By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
Another great story that needs to be told from Okada Manila.
After bagging its first Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award last 2020, there is no stopping Okada Manila, the country’s iconic integrated resort as it continues its winning streak from the most coveted and prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award.
Last year, Okada Manila bagged its second Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award and with this third award, the most luxurious hotel in the country is operating takes pride in operating with a five-star rating and truly a reflection of its brand’s commitment to provide unparalleled service and extraordinary experience to their guests which emanates from its core values of omotenashi and magokoro.
The Forbes Travel Guide is the only globally recognized rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas which makes this award truly prestigious and most coveted in the industry.
Joining the thanksgiving celebration of Okada Manila are media friends who were the first to learn about the 3rd Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award held at Sinag, the property’s newest Filipino restaurant. Guests enjoyed the sumptuous food, breathtaking sunset on the Manila Bay and were awed by the fabulous interior of Sinag.
Okada Manila’s top guns graced the thanksgiving dinner and expressed their respective inspiring message of pride and gratitude to the guests and patrons.
No less than Okada Manila’s President & COO, Byron Yip welcomed the guests who attended the thanksgiving dinner. He also expressed gratitude to all the hardworking team members of Okada Manila, valued guests, and steadfast support from media friends.
He also noted that the past five years were not an easy journey for them, given the fact that the pandemic hit the hospitality industry. Yip underscored that resilience during the pandemic, teamwork, commitment to make things better, and an unshakable need to look to the future with a healthy measure of optimism are the secret ingredients to Okada Manila’s success.
Yip also commended the hosting of the Philippines in the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Global Summit. He pointed out that this is a harbinger of where the industry is headed.
“Since borders are open again, more people from around the globe can visit this fantastic country and experience its best, including Okada Manila’s unique brand of five-star hospitality and service,” he said.
Meanwhile, Andreas Balla Vice President for F&B Administration reiterated Okada Manila’s commitment to its valued guests and patrons to provide the best gustatory variety to choose from and satisfy one’s epecurean desires through the various carefully curated signature restaurants under the tutelage of the illustrious chefs who can deliver what the guests want for all special occasions.
“When you visit us again you can taste the world one plate at a time. Just go to any of our restaurants. Chef Imagawa will bring you to Shanghai to enjoy fusion cuisine at Yu Lei. Chef Nagaoka will give you the best sushi experience in Ginza Nagaoka. There’s Goryeo for those who want premium Korean barbeque, Red Spice for dimsum, Enbu for robatayaki, La Piazza for Italian and Lobby Lounge for our scrumptious cakes, pastries and truffles. If you want to taste a little bit of all these restaurants, we invite you over to Medley,” he said.
He also explained the need to explore the wealth and breadth of the Filipino Cuisine, hence Sinag came into being.
“Even globally, Filipino food is getting more well-known and it’s only apt that we celebrate homegrown cuisine in the Philippines. Filipino cuisine is as diverse as its 7,101 islands, so surely, there’s a lot to discover about it and love,” he said.
“Food is a reflection of a place’s tradition and heritage. It is an integral part of culture, so it makes sense to have a restaurant that could showcase the best of what the Philippines has to offer. Here in our new restaurant, we will do just that,” went on.
Lastly, Balla introduced to the guests the award-winning chef Genaro del Prado, who will be at the helm of Sinag, the New Filipino Restaurant at the Coral Wing. Sinag will showcase the Filipino food from the different regions of the Philippines and have a taste of the rich flavors of the Philippines through their delicious buffet.
For his part, Okada Manila’s Senior Vice President for Hotel Operations Ivaylo S. Ivanov expressed elation at this another achievement that Okada Manila received the Forbes 5-Star rating for the three consecutive years.
Ivanov credited the entire team members of Okada Manila for getting the nod from the Oscars of the travel industry noting that the process is very stringent.
“Forbes Travel Guide is the global authority on luxury hospitality. For over 60 years they have offered credible and objective information to guest on where to stay and dine. Being the largest Integrated Resort in the Philippines with more than 900 rooms, getting the nod from the Oscars of the travel industry is not easy,” he said.
“Forbes sends over mystery guests and without our knowledge, they test the rooms, eat in the restaurants, try out the spas, swim in the pools, and test each and every facility offered. They critique the hotel on 900 different categories, 75% of which focus on customer satisfaction. The other 25% focuses on how efficiently the hotel is run. The 5-Star rating means they loved our rooms, relaxed at our spas, and enjoyed each and every amenity Okada Manila offers to guests. We passed the test with flying colors,” he explained.
All throughout the pandemic, we have remained committed to quality, 5-star hospitality, and service. We promised our guests safe and secure visits while letting them experience the best the property has to offer.
We did not pass this test all on our own. We thank our guests, content creators, and the media for always being supportive and appreciative of our efforts. You inspire us to do better. We take every comment, good or bad, to heart, and use it to improve our service.
Most of all, we thank our dear team members. Our guys are truly amazing. Thank you for your hard work and for living out the Okada Manila values! You make it possible for our guests and visitors to make great stories here in the property.
This award could not have come at a better time. The WTTC Global Summit that happened last week here in Manila signals that travel is on its way to reclaiming its glory and Okada Manila is ready to welcome people. More travelers, local and international alike, can now come experience Okada Manila and be at the heart of life’s great stories.
