The Heritage Hotel Manila Engages New Premiere Transportation Service

THE HERITAGE HOTEL MANILA ENGAGES NEW PREMIERE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE for Hotel guests’ transport requirements. Victal Transportation Services provides a full range of brand new deluxe ground transportation services from 50-seater carriers to personalized luxurious limousine, intercity tours or for out-of-town trips.

Shown on photo:Victal’s President, Ms. Kathryn Lapid (2nd from left) as she presents the symbolic key to a fleet of brand new Toyota cars to Heritage Hotel’s General Manager, Mr. Eddie Yeo (2nd from right). Also witnessing the contract signing were Mr. Victor Lapid, Victal – Vice President; Mr. Stanley Kon, Heritage Hotel - Resident Manager; and Ms. Marilyn Sy, Heritage Hotel – Director of Finance.

The Heritage Hotel Manila Upgrades to Micros Opera Property Management System for Enhanced Operations

As part of the metamorphosis of The Heritage Hotel Manila (Heritage Hotel) into a modern business hotel with enhanced operations, the Hotel recently partnered with MICROS-Fidelio to implement the latest version of OPERA Property Management System (PMS) throughout all of the hotel’s 450 rooms and suites.

Heritage Hotel’s project team spearheaded by Mr. Eddie Yeo, General Manager; Mr. Stanley Kon, Resident Manager; Ms. Marilyn Sy, Director of Finance and Mr. Marvin Rancap, MIS Mananger worked closely with MICROS-Fidelio team headed by Mr. Robert Gabitan, Country Manager and Alvin Ballesteros, Operations Manager to execute the upgrade of the Hotel’s system to the cutting-edge edition of OPERA PMS. This PMS will boost the administration of property, inventory & distribution, conference & events, accounts receivable, point of sale and sales & catering.

"The key factor in our decision to upgrade our system to the newest version of OPERA PMS is anchored on its ability to provide us with a totally integrated solution for fast, seamless and excellent service to hotel guests in a stable, reliable and flexible Oracle-based platform,” stated Mr. Eddie Yeo, General Manager, Heritage Hotel.

“Tried and tested in the European and Northern American hospitality industry, OPERA’s updated edition has only been recently introduced in the Asian market. We are delighted to be one of the 1st in the Philippines to roll out the system,” Mr. Yeo further noted.

Heritage Hotel guests will directly benefit from the installation of this new system and can look forward to an easier, more convenient and surprisingly detailed anticipation of their preferences at every encounter from handling reservations, checking in and out, special and detailed guest needs as well as accurate and timely statement of account notice.

On the operations front, OPERA's functionality is robust and provides Heritage Hotel management with unparalleled tools for customer relationship management, revenue management, forecasting and preparation of reports.

The OPERA Property Management System provides Heritage Hotel Staff with the necessary tools for conducting day-to-day transactions with ease - from handling reservations, checking guests in and out, assigning rooms and managing room inventory to handling accounting and billing.

Through the new management system, Heritage Hotel also has the added advantage of streamlining management, lowering costs, and allowing easier access to information with a higher level of reliability. OPERA Customer Information System gathers and manages guest, travel agent, source, group, and company profile data in a central database.

Heritage Hotel will also benefit from installing OPERA Reservation System which offers central reservations agents and global sales staff the tools to maximize bookings and increase revenue in any size chain or multi-property environment. Additionally, OPERA Sales & Catering module will assist Heritage Hotel in streamlining its sales process, multi-choice menus, diary activities and quick booking for catering events.

The Heritage Hotel upgraded its property management system, fresh from the heels of a US$ 4.5 million refurbishment of its 450 rooms and suites that breathed life to a contemporary ambiance and bright look and feel of the rooms in light earthen hues.

Aside from the systems enhancement to OPERA’S latest edition, the Hotel is set to upgrade its PABX system. Another phase of refurbishment, this time around focusing on the public areas of the Heritage Hotel mainly for its Front Desk, Lobby area and swimming pool will take shape subsequently. All these projects are integrated and designed to heighten and enrich guests' experience at the Hotel.

