By Mark Louis F. Ferrolino
Special Features Writer
AYALA LAND Hotels and Resorts Corp. is expanding its Seda Nuvali
hotel in Laguna, adding a second tower that is expected to open by early
2020.
The hotel first opened in 2014 with 150 rooms. The second tower will bring Seda Nuvali’s room count to 356 when it is completed.
Jeffrey Enriquez, general manager of Seda Nuvali, said the company
decided to expand the hotel to accommodate more corporate clients from
industrial parks in the area during weekdays, and more local residents
and travelers on weekends.
“We’re running at 80-90% (occupancy rate), and suddenly it shoots up
to 95% and 100%, so we end up declining additional bookings. We really
saw the need of putting up additional tower that would give us
additional rooms,” Mr. Enriquez told BusinessWorld in a recent interview.
The new tower, which will be 12 storeys high, is adjacent to the
first Seda Nuvali structure. It will consist of 206 rooms, offering
one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom suites and family rooms.
Mr. Enriquez said the second tower will have a 400-seater ballroom to
cater to the demand of companies, government agencies and residents who
want to hold seminars and special occasions.
“With the ballroom now and the existing function rooms, it will be a
big boost. We can accommodate a big market now,” Mr. Enriquez said.
The additional tower will also have Seda’s signature roof deck bar, Straight Up, designed with indoor and outdoor areas.
“Right now, if you look at the market here, there’s no bar that
people can go to especially our guests. So they end up going to Alabang
or Makati, which is a long drive away from the hotel. With a bar at the
rooftop, our corporate guests can just go there and enjoy handful of
drinks and, at the same time, enjoy relaxing music,” Mr. Enriquez said.
Expansion of the hotel’s facilities is also in the pipeline. Aside
from a second swimming pool in the new tower, there are plans to expand
the lobby, game room and playroom. Its all-day dining facility, Misto,
will be renovated to double its capacity to more than 160 seats.
Like the eight other Seda hotels across the country, the second tower
of Seda Nuvali will be accented by furnishings created by renowned
Filipino artist Ann Pamintuan and artisan Kenneth Cobonpue.
“In all its locations, Seda aims to grow with its markets. We are
pleased to be expanding in Nuvali and to offer more rooms and facilities
along with the genuine Filipino hospitality matched to global standards
that has always defined us,” Mr. Enriquez said.
Seda Nuvali recently received the Anahaw Certification Level 3 of the Zero Carbon Resort for Sustainable Tourism.
The hotel received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Silver Certification in 2015, making it the first Philippine
hotel to be awarded such distinction in its category by the U.S. Green
Building Council.
“That’s our way of telling our customers that we don’t just provide
service, we’re also responsible to our environment,” Mr. Enriquez said.
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