Room with a view in the center of it all
Published Apr 01, 2018 00:05 am
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Updated Apr 01, 2018 00:05 am
By Art Sta. Ana
A DESTINATION WITHIN A DESTINATION Anders Hallden (front), general manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, toasts to the 20 years of the hotel as the city's chosen destination
“There’s always something going on here,” Anders Hallden said with a smile, the lines at the corners of his eyes stretching as he looked with untiring amazement at the painted replica of a 15th century world map on the ceiling at the hotel’s lobby. “The Waterfront never sleeps.”
He knew what he was talking about, of course, being the general manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, and he says this with both unabashed pride and blithe nostalgia. Waterfront Cebu, after all, is celebrating its 20th year anniversary this 2018, and the Sweden-born Anders, having been the hotel’s executive chef in 2006 before coming back as general manager in 2016, has been witness to the evolution of the most revered and iconic destination in Cebu City.
A destination within a destination
Opening its doors in 1998 to the then still sleepy Lahug area, Waterfront has thrived in the Cebuano’s critical and discerning nature. It took extraordinary vision and faith for the owners to push through with establishing the now recognizable pillars of this three-hectare property. Armed with the hope that the city will embrace it and grow with it, the hotel is really known to be not just a place for people to sleep in, but where people to stay in.
“Waterfront is a destination within a destination,” said Anders. “The biggest concerts and events at our grand ballrooms, swimming pool, a 24-hour gym, a casino, restaurants, it’s all in one location. It’s all here.”
THE WATERFRONT NEVER SLEEPS Waterfront Cebu City Hotel has evolved into the most revered and iconic destination hotel in Cebu City
The hotel and casino does pride itself with being in the center of it all. All the major concerts, trade exhibits, sporting events, and conventions are held at its convention center, the largest in Visayas and Mindanao with its 4,000-person seating capacity. It has the most modern meeting venue that’s 10,000-square-meter large. There are nine restaurants within, including the Filipino buffet restaurant Uno, authentically Italian La Gondola, the city’s most elegant Chinese restaurant Tin Gow, and Mizu, which offers the Japanese cuisines this side of the Philippines. There are 561 guestrooms that have provided the most comfortable stays for locals and tourists alike. There’s also a 24-hour casino, and it is also where the American Consular Agency is located. Everything truly is inside and around the figurative multiple award winning doors of the most revered name in the hotel industry in Cebu.
The 20th Anniversary kick-off
Last February, Waterfront Cebu celebrated the kick-off of its 20th anniversary inside itsPacific Grand Ballroom. Local celebrities and the who’s who of Cebu were in their best Prohibition era garb, and guests were treated to an extravaganza of entertainment and a plethora of food and drinks, all in line with the celebration’s 1920’s theme, a nod of sorts to the hotel’s 20 years. On hand to celebrate with the employees and guests of the hotel were Cebu Governor Florencio Miraflores, Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, and Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao.
Each of them gave heartfelt speeches to the eagerly listening crowd, and all expressed optimism in how Waterfront will continue to be a part of Cebu’s growth in the foreseeable future.
“The whole year is full of excitement,” toasted Anders to the crowd as applause drowned the music inside the ballroom.
Among those that are scheduled as part of the year-long celebration is the Iron Chef, where the culinary expertise of the hotel’s chefs, who come from different parts of the world, will be on showcase along with the kitchen flare of guest chefs including chefs Roland and Jackie Laudico. A grand two-week Fourth of July celebration will also be held in commemoration of the Philippine-American friendship day that’s sure to rival any fourth of July celebration in the US. Of course, the much anticipated grand fashion show dubbed “World Class” will showcase the creations of five of the most sought after Filipino designers in the world, the lineup of which consists of Michael Cinco, Francis Libiran, Furne Amato, Ezra Santos, and Cary Santiago.
All of these, along with all the other innovations, promotions, and events that are to grace the hallowed walls of Waterfront Cebu, has everyone looking forward to being a part of its 20th year. With Cebu City being now as the hottest economic and industrial destination for years to come, the hotel is sure to keep up with the continuously changing demands of those who are looking to stay in this paradise-like city, as it always has. This “destination within a destination” has truly cemented its reputation as being the first in the hotel industry in Cebu with everything that it does, from promotions, to entertainments, to facility innovations, and the next 20 years looks as bright as the lights of the chandeliers that grace its ballroom ceilings.
