How Holiday Inn Manila Galleria Suites Went from Stodgy to Cheery and Contemporary
For Metro Manilans of a certain age, the Manila Galleria Suites at the corner of Ortigas Ave. and Edsa has always meant luxury and opulence. But also maybe, yes, a bit stodgy by today’s standards.
Since the owner, Robinsons Land Corp. contracted Holiday Inn to manage the property in 2003, then invested P1 billion to renovate it during the pandemic, the hotel—now branded as Holiday Inn Manila Galleria—envelopes each guest in a cheery blend of timeless elegance and modern functionality, offering a measure tranquility amid the mayhem of the metro. There is also the addition of higher-end rooms, such as one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites, and the only two-level penthouse in the Ortigas Center, that cater to the diverse needs and desires of the hotel’s guests.
The 285-room hotel includes 36 plush suites, like this one-bedroom accommodation
“Each of the hotel’s 285 rooms, including 36 exquisite suites, has been lovingly refreshed, creating a vibe that seamlessly balances contemporary style with a soothing ambiance,” says cluster general manager Patricia Puyat, who also oversees the adjacent Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. Both hotels are now under the RLC’s hospitality arm, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts. Puyat invited a few journalists to stay overnight recently, and hosted a dinner at the popular Xin Tian Di.
The pool area where guests can have fun under the sun
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The one-bedroom suite I stayed in opened to an anteroom with a couch and coffee table, and featured a small in-room refrigerator, underneath a low-level cupboard with coffee-and tea-making facilities. The area is separate from the main bedroom which featured a firm king bed and night tables, which face a long shelf on which sits a TV, and reaches a corner that can be used as a work desk. There is also a warm and large brown marble bathroom with vegan-friendly hair care products and body wash that incorporate aromatic herbs with healthy root crops and vegetables.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria uses Soak, an eco-friendly line of hair and skincare products from Australia
While the room has kept the refined wooden theme for its cabinets, shelves, and side tables, the overall palette is younger, with green shades inspired by the Holiday Inn logo used for its curtains and pillowy headboard, while beige paints its walls, couch and side seating. The king bed wrapped in white sheets with pillow cases of varying firmness (or should I say, softness?) arrests the gaze, immediately pulling the guest to jump in and land on one’s back. The room looks more expansive with a carpet done in a mix of grey and turquoise, evoking tropical beach feels.
Guests of Holiday Inn’s suites have access to the newly opened Summit Lounge on the 29th floor, which has an amazing view of the sun setting on the metropolis, along with a space for brief meetings, and TV area for those who want to catch up on their news or sports events.
Between 6 and 9 p.m. is the cocktail hour (yay!), where an assortment of international dishes and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are served. The buffet spread is extensive enough, featuring appetizers, canapés with fruits or meats, a cheese and deli platter, fresh salads, along with pasta, to fruits, baked desserts, and local kakanin like puto bumbong, bibingka, and leche flan. So, if a guest prefers, he can actually take his usual evening meal there (or like my friends and I did, a pre-snack dinner).
Because we did leave enough space in our tummies for a sumptuous Chinese dinner with Puyat, who hosted us at the popular Xin Tian Di on the fourth floor of the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. She had reserved a private room (PR 1), known as the late business tycoon John Gokongwei’s favorite, which has its own restroom. It was Mr. John who had personally named the restaurant, which one of our friends surmised was probably inspired by Xintiandi (“New world”), an affluent shopping, dining, and entertainment district in Shanghai.
Deep-fried Lapu-Lapu in Pomelo Sauce is a delicious find at Holiday Inn Manila Galleria’s popular Chinese restaurant, Xin Tian Di
Over our spicy conversation, we were treated to the restaurant’s much-celebrated dishes. The wow factor was brought by the Peking Duck Flambé. Already served roasted, the duck gets a splash of flaming Chinese wine, then immediately after, is sprinkled with cinnamon powder. So as the alcohol burns off, the duck skin crisps up some more, while the room is filled with a pleasantly sweet aroma, which whet our appetites. The duck was served in the traditional two ways: with slivers of skin wrapped in thin pancakes, leeks and hoisin sauce on the side, and minced and fried with lettuce cups. By the way, at Xin Tian Di, one can order half a duck for small groups like ours.
