Grandeur at lobby lounge

 CEBU, Philippines - After the completion of its grand lobby which was opened to serve guests last May 3, Waterfront Management is again pleased to announce the grand launch of its Lobby Lounge today.

Apart from improvements to the general structure of the lobby, the Lobby Lounge itself offers an all-new dining and lounging experience, with newly installed glass panels, semi-enclosing each side of the lounge.

Fully equipped bar areas have also been installed in the middle of each of the lounge's two sections, ensuring diners of more efficient and prompt service. 

"With the launching of the newly renovated lobby comes a promise of enhancing our present product and service offerings that will eventually yield to better guest experience," Waterfront's assistant to the president, Mr. Weslie Gatchalian, said.

Gatchalian expressed what guests can expect from Waterfront's lobby: "Separate canopies and entrances have been built for the hotel, casino and convention areas, which will certainly improve traffic patterns. Guests are guaranteed an even better check-in experience with a brand new reception area, which includes a more spacious Concierge counter and a wider Front Desk that will cater exclusively to individual travelers.

"Brand new communications and IT equipment have been acquired to further ensure the smooth reception of guests.  Other enhancements include newly built ticket booth for conventions and concerts, Egyptian marble flooring, improvements to the ceiling's three coves and the lobby's balconies and staircases, and state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment." 

The Lobby Lounge spans 22 meters wide, 96 meters long, and 35 meters high. Steven J. Leach, Jr. + Associates [Consultants] Inc., which is a part of the world-renowned Steven Leach Group, is behind its overall design and architectural concept.

Waterfront also tapped the country's top lighting consultant: PL Light In   Existence Corp. to create mood lighting. The lobby has a built-in lighting system which has been adjusted to different settings at certain times of the day.

Furniture by Vintage Woodcraft provide brighter and more vibrant colors to give the lobby a more contemporary feel complementing the newly installed glass panels.

To enhance the overall guest experience, the hotel's Food and Beverage team, headed by its director, Alastair Granger, has put together additional features such as nightly entertainment from the city's top performers, soulful afternoon music by soloists, a selection of traditional English afternoon tea packages that is available for guests from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and an offering of fantastic gourmet desserts created by no less than its French group executive pastry chef, Daniel Lajoux.

Diners will also have the option to choose from a variety of authentic French-style flambé creations, which are prepared by the lobby's servers right before the guests' very eyes.  A selection of fine wines is also available from the lobby's very own wine dispenser, where guests may sample wines in three different quantities.  To enjoy the wine dispenser service, guests must avail of the Wine Card.  All these services are only made better with the addition of a sophisticated Micros ordering system, that the Hotel has purposely engaged to ensure more efficient service at the Lobby Lounge.

Waterfront's patrons can definitely expect even more grandeur later in the year, with the addition of other facilities.  To complement the Hotel's main lobby, a group check-in counter will be constructed, dedicated solely to corporate and travel groups; a larger Duty Free shopping area will be provided; and an additional Casino Filipino gaming space of 2,350 square meters will be launched together with it, in a grand celebration this 27th.  This will not only enhance the current lobby, but will also increase operational efficiency and add more exciting features for the hotel's customers.

To recall, it was early last year when the country's largest first-class hotel operator Waterfront Philippines Inc. announced that it will be embarking on a multi-million renovation program geared towards further improving its flagship property in Cebu - the grand and stately Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The project is divided into three major phases: the renovation of the grand and lower lobbies of the hotel; the renovation of the function rooms; and eventually the renovation of the larger convention facilities of the hotel. Phase one will be completed in the current year, while phases two and three will begin in 2013. Each phase renovation is pegged at P100 million.  (FREEMAN)