Century Park Hotel

 Keeping the legacy alive

By Chin-Chin Chan Chiu 

With the world fast becoming a global village, finding the right place to stay in other parts of the world can be a daunting task. Yet, if you find that perfect spot which caters to all your needs, flying in and out from there would be simply child's play.

"With new properties, maintenance is easy because everything's just been put in place. But with older properties come brand recall and even prestige. And nostalgia plays a big part, especially for returning guests; which in our case, happens a lot. Lately, we have an increase in our Korean and Chinese guests. That's why we put our best efforts in maintaining the brand.

"We are currently upgrading our facilities, including our ballroom that will be spruced up with LED walls and projectors. All these will bode well for our expected guests from our partner establishments, Philippine Airlines and Asia Brewery, who hold their corporate events here each year," shared director of sales and marketing Peter Michael Quieng, who credited much of the hotel's progress to its late general manager, Anthony Tan.

GM Tan's untimely demise left many of the hotel's staff saddened as he was one superior who knew and called his staff members by their first name. During his lengthy tenure, the late GM planned the blueprint for the smooth operations of the hotel. After a short wake in Manila, his wife brought his ashes home to Australia.

"True to our mantra, Century Plaza is truly a 'home away from home.' We go out of our way to offer perks over and above the experience of our VIP guests. For instance, guests celebrating their natal anniversaries with us are personally greeted by our staff in their respective rooms, so they get to blow their candles on their special day.

"The Miss Earth pageant has chosen us as one of three Philippine hotels that house the international delegates since 2016. In fact, two of the pageant's winners (2016 and 2017) were our guests here. There was even a year that all of the elemental queens were staying with us. So, we had to wait for the ladies' return from the coronation night so they would all feel extra special with our 'extra mile' of presenting them with fresh bouquets of flowers.

"After Sheraton, we were known as Century Park ANA Hotel from 1997 through 2000. With the turn of the century, the owners felt the property was ready to stand as Century Park, with no international brands attached to its name. What I remember from the older days is that we had a lot of regular employees when compared to the present," informed guest experience manager Eric Beza, who said that his new position was created by the late GM Tan.

After the global pandemic eased travel restrictions, Century Park is one of the few Philippine hotels that has been enjoying more than a 50% occupancy - a feat that's hard to get by with today's cutthroat competition.

"We have five food outlets in the hotel - Cafe in the Park, Atrium Lounge, Deli Snack, Tsukuji, Palm Groove bar, plus Room Service and Banquet.

"Cafe in the Park is our all-day dining outlet while Deli Snack is where you get cold cuts, pastries, cakes, and sausages. Tsukuji, our Japanese buffets restaurant, serves the yuppies working around the area, as well as families who come here during dinnertime and on weekends. The Atrium Lounge is busy on weekdays due to business meetings in a huff. Then there's the Palm Groove bar by the poolside that serves samgyupsal buffet for the moment.

"We also have a 24/7 room service and banquet facilities. We offer quarterly promotions of new dishes, new creations, or our bestsellers. In all our food outlets, we proffer what is really essential. And you'll really feel the quality of our dishes, especially in our Japanese buffets as diners get more than their money's worth," enthused executive chef Raymond Chua.

Opened in September 1976 as the Century Park Sheraton until 1996, the original six-floor Tower Building soon rose up to its present-day 19-floor edifice. The hotel's 494 rooms are sprawled throughout the floors with 230 superior, 95 de luxe, and 30 executive rooms at the Club Floor on its 18th level. The topmost floor (19th) is reserved for the owners.

As a new leaf turns in the history of this 4-star property, Century Park Hotel celebrates the legacy of its glorious past as it surges forward to meet the new challenges of a promising 21st century travel landscape.