3 PH hotels, 2 resorts in Conde Nast best list

MANILA, Philippines – Three hotels in Manila made it to Conde Nast Traveler’s list of top 20 hotels in Southeast Asia, while two resorts in the Visayas were named among the best in Asia.

The influential travel magazine released its much-awaited Reader’s Choice Awards 2012 in its November issue.

The Makati Shangri-La Hotel was tops among the local hotels, landing in the fifth spot on the Southeast Asian list, with a rating of 90.9. The hotel, located at the heart of the Ayala Center, got high marks for rooms and service.

“This ‘oasis in downtown’ has a ‘grand lobby, with a floral centerpiece and fairy-tale staircase that never cease to amaze me.’ Guest rooms have domed ceilings and Asian-inspired decor and ‘are well laid out, spacious, and comfortable.’ Circles Event Café offers an ‘unbelievably huge breakfast buffet that caters to every nationality;’ at the Lobby Bar, a pianist tickles the ivories each afternoon. Staff ‘go the extra mile and exude warmth and hospitality in personally greeting each guest by name; they are so passionate about giving great service,’” the magazine set on its website.

The hotel beat out some high-profile hotels in the region, including Singapore’s The Fullerton Hotel at No. 6 and the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore at No. 15.

Two Bali resorts topped the list with Amandari taking the top spot with a score of 94.8 and Amankila at No. 2 with a score of 93.3.

The Makati hotel’s sister property at the Ortigas Center, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, took the seventh spot on the list, with a rating of 90.3.

“‘It’s so beautiful inside, even if the exteriors are a bit nondescript.’ Rooms in the Tower Wing set the tone with hues of brown and red; the Garden Wing has views of either the cityscape or the hotel’s landscaped gardens. ‘Service is always excellent,’” said of the Mandaluyong hotel.

Meanwhile, the historical Manila Hotel also made the list at No. 20 and a rating of 82.5.

Resorts

Meanwhile, the Shangri-La Group’s two resort properties in the Philippines made the list of top 15 resorts in Asia.

Shangri–La’s Boracay Resort & Spa landed on the seventh spot with a score of 88.5.

“Some island resorts have only one amazing beach; Shangri-La’s Boracay Island property, however, has two—Banyugan (which is accessible only by guests) and Punta Bunga—both extremely well-maintained and exceptionally beautiful,” it said of the five-star Boracay resort. “The real pleasures here are outdoors, whether you’re watching the sun sink into the inky Sulu Sea from the cushy daybed on your balcony or just lounging on the sand, where helpful beach valets keep water glasses full (and cold) and deliver afternoon snacks of fruit.”

Also on the resort list is Shangri–La’s Mactan Resort & Spa in Cebu at No. 12 with a score of 84.8.

The magazine’s readers voted Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives as the top resort in Asia.

Islands

On the list of Top 10 Islands in Asia, Luzon was at No. 3, scoring extremely high in terms of friendliness, while Cebu made it to No. 7. Mindanao came in at No. 10.

The magazine’s readers voted Bali, Indonesia as the best island in Asia, followed by Phuket, Thailand.

In other categories, the Thai capital of Bangkok was voted top city in Asia, while Singapore Airlines was voted best foreign airline.

According to the magazine, the 2012 Readers’ Choice Survey received 46,476 responses. Each candidate is rated on a five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair and poor. Those scores, which represent the percentage of excellent and very good ratings, are averaged to calculate the final score published in the magazine. –ABS-CBNnews.com