A balancing act for the Scallops in XO Sauce
Another dish that was distinctly the restaurant’s own and not found in other similar Chinese restaurants is the Deep-Fried Lapu-Lapu in Pomelo Sauce. It tickled the palate with every savory bite of the meaty fish, with the sauce made from sweet pomelo pulp, peeled shallots, bird’s eye chili, and lemon grass. It had the perfect balance of flavors, with an extra shot of umami.
The Scallops in XO sauce was not just delicious but served artfully with chopsticks and a strand of noodles seemingly defying gravity. What’s great about Xin Tian Di is that the XO sauce is generously available, and not an extra cost charged to a guest’s bill unlike other restaurants.
Guests checked into suites have access to the Summit Lounge, where a buffet spread is available during the cocktail hour from 6 to 9 pm
Puyat said that, while leisure and family staycations have become the bread and butter of Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, which has also been recently renovated, is “perfect for bleisure (business and leisure) travels.” She adds, “We offer a fun experience at both properties, which extends beyond our hotels as we are the only two hotels in the area seamlessly attached to a shopping center, Robinsons Galleria.”
Although there are quite a number of stores at the said mall, Robinsons Department Store has always been a treasure trove for me, as I’ve managed to snap up good deals on clothes there. Another favorite store at the mall is Daiso, that Japanese store with a variety of products and items I never thought I needed before (e.g. Tempura paper, curtain clips, aluminum panels for the kitchen stove, to name a few).
Jun, a waitstaff at Xin Tian Di, Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, shows how they flambé their Roasted Peking Duck
Other activities that may be enjoyed at Holiday Inn Manila Galleria is a swim at the pool area, which Puyat said will be the “next to be renovated after the rainy season,” a massage at the spa, a workout at the fitness center, while parents can bring their kids to Play Zone.
When staying at Holiday Inn, guests take their breakfast at Fab Restaurant, which is also open all day for casual dining. The buffet breakfast is similarly extensive where Filipino favorites like crispy-fried danggit and tuyo are available, alongside Japanese sushi, and international dishes. I like that the restaurant makes its own yogurt, and the egg station, also offers poached eggs, instead of the usual sunny side up, scrambled, and omelet varieties. Best of all, Puyat underscored, “Kids 12 and under and staying with their parents, eat free” at the hotel complex’s dining outlets.
What makes a stay at Holiday Inn Manila Galleria extra special is its commitment to sustainability. Like I earlier mentioned, the guest bathroom amenities include a body wash and hair products from Soak, a popular vegan-friendly brand from Australia. Guests are also encouraged to reuse their towels and linen, and bathroom amenities are on demand, so if you happen to forget your toothbrush and toothpaste (like I did), just give Housekeeping a call.
The view from the newly opened Summit Lounge on the 29th floor of the Holiday Inn Manila Galleria
The hotel is almost all paperless as every instruction, service, or information one may need in the course of one’s stay can be accessed by using one’s phone to scan QR codes flashed on your TV. It has also eliminated the use of single-use plastic water bottles as an onsite water-bottling plant has been constructed on the property, which also serves other RHR hotels in its immediate vicinity like the Westin Manila, Summit Greenhills, and Summit Magnolia. Those who bring their electric vehicles (EVs) can park and charge them as the property also has EV chargers.
So a stay at the Holiday Inn Manila Galleria is not just a wholesome package of family fun, but with its regard for the environment, time spent there becomes more meaningful with an investment in our children’s future as well.
The Holiday Inn Manila Galleria has undergone a P1-billion renovation, turning its once opulent, stern interiors to one of cheery and modern ambiance
For inquiries and reservations, call Holiday Inn Manila Galleria at +63287909400 or email [email protected]
