It’s not only within the walls of Intramuros that time stands still.
The concept of running seconds, and the vicissitudes along with it, is also lost at its vicinity. South to the bordered city, past Rizal Park and at the corner of United Nations Avenue and Maria Orasa Street in Ermita, Manila, stands a 50-year-old building that has remained grounded in the face of a changing environment.
What is called today as the Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino was actually one of the pioneering hotels in the country, which has welcomed guests from Matt Monro to Muhammed Ali to Fernando Poe Jr.
The building, designed by Carlos Arguelles and Welton Becket, was constructed in 1967 and launched the year after as Manila Hilton International. The Delgado brothers, under Delbros Hotel Corp., later incorporated as Acesite Hotel Corp. (ACE), owned the property.
In 1988 Manila Hilton International became the Manila Pavilion Hotel, before changing again to Holiday Inn Manila in 1995. Waterfront Philippines Inc. then acquired ACE in 2004—and the rest was history. Of the manifold internal changes, one thing has remained constant, and that is the location.
“A lot of Filipinos, and especially foreigners, don’t know this area because they only see Makati and The Fort, all the modern shopping centers and whatnot, but this is what remains of the culture of Manila,” Waterfront Manila Pavilion General Manager Jean Francois Asimus said. “We’re targeting people who would like to see a little bit of Filipino culture.”
Asimus pointed to Intramuros, Rizal Park and museums as the cultural attractions proximate to the property. He added that there’s also a shopping center nearby and a casino within.
“We have it all here,” he said.
It’s a declaration consistent with the company’s thrust of being “at the center of it all,” which is also carried in the company’s two Cebu properties, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino and Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino, and the one in Davao, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.
The Manila property is complementing the allure of its location with a P350-million renovation that targets the lobby, rooms, facilities and the casino.
Asimus said 340 out of the 520 have been fully renovated, from the interiors to the furniture and the electronics to make it more modern, without particularly losing the vintage feel. Asimus said he’d rather call the changes more of a “refreshment.”
Options for rest of the rooms, he added, will be kept open. One consideration is the conversion to apartments to cater to long-staying guests and families.
Three floors of the casino are also being renovated. Asimus said it would be “completely new” upon completion.
They will still run its operations, along with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. The hotel will also be offering online gaming.
The push for modernization extends to the hotel’s Internet service, as they have installed fiber-optic cables to boost connection speed. Additions of Internet protocol phones and TVs will be made, as well. Slated early next year is the full renovation of the health club in the fifth floor.
Asimus said these developments mix well with Waterfront Manila Pavilion’s current strong suits, such as their food and beverages (F&B) offerings, particularly the creations of their Executive Chef Giovanni Sais. The hotel has three F&B outlets: the Asian and Continental-themed restaurant Seasons, the French-style pastry shop Patisserie and the El Rey Music Lounge and Bar.
The hope for the Waterfront Manila Pavilion, according to Asimus, is to be an integrated hotel and casino with unique offerings, and that starts with the location.