A DESTINATION WITHIN A DESTINATION Anders Hallden (front), general manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, toasts to the 20 years of the hotel as the city's chosen destination
“There’s always something going on here,” Anders Hallden said with a smile, the lines at the corners of his eyes stretching as he looked with untiring amazement at the painted replica of a 15th century world map on the ceiling at the hotel’s lobby. “The Waterfront never sleeps.”
He knew what he was talking about, of course, being the general manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, and he says this with both unabashed pride and blithe nostalgia. Waterfront Cebu, after all, is celebrating its 20th year anniversary this 2018, and the Sweden-born Anders, having been the hotel’s executive chef in 2006 before coming back as general manager in 2016, has been witness to the evolution of the most revered and iconic destination in Cebu City.
A destination within a destination
Opening its doors in 1998 to the then still sleepy Lahug area, Waterfront has thrived in the Cebuano’s critical and discerning nature. It took extraordinary vision and faith for the owners to push through with establishing the now recognizable pillars of this three-hectare property. Armed with the hope that the city will embrace it and grow with it, the hotel is really known to be not just a place for people to sleep in, but where people to stay in.
“Waterfront is a destination within a destination,” said Anders. “The biggest concerts and events at our grand ballrooms, swimming pool, a 24-hour gym, a casino, restaurants, it’s all in one location. It’s all here.”
THE WATERFRONT NEVER SLEEPS Waterfront Cebu City Hotel has evolved into the most revered and iconic destination hotel in Cebu City
The hotel and casino does pride itself with being in the center of it all. All the major concerts, trade exhibits, sporting events, and conventions are held at its convention center, the largest in Visayas and Mindanao with its 4,000-person seating capacity. It has the most modern meeting venue that’s 10,000-square-meter large. There are nine restaurants within, including the Filipino buffet restaurant Uno, authentically Italian La Gondola, the city’s most elegant Chinese restaurant Tin Gow, and Mizu, which offers the Japanese cuisines this side of the Philippines. There are 561 guestrooms that have provided the most comfortable stays for locals and tourists alike. There’s also a 24-hour casino, and it is also where the American Consular Agency is located. Everything truly is inside and around the figurative multiple award winning doors of the most revered name in the hotel industry in Cebu.
The 20th Anniversary kick-off
Last February, Waterfront Cebu celebrated the kick-off of its 20th anniversary inside itsPacific Grand Ballroom. Local celebrities and the who’s who of Cebu were in their best Prohibition era garb, and guests were treated to an extravaganza of entertainment and a plethora of food and drinks, all in line with the celebration’s 1920’s theme, a nod of sorts to the hotel’s 20 years. On hand to celebrate with the employees and guests of the hotel were Cebu Governor Florencio Miraflores, Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, and Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao.
Each of them gave heartfelt speeches to the eagerly listening crowd, and all expressed optimism in how Waterfront will continue to be a part of Cebu’s growth in the foreseeable future.
“The whole year is full of excitement,” toasted Anders to the crowd as applause drowned the music inside the ballroom.
Among those that are scheduled as part of the year-long celebration is the Iron Chef, where the culinary expertise of the hotel’s chefs, who come from different parts of the world, will be on showcase along with the kitchen flare of guest chefs including chefs Roland and Jackie Laudico. A grand two-week Fourth of July celebration will also be held in commemoration of the Philippine-American friendship day that’s sure to rival any fourth of July celebration in the US. Of course, the much anticipated grand fashion show dubbed “World Class” will showcase the creations of five of the most sought after Filipino designers in the world, the lineup of which consists of Michael Cinco, Francis Libiran, Furne Amato, Ezra Santos, and Cary Santiago.
All of these, along with all the other innovations, promotions, and events that are to grace the hallowed walls of Waterfront Cebu, has everyone looking forward to being a part of its 20th year. With Cebu City being now as the hottest economic and industrial destination for years to come, the hotel is sure to keep up with the continuously changing demands of those who are looking to stay in this paradise-like city, as it always has. This “destination within a destination” has truly cemented its reputation as being the first in the hotel industry in Cebu with everything that it does, from promotions, to entertainments, to facility innovations, and the next 20 years looks as bright as the lights of the chandeliers that grace its ballroom ceilings.