ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES, May 16, 2013 - Megaworld, the country’s biggest property developer, continues to make waves for its first and biggest township outside of Metro Manila, the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park. After announcing the expansion of its P25-billion mixed-use development, the company reveals its partnership with Gettys, one of the world’s most awarded international design firms, for its luxury hotel project, the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.
Megaworld has commissioned Gettys to conceptualize and design the hotel’s facade, grand lobby and interiors, restaurant and guest rooms.
“Megaworld is bringing the first world-class, luxury hotel in Iloilo City with our very own brand, the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. Commissioning an international firm that designed some of the world’s five-star hotels and resorts is a testament of our commitment to provide a truly world-class development to the people of Iloilo and the entire region of Western Visayas,” says Jericho Go, first vice president, Megaworld.
For its design inspiration of the P500-million Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Gettys takes cue from the city’s rich agricultural roots throughout the concept.
“History gave us one of the region’s most important agricultural crops, sugarcane. This is incorporated throughout the space via color, texture and finishes. The result is a dynamic yet relaxing environment for all, and a go-to place that will be enjoyed by both the hotel guests and the locales,” says Ariane Steinbeck, managing director and principal, Gettys.
“The design inspirations are always built on a foundation of sound business sense, reflective of the success of Megaworld. The environment we design should bring to fruition the vision of our client, Megaworld, bringing high quality experiences to the customer and providing an environment that exudes quality and joy,” she adds.
For 25 years, Gettys has designed some of the world’s most renowned, five-star hospitality brands. Their famous works include the interiors of The Peninsula Hong Kong; Hyatt Regency in Cancun, Mexico; Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai; The Ritz-Carlton in Miami, Florida; Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago; Westin Golf & Spa Resort in Abu Dhabi; Shangri-La Hotel in Beihai, China; and Hard Rock Hotel in Macau, among others.
Gettys is also the interior designer of the grand lobby of One Central, Megaworld’s super high-end residential condominium in the Makati Central Business District. It has also partnered with Megaworld’s sister company, Travellers International Hotels Group, Inc., for the design of the casino, retail, food and beverage outlets of Resorts World Manila, as well as the villas of the luxurious Maxims Hotel. It is also commissioned to design the extension of Marriott Manila and its grand ballroom.
Richmonde Hotel Iloilo will comprise eight floors of the 12-storey Richmonde Tower. The first three floors will be allocated for office spaces, which will soon be occupied by some of the country’s biggest business process outsourcing (BPO) companies.
The luxury hotel will have a capacity of 151 guest rooms. It will house a restaurant and deli, function rooms, business center, fitness gym as well as a lap pool with its own pool bar. It will have its own access to the much-anticipated Iloilo Convention Center, which is expected to host one of the side meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2015.
“We are very excited to be a pioneer in Iloilo of the luxury hotel category. We will definitely change the landscape of the city’s hospitality and tourism industry with the coming of our hotel brand,” shares Carmen Fernando, managing director, Prestige Hotel & Resorts, Inc., the hotel management company of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and sister company of Megaworld./press release