The Heritage Hotel Manila is managed by Millennium Hotels and Resorts with over 100 hotels and resorts worldwide. For inquiries and reservations, please call 854.8888 or e-mail reservationsmanager@heritagehotelmanila.com

Look Who's Cooking at The Heritage Hotel Manila

Armed with pots, pans, secret ingredients, a picture perfect smile and wits in the kitchen, The Heritage Hotel Manila's Executive Chef Sunny Goh recently helped Ms. Tin-tin Bersola-Babao, top TV personality whip up enticing gastronomic marvels during the taping of the latter's birthday episode of “Look Who’s Cooking” TV Show at the Hotel's Riviera Cafe.

On the show, Chef Sunny teamed up with Boy Abunda, Philippine entertainment scene’s ace anchor to demonstrate to Tin-tin Bersola-Babao and the audience on how to impress loved ones with a gourmet-style baked macaroni. The dish is one of the favourite comfort foods of Boy Abunda which he loves to bake for those close to his heart.

The Heritage Hotel’s Sous Chef Roger Armas also tag teamed with Ms. Bersola-Babao’s husband, renowned hard-hitting broadcaster to prepare Pasta Vongole. The pasta creation is one of Mr. Julius Babao’s signature recipes which he preps up at home whenever he has time to relax and unwind with his family.

Ms. Bersola-Babao never fails to enrapture viewers with her signature question to every guest. She poses the quintessential query, “If you were a main course, what kind of dish would you be?” With the Riviera Café as a backdrop, find out how loving hubby/broadcast journalist infuses romance with his witty retort and Mr. Abunda adds spice, and intrigue to his banter.

Riviera Cafe serves a delectable international lunch/dinner buffet, seven days a week. Savor a bountiful feast of rich textures, fine flavors and elegant Eastern and Western cuisine in a beguiling buffet spread of exciting Malay, Singaporean, Filipino, Japanese, French, Italian and European culinary delights. Riviera Café also highlights the Asian Corner teeming with your favorite lechon de leche and roast duck to tickle your cravings for the contrasting texture of the crunchy skin and luscious meat. To sample Riviera Café’s sensational buffet spread, call The Heritage Hotel Manila at 854-8888 or e-mail foodbev@heritagehotelmanila.com. The Heritage Hotel Manila is managed by the Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

Ms. Tin-tin Bersola-Babao's birthday episodes of "Look Who's Cooking" TV Show will be aired on Studio 23, Oct. 18 (Saturday), 10 am with Boy Abunda as guest star together with Heritage Hotel's Executive Chef Sunny Goh. The next Saturday ( Oct. 25) same time, Ms. Christine Bersola-Babao's dear husband and one of the country's most credible news and public affairs personality Mr. Julius Babao will grace the show.

RED CROSS Commended The Heritage Hotel Manila

Red Cross recently lauded The Heritage Hotel Manila’s blood donation program at an awarding ceremony held at the Hotel’s grand ballroom. The Red Cross recently awarded a certificate of appreciation to The Heritage Hotel Manila for organizing a blood letting activity among employees to donate a total of 15,300 cc of blood to the Philippine Red Cross blood bank.

Shown on photo are: Red Cross volunteers Ms. Mel Tiangco, GMA 7 News Anchor (2nd from right); Ms. Lucy Torres- Gomez (2nd from left) and Ms. Rosa Rosal (extreme left) together with Heritage Hotel representatives Ms. Grazie Magsalin, Director of Human Resources (extreme right) and Ms. Romina Gervacio, Marketing Communications Manager (extreme left).

MALAYSIA… A TAPESTRY OF ASIAN TASTES AND TRADITIONS

Almost to an energetic buzz of a hollywood red carpet premier, luminaries of the diplomatic, corporate and media sphere flocked to The Heritage Hotel’s Riviera Café for the launch of the Malaysian food and cultural promo dubbed as “Malaysia…A Tapestry of Asian Tastes and Traditions” which will be open to all lunch/dinner buffet diners until the 31st of August 2008.

