Sharing their sustainable journey to inspire everyone in their continuous initiatives by creating long-term strategic solutions for a better future, City of Dreams brandishes its efforts across the 6.2-hectare luxury integrated resort. 

Mindful that the success of the company’s sustainability programs is through collaboration — getting more people on board, forging partnerships with other businesses and stakeholders among others.

This is what City of Dreams Manila has been doing since they move forward towards fully integrated sustainability initiatives, by putting sustainability at the heart and center of their business.

Their vision for a more sustainable future echoes louder than ever with various stakeholders becoming cognizant of how sustainable luxury is being achieved by everyone in the team and resonates across the entire organization.

With the growing interest in these initiatives, the resort recently opened its doors to its corporate clients, immersing them on the eco-luxury practices that are seamlessly embedded in the property’s hospitality operations. 

In an afternoon of insightful exploration around the property, City of Dreams Manila hosted its corporate clients to a “green tour” to depict how it is becoming to be a carbon neutral and zero waste resort by 2030, in alignment with the ‘Above and Beyond’ sustainability strategy of its parent company Melco Resorts & Entertainment. The tour took the clients to four of the resort’s green facilities — e-bike charging station for colleagues; solar solutions; vermicomposting facility; and herb garden — allowing them to delve into a few of the sustainable practices that enhance the resort’s brand of hospitality service. 

The e-bike charging station encourages colleagues on the use of sustainable transportation. Complementing this are the 3,120 PV solar panels that can generate 1,600MWh annually, which also contribute to the property’s decarbonization efforts. The first among integrated resorts to utilize this renewable energy and cleaner energy resource, the solar solution reduces City of Dreams Manila’s reliance on fossil-fuel-based energy sources.

The guests also visited the vermicomposting facility and herb garden at the parking building’s rooftop where they got to experience re-potting of herbs and discover how vermicomposting reduces the property’s food waste. They saw how both facilities result in a circular and regenerative system. In 2022, 145 metric tons of food waste were composted through the onsite vermicomposting facility, providing a nutritious soil amendment for the gardens. Continually nurtured, the vermicompost system has produced over seven metric tons and 3,300 liters of vermicast and vermitea, respectively, over the year. These nutritious fertilizers then support the herb garden, which then provides about 276kg of fresh herbs for the resort’s kitchens.

The tour ended at Haliya, City of Dreams Manila’s modern Filipino restaurant, where a display highlighted the resort’s food and beverage sustainable initiatives, and an innovative Filipino merienda showcased the use of fresh herbs from its rooftop garden. 

“Sustainable Luxury resonates with everyone these days, and through this tour, we wish to share with you our commitment to sustainability. We thank you for this opportunity to show you how our resort seamlessly integrates green practices in our guests’ experiences,” says Director of Sales and Marketing Jennylyn Santillan who together with her team hosted the green tour, an initiative to support the ethos of the property enunciated by Property President Geoff Andres, that “sustainability and luxury can be woven together”.

For its sustainable initiatives, Forbes Travel Guide, the globally recognized rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, and spas, named City of Dreams Manila in 2023 as Finalist in the inaugural Responsible Hospitality Award, for its outstanding level of commitment to sustainable practices at the luxury level. City of Dreams’ three FTG-rated hotels are also recipients of the 2022-2024 ASEAN Green Hotel Award for upholding sustainable tourism through environment-friendly principles, resource consumption reduction, and local community involvement.

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Despite the challenging 2020, Asia’s largest Forbes five-star ultra-luxury integrated resort managed to prove its resiliency by living up with its patented service manifested in the unique Japanese hospitality and Filipino warmth called magokoro and omotenashi.

Keeping their winning streak from last year’s accolade from the prestigious award-giving body Forbes Travel Guide, Okada Manila welcomed this auspicious beginning and celebrated another milestone that makes everyone proud and also gives honor to both the Philippines and Japan.

The award undeniably validated how Okada Manila consistently offers unparalleled service and innovative, state-of-the-art features, making it a truly extraordinary and world-class resort. 

Just a month ago, digital health leader Sharecare, together with Forbes Travel Guide, awarded the VERIFIED® certification badge to Okada Manila for being equipped with industry-leading and comprehensive safety protocols, making it one of the world’s best and safest integrated resorts.

“While much of the world has changed due to the pandemic, we are proud to say that we have remained steadfast in providing exceptional guest experiences in a very safe environment,” shared Okada Manila Senior Vice President for Hotel Operations Ivaylo Ivanov.

Culture of Synergy

Given the uniqueness of Okada Manila, the perfect synergy of Japanese hospitality and Filipino warmth, provided the unprecedented standard for guest experience and safety to thrive in the new normal.  

Manifested in the company’s values and its team members’ hard work, passion, and dedication, Okada Manila takes pride in promoting the culture of synergy.

“Our team is composed of 99% Filipino, and with other nationalities perfectly blending with everyone, we are able to accomplish these achievements even in trying times,” Ivanov added.

“These 2021 award winners are a testament to the resiliency of the hospitality industry,” said Filip Boyen, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “During an unprecedented time, these top properties adapted to numerous adversities all while maintaining high service levels and ensuring the health security of their guests and staff.”  He added, “We hope that these excellent properties will inspire travelers for when they are ready to venture out on their next trip.” 

Ensuring the health and safety of guests and team members, Okada Manila is strictly implementing health protocols in line with IATF and DOT guidelines. 

To view the year’s full Star Ratings and see a detailed description of Forbes Travel Guide’s evaluation criteria, visit ForbesTravelGuide.com. To learn more about Okada Manila, visit www.okadamanila.com and follow @okadamanila on Instagram.

Follow @okadamanila on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to know more about the latest goings-on around the resort.

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

As early as June 2020, Okada Manila has painstakingly prepared to operate under the new normal. Needless to say, they even revealed their proactive measures for the health and safety of their guests and team members under the 3T campaign — “True Safe. True Clean. True Heart.”

These efforts did not go unnoticed, as Okada Manila recently announced its official status as a Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED® destination. Together with Forbes Travel Guide, digital health leader Sharecare awarded the VERIFIED® certification badge to the Forbes five-star integrated resort.

This accreditation further verifies that Okada Manila is equipped with proper and comprehensive safety protocols that prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Guests can book and stay in the resort with complete confidence, allowing them to enjoy five-star experiences in the safest possible manner.

The assessment covered the following sections: health and hygiene protocols, physical distancing, administration, and proper communication with guests and employees.

Okada Manila joins an impressive list of 134 VERIFIED® hotels and resorts worldwide. It is one of only three properties in the Philippines to secure this certification.

Okada Manila launched its “True Clean. True Safe. True Heart.” (3T) campaign in June, ensuring guests of safe and satisfying stays. Since then, the resort has consistently improved.

its approach to protect not just its guests but also its team members from potential exposure to COVID-19.

In September, Okada Manila introduced its roster of state-of-the-art disinfection robots to keep the resort safe and free from harmful elements.

Follow @okadamanila on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to know more about the latest goings-on around the resort.

The Philippines’ and Asia’s largest luxury integrated resort, Okada Manila, recently awarded the prestigious five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide this year 2020.

No less than Okada Manila President and Co-Vice Chairman Takashi Oya who graced the announcement to the media and selected guests the prestigious five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide for the year 2020, as the “Manila’s grand icon” received the highest accolade in the hospitality industry and joined other elite circles of hotels in the world.

Find out more what is the secret of Okada Manila for achieving this prestigious award in a short span of time compared with other awardees as shared by Ivaylo S. Ivanov, Senior Vice President of hotel operations at Okada Manila.

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