Bringing Classy Back: The Manila Hotel To Undergo Renovations

Facilities

 

Karina was our guest service officer for the day and she conducted the My Manila Hotel Tour for us

We were also lucky to experience the My Manila Hotel Tour, a free monthly tour of the entire hotel. Anyone can sign up for this and see all the major facilities, including the MacArthur Suite and the Presidential Suite. However, we were not able to see the Presidential Suite since it was already undergoing renovations. By the time it is finished, it is expected to be the grandest presidential suite in Asia.

The Champagne Room

Our My Manila Hotel Tour started with the Champagne Room, the Grand Dame’s lavishly decorated restaurant favored by the stylish set. It is known for its crystal palm trees, tasseled ceiling fixtures, and floral upholstered chairs. Of course, there is plenty of champagne.

The chair on the right is an antique, dating back to the hotel’s earliest days. If you can see the hat on the middle shelf of the left cabinet, it’s unclear whether it was General MacArthur’s. It was found on the bed when the Japanese attacked the hotel.

The Douglas MacArthur Suite

We got to see the Douglas MacArthur Suite next, a two-bedroom suite that can double as a home away from home. No wonder General MacArthur chose to stay here. It’s a grand yet intimate venue to hide from the real world, but it still has access to a beautiful sunset and a complete set of amenities (Bvlgari toiletries included). Despite its hefty pricetag, it’s a popular room to rent, the last being a group of boys who rented it for a high-class bachelor party.

The Manila Hotel Archives

My favorite stop of the My Manila Hotel Tour was the Archives room. There, you can have access to reproduced photos from Manila Hotel’s history, as well as press releases published about the hotel through the years. There is also a series of autographed books from the famous personalities who have checked in there. Of course, the original photos are preserved elsewhere.

As part of the Manila Hotel’s renovations, they will soon launch a smartphone app where you can scan QR codes and see photos, videos, and trivia about the hotel. This way, you can have your own My Manila Hotel Tour any time of the day. Denise has said that they are currently looking for more photos to add to the collection. The app will be available June this year.