Things get better at Dusit Thani

MANILA, Philippines - Whether one calls it a makeover, an overhaul or a renovation, any endeavor that is synonymous with improvement matters a lot in any given situation. In the hotel industry, the establishments have to keep up with their guests’ fast-changing tastes and needs. Sometimes, guests want to experience something new in a place as familiar as their favored hotels, plain and simple. Offer something new and exciting but retain the essentials that they have come to love and keep returning to.

That, more or less, sums up the recent renovations at Dusit Thani Manila. Those who have been to Dusit Thani will be pleasantly surprised by the spanking new look as soon as they enter the hotel. In true Dusit Thani fashion, the welcome change takes place from within.

“Usually, hotels start with the facade and the public areas. We decided that the facade has nothing to do with the comfort of the guests. It has the least impact. Our renovations began with the 538 guestrooms and suites and equipped them with state-of-the-art amenities such as high-speed Internet access, LCD TV, pillow menu, bath menu, the works,” shares Dusit Thani Manila general manager Prateek Kumar.

They did not stop with the guestrooms, however. The upgrades extended to the restaurant outlets as well. Kumar is proud of the work done in their Japanese restaurant Umu, the former Ben Kay.

“We did a marketplace setting in Umu, where you walk through these Japanese pavilions that have views of the Japanese garden and the koi fish pond,” he relates. Umu means “born of nature” and refers to the use of materials with a lot of texture, such as wood, rough granite stone, onyx and the unique three-dimensional feature wall that is evident in the design and interiors of the restaurant.

Located at the ground floor of the hotel, Umu covers an area of 1,000 square meters with a total seating capacity of 214 people. Kumar tells us that Umu boasts of sushi and robata counters, four teppanyaki tables, three private pavilions, three tatami rooms, and the main dining area.

Umu was a finalist in the Hotel World Global Hospitality and Design Awards held in Las Vegas. Award-winning Bangkok-based firm DWP (Design Worldwide Partnership) did the design.

Dusit Thani also redid Tosca, the Italian restaurant manned by Chef Alessio Loddo of Sardinia, Italy. “We are proud of our wine list which has been awarded twice by the wine list bible Wine Spectator,” Kumar declares.

While others may harp about extravagant menus, Kumar says Dusit Thani’s restaurants emphasize the quality of their produce. He says, “For us, it is the freshness of the food that creates that quality. The rest take care of themselves, and we do that very well.”

Of course, the rage nowadays happens to be Dusit Thani’s unique Sunday Family Crossover Brunch. Instead of just digging in into one buffet, Dusit Thani’s Sunday buffet lets guests cross over to four restaurants namely Basix, Benjarong (the Thai restaurant), Tosca, and Umu. If one happens to drop by on a Sunday, do not be surprised to see diners carrying plates of food from one outlet to another.

The buffet, pegged at P1450 net per head, features authentic dishes, live cooking stations, desserts, free-flowing sparkling wine and other signature beverages from Thailand, Japan and Italy. The Sunday Brunch also has fun and games for kids.

Another key feature is Dusit’s Devarana Spa, which Kumar proclaims as “probably the most luxurious spa anywhere in Manila.” Devarana, which means “garden in heaven,” offers an array of body treatments, massages, blended oils, and heaven scents in a most relaxing setting. Dusit Thani also upgraded its fitness center called DFit, now equipped with the latest high-end machines and facilities.

In addition, Dusit Thani created the Dusit Club Room and Dusit Grand Room for the business travelers. The Grand Ballroom, nine boardrooms, and meeting rooms have also been fully renovated for corporate clients.

“People walk in here and are positively surprised by our redesigned lobby. It is now more spacious and more elegant. We even have gold-leaf pillars to enhance its appeal. Guests are just as pleased to see a Thai kim player making music by the lobby and at Benjarong during lunch and dinner, as well as our royal Thai guards,” he adds.

More than anything else, Kumar says Dusit Thani has successfully combined two of the most hospitable cultures in the world — Thai and Filipino. Nowhere is this point better exhibited than in their tagline “Creating heaven on earth.”

“It means to create an experience that makes you feel at home and want to come back,” he explains. “Our service philosophy is, as long as you treat your guests the same way you treat those who come to your own home, you can do whatever is required to exceed that expectation. That’s the highest honor you could give somebody: to invite them to your own home.”

“It’s a simple philosophy. Gifts of Heaven are people like you and me, and the natural surroundings. If you create that and add little touches that evoke luxury and hospitality, that’s what it’s all about. We are also going to introduce and promote Thai awareness and festivals here. We’re excited about this new chapter,” he adds.

On top of all these, Kumar promises that Dusit Thani’s guests can look forward to a higher, consistent level of service all throughout. After all, Dusit Thani is taking its recent Best City Hotel in Manila Award from the TTG Annual Travel Awards very seriously.

“Creating value for our guests is what we continuously strive for. Everybody is looking for that, and we have it,” he affirms. Now that’s music to our ears.

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Dusit Thani Manila is located at Ayala Center, 1223 Makati City. For more information, call 867-3333, e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.dusit.com.