Fraser’s the place

By the end of this year, Fraser Place Manila will be 50% occupied.

That’s the target of Carlo Gomez, general manager of Fraser Place Serviced Residences Forbes Tower Manila.

"The serviced apartments business in the Philippines will grow by about 2% to 3% a year. While this is relatively small compared with other countries, we are encouraged by government’s efforts to win investors to the country," he said.

Fraser Place Manila, which is located in Salcedo Village, Makati City, opened for business early this month. It has 150 suites, most of which are two-, three-, and four-bedroom suites with balconies. There are eight suites with sky gardens and five maisonettes. The penthouse suite is on the 41st floor.

"The serviced apartments business is the fastest growing segment in the hospitality industry worldwide," said Fraser Serviced Residences Pte. Ltd. chief operating officer Choe Peng Peng Sum.

"Gone are the days when the expatriate would come and stay for two to three years. Most of those coming in stay for between three months to a year. They start the business and they leave when it is set up. Most of them do not want to stay in a hotel and prefer a place where they can have the lifestyle they want," said Choe.

Fraser Place Serviced Residences ranks as one of Singapore’s top three serviced apartment operators. It is the hospitality arm of Singapore’s Fraser and Neave conglomerate, which is better known for its F&N-branded consumer products. Aside from Manila, Fraser Place also operates two serviced apartments in Singapore, one in Seoul and four in London.

Lifestyle suites

In all of its properties, Fraser Place tries to come up with competitively-priced packages that suit the lifestyle of its clients.

For example, it has "home lifestyle" apartments for those guests with families. These suites are children-friendly and come with gourmet kitchen facilities from full-sized refrigerators to microwaves, built-in oven, glassware, cutlery and crockery.

All the suites are designed in "tropical zen", which mixes the oriental and modern. The entrance foyer links into a spacious living room and adjoining dining area. Oversized Jim Thompson Thai silk-covered sofas and leather chairs provide a study of complementing and contrasting shades and textures. The settees were purposedly built to be larger than usual. The beds used are Simmons-pocketed spring beds. The fixtures in the bathroom are Villeroy and Boch. The master’s bedroom has a Jacuzzi and Pharo Tower multi-point shower by Hansgorhe of Germany.