Cebu's best at the Parklane

It is easy to spot the Cebu Parklane International Hotel at night. Just look for the blue hotel that glows majestically in Cebu City. For city folk, the Cebu Parklane has become a landmark in the area. Of course, its exteriors are just a foretaste of good things to come for the guests.

Ask Cebu Parklane general manager Cenelyn Manguilimotan and she will tell you that true Cebuano hospitality begins at the hotel.

“Here in Cebu, we always bring out the best for our guests. Even strangers who come to our houses on special occasions are treated well beyond their expectations. In a way, you can say that we celebrate life as best as we can,” Manguilimotan says. “There is no better place to experience that than at the Cebu Parklane.”

The hotel offers an array of creature comforts that are bound to delight the weariest traveler. We are talking about the hotel’s 230 guest rooms and suites, which range from the regular rooms to the Parklane Plus rooms.

“We will have 240 rooms by January. But right now, it is all about providing the utmost comfort for our guests. The Parklane Plus rooms are so named because they have added amenities such as free massages, free-flowing coffee, and even free laundry press. Those staying in the Plus floors will have access to the executive lounge,” she explains.

Manguilimotan tells us that the Cebu Parklane is designed to meet the needs and wants of the demanding businessmen, the leisure travelers, and discriminating families.

“We are more than just a place to stay in. That is why the hotel has enough outlets and features for them,” she adds.

Popular among the hotel’s restaurants is Manuel’s. Drop in and be amazed at the sheer excitement that their buffet brings. It practically represents the best of the world’s finest cuisines. One can hop from Chinese to American buffet table in a split second. It even boasts of local cuisine, with the Cebu lechon attracting so much attention at peaktime.

The story is the same during breakfast. Manguilimotan volunteers that even casual walk-in diners such as joggers make it a point to enjoy their morning meals at the hotel. Indeed, continents become connected in this delicious spread. What more can one ask for?

Apparently, for the Cebu Parklane, guests can ask for more what with the presence of Basil’s Poolside Bar, Bean Date, and Muze Wine & Cigar Lounge.

Basil’s specializes in al fresco seafood and steak dining while presenting guests with an impressive view of Cebu City’s skyline. Bean Date has become a favorite hangout of coffee lovers while Muze has established itself as an authority on specialty cocktails and the finest wines and beverages.

“What will probably surprise you is that we are the first to offer free Wi-Fi for checked-in guests as well as for diners. You do not have to sleep here to enjoy it. You can stay in the lobby, enjoy our lavish merienda spread or simply have coffee, and get connected to the Internet,” she says. “That just goes to show how we put the focus on the needs of our guests.”

Those on business trips can count on the Cebu Parklane for their requirements. The hotel has a business center, function rooms, and boardrooms for every type of meeting, seminar or conference. Banquet and meeting facilities abound, from the simple boardroom to the grand Victoria Hall.

The Cebu Parklane is located near the newly refurbished Ayala Center Mall. It is a cab ride away from the city’s attractions, from historical sites to shopping streets.

This Christmas, the hotel will be holding its annual brunch. For its New Year’s countdown, soul singer Luke Mejares will be performing alongside Cebu’s best bands.

“We are definitely putting forward what Cebu has to offer,” the general manager smiles. “How would I describe the Cebu Parklane? The best hotel in Cebu, of course!”

For those who continue to call the Cebu Parklane home away from home, they just might very well agree.

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The Cebu Parklane International Hotel is located at the corner of Archbishop Reyes Avenue and Escario street, Cebu City. For more information, call (032) 411-7000 in Cebu or 812-9984 in Makati City. Visit its website at www.parklane-hotel.com.ph.