Find out what new hotels are set to open in the Philippines.

BELLEVUE’S IMPRESSIVE PLANS
Respected hotelier Carlo Gomez is preparing for yet another hotel opening, his seventh! The Bellevue Bohol in Panglao Island, a five-star deluxe resort, is expected to open in June 2012.

Phase one of the resort will consist of 159 rooms, convention facilities that will be able to accommodate over 300 people, three food & beverage outlets including two bars, a Thai-inspired spa, a children’s play center, and a gym. Majority of the hotel rooms are 40 square meters big and will be facing the ocean, each with an outdoor Jacuzzi.

The coffee shop, overlooking the ocean with an open kitchen, will be serving international cuisine, including Chinese and Japanese. There will also be a fine dining restaurant that will fuse European and Asian cuisines. Gomez is deep in his research about the delicacies and food history of Bohol, hoping to include these in the resort’s final menu offerings.

Goran Aleks, Sofitel Philippine Plaza's General Manager, shares some secrets into this hotel's outstanding performance in its food and beverage business

DEFINING THE SOFITEL BRAND
VA: After a highly successful “branding change” from a 30-year-old “Westin brand” to a Sofitel,” what is next for the “Sofitel Philippine Plaza, in terms of new concepts this 2011 and beyond?

GA: In the past five years, Sofitel had as its focal point the complete upgrade of its hardware. For instance, massive enhancements made on such facilities as elevators, rooms, as well as the renovation of the iconic Imperial Suite, which will be completed late this year.

In 2011, Sofitel’s thrust will be in upgrading its software by rendering highly personalized service in all areas of business. We want to surprise our guests with Sofitel’s unique brand of tailormade solutions, to every unique requirement, both large or small.
Our guests are very important to us, and we understand that each one has specific preferences and specific needs that we aim to satisfy. This means going out of our way to know them, to please them, to give them the very best, as we would our guests in our own homes.

Sofitel likewise takes pride in its core strengths in food and beverage, and indeed, it is our goal to be the market leader in these areas. This year we opened two key food and beverage outlets Snaps Sports Bar and Fever Luxe Lounge. These outlets are run by Head Chef Jose Luis Gonzalez who has worked in five of the top ten restaurants in the world, such as Noma, El Bulli, Arzak, El Celler de Can Roca, and Mugaritz.

We always ensure that we have the best talent on board to help us achieve the finest in products and services.