By JOSE PAOLO S.DELA CRUZ
City life may have slowed down due to the pandemic, but for these hotel and real estate giants, the central business district is poised for a “grand” comeback.
In a recent media briefing, Federal Land Inc. president and chief operations officer Thomas Mirasol points out that even in the new normal, living in the CBD will always carry its fair share of perks. And while some urbanites have chosen to retreat to the suburbs to work from home, it may only be a matter of time before they return to the urban jungle.
“What is the future of the central business district? In my opinion, the central business district will come back. It may not look exactly the way it used to. I’m pretty sure that there will be elements of hybrid work. But when it comes to things like building teams and creating a culture, that’s not something you can do virtually.”
Proximity, he says, is yet another benefit of living in the heart of the city. Speaking from experience, Mirasol shares: “In the early days of the lockdowns I always remained in the CBD where I had quick access to banks, the office and medical services, among others. There are certain levels of services you can only find in the CBD – a hotel just being one of them.”
That being said, Federal Land continues its push towards creating a grand lifestyle in the city through its joint project with Grand Hyatt Manila: the low-density Grand Hyatt Manila Residences South Tower, which offers 188 living spaces. Here, families can own hotel-like homes and enjoy the renowned hospitality, service and amenities attributed to the iconic brand.
Designed according to global standards, this New York-inspired community in North Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig is surrounded by some of the country’s best schools, hospitals, corporate headquarters, malls, and restaurants. Aside from being a stone’s throw away from a five-star hotel, Grand Hyatt Manila Residences South Tower will also be neighbors with the first Mitsukoshi Mall in the Philippines, once the latter is completed.
Living Grand
Residents can also enjoy the culinary delights of the adjacent Grand Hyatt Manila, namely The Grand Kitchen, The Cellar, The Lounge, No. 8 China House, The Peak, Florentine, and the Pool House. They may also avail themselves of the hotel’s a la carte services, in-residence dining, rental of a private chef, errand runner, housekeeping, general cleaning, concierge, floral arrangements, laundry, dry cleaning, car wash cleaning, transportation services, minor auto repair and maintenance.
And they are in good hands, too. Grand Hyatt Manila, after all, has adopted a number of advanced safety practices as an accredited Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR Facility. The ISO 22000:2018 certified-hotel will also continue to implement stringent guidelines in disinfection and infectious disease prevention protocols set forth by GBAC; adhere to strict food safety management standards; and further maximize its vast open areas and al fresco dining areas so that customers may dine comfortably, while observing mandatory social distancing measures.
“As a company, we believe that ‘living grand’ is not just a product but an experience. It’s a feeling. It’s about how you are being treated; how friendly or sustainable the environment is. Living grand is about giving the best to our stakeholders, and we are ready to do just that,” says Grand Hyatt Manila general manager Gottfried Bogensperger.
In a statement, Federal Land chairman Alfred Ty also adds: “Residents can always be assured of their safety, convenience, and comfort. We designed their homes to be a luxurious haven that would suit their needs and wants perfectly. We want them to feel fully satisfied with their surroundings by having a spacious unit, stylish furnishings, and hotel-like services catered by our friendly and professional staff.”
