After 10 months and counting of lockdown, we’re all feeling a little cabin feverish. Thankfully, domestic travel is becoming more and more of a possibility as the industry fine-tunes its health regulations to ensure a safe experience for all hotel and restaurant guests. More Filipinos have been opting for staycations lately, guided by the Department of Tourism’s list of 14 accredited staycation hotels in the metro.
It’s important to mention that only a few hotels have been given the greenlight from DOT to accept guests for staycations. Other hotels are being used as quarantine hotels/facilities, so make sure to only visit the 14 DOT-approved staycation hotels in NCR. These are: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Okada Manila Hotel, Shangri-La at the Fort, Nobu Hotel, Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila, EDSA Shangri-La Manila, Solaire Resort, Hyatt Regency City of Dreams, Nüwa Manila City of Dreams, The Peninsula Manila, Aruga by Rockwell, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, and Hotel Okura Manila.
From this list, only three secured a Sharecare VERIFIED with Forbes Travel Guide badge, which certifies the safest hotels around the world that have passed a series of comprehensive tests. These tests are comprised of over 360 global health security standards. The assessment covers health and hygiene protocols, cleaning products and procedures, masks and PPE, ventilation, management accountability, and health safety communication with guests and employees.
Over 172 hotels around the world are included in this strict list, with only three coming from Metro Manila, Philippines: Okada, Nüwa, and Solaire. The Bell Hotel in Bacolod was the fourth and last Philippine hotel to appear on Forbes’ safest hotels list. With only 172 hotels on the list (as of posting), it’s safe to say that Okada, Nüwa, Solaire, and Bell are among the safest hotels in the world.
The Forbes and Sharecare verification program aims to give guests peace of mind with the knowledge that these hotels have been validated by health protocol experts and are up to date on the best practices. All the Metro Manila hotels on the list also happen to be five-star hotels, pairing the luxury experience with health safety protocols.
Here are three ultra-safe staycation hotel-resorts in Metro Manila:
1| Okada Manila
One of only four Forbes health security certified resorts in the Philippines, Okada is keeping up with health protocols with its state-of-the-art disinfection mist machine, which all guests must walk through before you can enter the premises. There are also alcohol stations at every corner, and the staff are extra strict with implementing health standards, so don’t be shocked if a guard approaches you to remind you to tilt your face shield down.
For guests who plan to stay at the hotel, an on-site antigen testing station is available so you can get tested on the spot, right before check-in (if you test negative, that is). Did we mention that they have cleaning robots? You'll come across one or two of these robots roaming around Okada, disinfecting the premises through misting and UV light.
To make a reservation at Okada Manila, click here.
2| Sky Tower at Solaire Resort & Casino
Solaire has employed UVC lamps at a massive scale, including the UVC lamps that have been installed in its indoor air quality management system. In layman’s terms, that means that all the air that circulates throughout the resort has gone through UVC to ensure that any airborne microbes are killed through the air exchange. Pretty neat, huh?
Everything from the escalators to the poker chips are disinfected via UVC, and the staff carry portable UVC scanners to disinfect surfaces throughout the resort. As for hotel rooms, every time a guest checks out, a UVC lamp is wheeled into the room to thoroughly disinfect the area.
To make a reservation at the Sky Tower, click here.
3| Nüwa Hotel
Like Okada and Solaire, Nüwa is strictly abiding by health protocols, particularly its social distancing guidelines. Only couples or family members who share the same household can stay in the same room. Meanwhile, groups are discouraged from mingling with other groups in order to keep everyone safe. At the casinos, only a maximum of three players are allowed per table. If that wasn’t enough, even the slot machines are social distancing.
The shoes of guests must also be sanitized upon entrance, and even cars must undergo disinfection before parking. As Nüwa Hotel is located in the City of Dreams complex, it will give you peace of mind to know that none of the hotels in the compound are designated quarantine facilities.
To make a reservation at Nüwa Hotel, click here.
