MANILA, Philippines - Ascott Limited recently announced that it is expanding its presence in the Philippines with the opening of two new serviced residences, Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila and the Citadines Salcedo Makati. Both residences are expected to open in 2014.
The Ascott BGC, which follows Ascott Ayala Center, will have 220 units while Citadines Salcedo is a 215-room establishment. The latter will be the first Citadines Apart’hotel in the Philippines.
Ascott country general manager for the Philippines Arthur Gindap said, “These new properties show that we are bullish about the Philippines. We can build 10 more. From our end, there is confidence in the Philippines. We have done so well here that even during crisis periods, we managed to rise above and remain stable.”
In a previous statement, Gindap said, “As the Philippine economy continues to grow, particularly in the business process outsourcing sector, we expect the number of business travelers and tourists to increase.”
The idea is to fill the demand of these travelers with Ascott’s two new properties. With such travelers already keeping an eye on Bonifacio Global City, the Ascott BGC will rise near the headquarters of multinational corporations, the financial business district, and the cultural, entertainment, and retail centers.
Gindap revealed that the Ascott Bonifacio Global City will have a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. “We will have recreational facilities such as a swimming pool and fitness center. There will also be serviced office suites, meeting rooms, and a ballroom,” he said.
Meanwhile, Citadines Salcedo will be located in Salcedo Village, right within the Makati Central Business District. It will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments “with contemporary and chic interiors with a Filipino theme.”
Gindap said they are excited about Citadines Salcedo and its “excellent location.” “It is walking distance from various financial and corporate offices. As an ‘apart’hotel,’ Citadines will offer apartments with an amount of hotel component. Generally, guests stay for short periods of time in this serviced residence. They enjoy the privacy we offer and the alternative of, say, cooking in the comfort of their own units. We mostly get single travelers in Citadines,” he said.
Ascott is a wholly owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited and operates three brands: Ascott, Citadines, and Somerset.