CEBU, Philippines - Shangri-La hotels and resorts in Edsa, Makati, Cebu, Boracay, and Traders Hotel in Manila recently held their annual media appreciation cocktails at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La. This year's theme was all about luxury travelling, with the aptly named title "Jetsetter".
The Rizal Ballroom foyer transformed into a spacious airport lounge, wherein guests had to enter through an immigration booth stationed at the entrance. Passports, which served as the menu, were given out to each guest at the booth.
Cuisine from around the world was served in the live buffet stations represented by pantomimes in that particular country's national costume. With over 11 countries represented, the dining experience allowed the guests to jet set around the world through food. Favorite dishes from each country were the sukiyaki and torched sushi from Japan, Peking duck and suckling pig from China, the foie gras selection from France, the truffled risotto from Italy, romali with butter chicken and lamb rogangosh from India, roti jala with chicken curry and beef rending from Malaysia, and the beef, squid, mango and papaya salad from Thailand. The service team dressed as flight attendants and chauffeurs kept the champagne flowing.
The general managers from the Shangri-La hotels and resorts in the Philippines were all present to show their full support. Makati Shangri-La's Area Manager and General Manager Reto Klauser, Edsa Shangri-La's Henry Lee, Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa's Joachim Schutte, Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa's Mark Kirk, and Traders Hotel, Manila's Gordon Aeria were the gracious hosts of the evening.
Complimentary stays in the Shangri-La hotels and resorts in the Philippines were raffled off throughout the night, as well as stays in the Shangri-La hotels in Shanghai, Singapore and Malaysia, in cooperation with the official airline sponsor, Cebu Pacific Air, the largest airline in the country today. Cebu Pacific flies daily to Shanghai from Manila, to Singapore from Manila, Cebu and Clark, and weekly to Kuala Lumpur from Manila. (FREEMAN)