http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2008-08-21T23:50:28Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/ http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/2/19/16930/9396 <![CDATA[<p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/regentlogo.png" class="imgborder"> By all accounts, 2007 was a banner year for Philippine tourism, with the number of foreign arrivals topping the three million mark (the previous record for yearly visitors was 1.9 million). According to Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, 2008 promises to deliver even better numbers, with his department focusing on the "opening of new hotel projects and properties."<p> One of the most ambitious of these new projects will be the <b>Regent Manila Bay</b> by hotelier <a href="http://www.carlson.com/brands/hotels.cfm">Carlson</a>, bringing 5-star opulence to the Philippines. <p>The Regent Manila Bay will be part of a unique hotel-within-a-hotel development, offering luxury accommodations within the Radisson Hotel Manila Bay. The hotels will share a common structure but will have NatalieWW 2008-02-19T16:42:04-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/5/3/7239/30266 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/martinis_MoP.png" class="imgborder"/><p> In bar openings this month ... the new <a href="http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/511000386.asp">Martinis</a> bar has opened at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/MANDARIN+ORIENTAL+MANILA/ian/109305"><b>Mandarin Oriental Manila</b></a> in the Philippines. Situated in the Makati area, along with plenty of other nightlife, Martinis seems to be aiming for a pretty upper-class crowd; the General Manager said:</p><blockquote><p>We designed Martinis as a premier bar and meeting place, where customers can listen to light jazz, relax, and enjoy a license to chill</blockquote></p><p>Interior design follows a more or less art deco style and the baby grand piano in the middle is intended to up the sophistication factor. There are plenty of cocktails and of course, in honor of the name, a big variety of martinis--a few interesting sounding ones on amandak 2007-05-03T09:09:50-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/2/28/115546/143 <![CDATA[<p> <i>As winter storms brew here in the Northeast, our search for the perfect overwater bungalow is intensifying. Know an overwater bungalow resort hotel we need to check out? Hit us on the <a href="mailto:tips@hotelchatter.com">tip line</a>.</i><p> <img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/el_nido_palawan.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> Turns out HotelChatter has a bunch of daily readers in the Philippines. &nbsp;Cool. As a hat tip, we picked out our favorite Filipino resort, which just so happens to be an overwater bungalow property, go figure.<p> <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/El+Nido+Resorts+Lagen+Island/local/316"><b>El Nido Lagen Island Resort</b></a> has 18 over water accommodations (51 total cabins) all in a quite, idyllic cove hidden by limestone cliffs and island forests. Furthermore, there is no shortage of castaway activities--snorkeling, swimming with jackfish, and canoeing are all available for guests.<br> markj 2007-02-28T12:01:45-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/9/7/122616/8047 <![CDATA[<p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/fridays_resort.jpg">Most people will agree with the statement "the customer is always right" in the hotel business. But to take this to the higher level and state that the "customer is the king" is pretty incredible. <p> The <a href="http://www.boracayresorts.com/"><b>Fridays Boracay Hotel</b></a> states this belief and holds true by offering details such as limousine service from the airport, a free beverage and "warm welcome" upon arrival at the hotel, along with its "luxurious rooms." According to the hotel's guest reviews, they are keeping their word too.<p> The resort promotes minimalism when it comes to necessities at the hotel, since Kings rarely pack for themselves:<p> <blockquote><p>Things you have to pack for traveling to Fridays Boracay Hotel, Boracay Island are just Courtney 2006-09-13T09:38:59-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/7/12/134020/490 <![CDATA[<p><img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/phillipines_crowded.jpg">If you have a ton of money, here's an idea: build a glamorous hotel in the Philippines...and do it fast! Until the Philippines gets more hotels, they actually don't really have room for any more visitors. <p> The <a href="http://www.mb.com.">Manila Bulletin Online</a> explains how there just isn't room for the amount of tourists interested in the Philippines:<p> <blockquote><p>Tourism Secretary Joseph 'Ace' Durano said the Philippines has now reached its full capacity for international arrivals expected to surpass the targetted three million by the end of this year. Durano said it means 'even if 10 million people would come to visit the Philippines if we can only accommodate three million then you can only get three million. We have Courtney 2006-07-12T14:02:30-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/