Global serviced apartment brand Oakwood has returned to Manila after a three-year absence with a 233-room property in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The area is acknowledged as the city's second central business district after Makati City. The Asian Development Bank and Manila Stock Exchange are located here.
Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg Center Manila features units, ranging from the 41sqm Studio Executive to the 282sqm Presidential Suite, occupying 20 floors (from 8th to 28th) of the 42-storey mixed-used Ortigas Center. The top floors are leased commercial and office spaces. Two lobbies serve the Oakwood residents and building tenants separately.
"Oakwood has been designed with the comfort of the travellers in mind. The design, layout and amenities are well thought-out from the very beginning," said general manager Brian Connelly. "Unlike other properties, the building is brand new and not an existing edifice that had to be converted."
Studio Executive Bedroom
Fully equipped kitchen
Each residence has a king bed in the bedroom and a marble bath, a dining area, fully equipped kitchen, laundry and ironing facilities, broadband internet, IDD phone with voicemail, 40-inch high definition television and built-in DVD among others. "They exude an international design spirit making every guest, regardless what their nationality or origin, feel comfortable," said Connelly.
Clients can choose from one bedroom, two bedrooms to three bedrooms that can accommodate between two and six persons. Oakwood has a flexible leasing policy with rates for nightly stays through a one-year contract.
Included in the portfolio of services are airport transfers, concierge, 24-hour guest assistance, room service, daily housekeeping, laundry and dry-cleaning, 24-hour security and shuttle service to selected shopping malls. Leisure facilities consist of the children's play area, residents' lounge, fitness centre with an aerobics room, sauna and massage amenities and a 24m indoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi.
Indoor swimming pool
Fitness centre with aerobics room
Taking the serviced residence concept beyond its traditional boundaries, the Oakwood Premier has invested in extensive business and meeting facilities. Its Genesis Business Services provides workstations and a boardroom with video-conferencing system among other offerings.
Genesis Business Solutions
Oakroom Restaurant
There are also two ballrooms, each able to hold up to 250 people for cocktails and each divisible by three. Those wishing to carry discussions over a meal can book one of The Oakroom restaurant's three private rooms.
The property boasts its own helipad, which can host a twin-engine helicopter that can ferry guests to Boracay, a world-renowned beach destination, for quick getaways.
Alfred Reyes, chief operating officer of Quantuvis Resources, Oakwood Premier's owner, revealed they were now keen to go into resort development after this city-based project, and were in talks with Oakwood to deepen their partnership. "We are looking at building resorts in Boracay, Palawan and Cebu within the next four to five years," he said.
Of Oakwood's three brands Oakwood Premier, Oakwood Residence and Oakwood Apartments, company executives have told Business Traveller that growth was most visible in the first two tiers, which target top management and those with families respectively. (The third category caters to travellers content with minimal facilities and services.) This year, roll outs included Oakwood Premier Mumbai and Oakwood Residence in Pune in India, Oakwood Residence Hangzhou in China and Oakwood Residence Thonglor Bangkok in Thailand.
For more information, visit www.oakwood.com
Gigi Onag
