itself has a more welcoming arrival with a central lounge for waiting guests who are either directed toward the reception and guest lifts on one side, or the formal lounge and co-working space on the other side. This layout represents how Cebu is the convergence of Philippine trade and business from both the north and south. The layers of design elements then envelop the space with patterns inspired by local crafts. Suspended vertical screens surround the lobby to define the transition from the urban outdoors. This linear pattern was replicated behind the reception counters. The overall backdrop has a neutral material palette accentuated by the colors of the furniture fabrics, area rug, and woven pendant lamps,” Agleron explained.
This thread was woven into the rest of the hotel for a cohesive design language. The resulting style is a hotel with hints of a boutique resort feel.
The style and work ethic of the design group has been key in a growing partnership with the international hotels and resorts group. “This is not HBA Manila’s first time to work with IHG. We have worked with the group on a few other properties such as the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, the Holiday Inn Express Manila and currently, we are working on a Holiday Inn Resort,” he said.
Agleron revealed that there were some design challenges with this project. “Architecturally, because of the building’s small footprint, the available spaces for the front-of-house areas were limited. We addressed this by planning the location of the hotel amenities and adjusting the sizes to provide maximum functionality and serviceability.”
The rising cost of construction also had to be considered. To manage the client’s budgets, the design team worked closely with the owner’s team in sourcing materials and adjusting some of the details to control the costs while ensuring that the design intent is achieved.
Agleron said that the business collaboration had outweighed any of those challenges, and that he is delighted with the outcome of this project. “I’m pleased that the interior design materialized and came out as our team had envisioned it, despite the challenges in the past years including the pandemic. Our team had a great experience working with the Erawan Group. During the duration of the project, the client’s team nurtured a collaborative spirit; our design team enjoyed and had fun.”