The Heritage Hotel Manila (THHM) in partnership with Tourism Malaysia, Malaysian Embassy, Cebu Pacific Airlines and The Royale Bintang Hotel Kuala Lumpur formally unveiled the Malaysian Food Promo. Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi and Mr. Eddie Yeo, THHM General Manager led the ribbon-cutting ceremony

The Malaysian Food Promo’s key partners namely Mr. Rahim Haron, Assistant Director, Tourism Malaysia; Candice Iyog, VP for Marketing, Cebu Pacific Airlines; Charlie Manio, Director for Advertising and Promotions, Cebu Pacific Airlines; Stephanie Chan, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Royale Bintang Hotel and Joey Tan, The Royal Bintang Hotel showed their support during the festivities.

The colorful affair was also made more memorable by the Hotel’s Sales and Marketing team, spearheaded by Gigi Gaw, Director of Sales and Marketing, Angel Asi, Sales Manager and Romina Gervacio, Marketing Communications Manager.

With all the attention to detail, it’s no wonder that for the third year in a row and in conjunction with Malaysia’s upcoming 51st National Day, the Malaysian promo has gained a cult-like following among the discerning A-list crowd.

Spotted enjoying the authentic Malaysian cuisine were Indonesian Ambassador Prof. Irzan Tandjung, Cambodian Ambassador In May, Lao Ambassador Leuane Somboukan, Pakistan’s Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan, Palau Ambassador Ramon Rechebei.

A fresh pair of guest chefs from The Royale Bintang Hotel Kuala Lumpur - Chefs Zainal Abidin bin Said and Azmi bin Mhd T’eh were the unbeatable tandem behind the authentic spread of Malaysian gastronomic marvels.

Available only until the end of the month, connoisseurs can hop to the Riviera Café and experience the diverse flavors and aromatic scents of Malaysian cuisine especially whipped up by Chef Zainal who has worked with the famous Chef Wan of the Asian Food Channel and Chef Azmi who has twice baked a birthday cake for the Malaysian King.

Dine and get a chance to win fabulous prizes. A 3 days, 2 nights Stay with Breakfast for 2 at a 5-Star Kota Kinabalu Hotel courtesy of Wintrex Travel Corp. and one (1) Cebu Pacific round trip ticket Manila-Kota Kinabalu; a 3 days 2 nights stay with breakfast for 2 at The Royale Bintang Hotel Kuala Lumpur and a 3 days 2 nights stay with breakfast for 2 at Grand Millennium Hotel Kuala Lumpur and other great prizes in the raffle draw.

Aside from the much coveted raffle prizes, the search to find the most delicious Malaysian cuisine in town begins and ends at the Riviera Café. Don’t miss Guest Malaysian Chefs Zainal’s and Azmi’s must-try mouth-watering top five popular cuisine: Rendong Tok (Beef simmered in coconut milk with spices), Ikan Tenggiri Masak Lemak Dengan Mangga Muda ( Fish cooked in coconut milk with young mango strips), Ayam Perchik (Marinated pieces of chicken thigh fillet, barbequed and served with Perchik sauce made from lemongrass, coconut milk, fresh chili), Sambal Udang Galah (Prawn Sambal) and Kari Sotong Kacang Panjang ( Squid in curry sauce with string beans)

Craving for Malaysian gastronomic classics? Then try the Roti Jala (Malay style crepe with a curry sauce), Nasi Lemak (Coconut-flavored rice with pandan leaves), Satay (marinated meat-on-a-stick with a spicy peanut butter sauce) and Roti Canai (Malay Pastry Pancake)

On top of these Malaysian culinary wonders, guests will also be mesmerized with the stunning visual artistry of Malaysian Batik. Batik Master Amir bin Arshad has already traveled from Syria to Sri Lanka and now comes back to Manila for the second time to showcase and demonstrate the creation of hand-painted Batik. Art lovers can delight in his finely crafted Batik until the end of the month at the Lobby.

Explore Malaysia’s must-try culinary delights at The Heritage Hotel Manila’s Riviera Café. For inquiries and reservations, please call 854-8888 or e-mail foodbev@heritagehotelmanila.com. The Heritage Hotel Manila is managed by the Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

LOVE YOUR BODY FOR THE LOVE OF THE STREET CHILDREN

As a part of The Heritage Hotel Manila’s Corporate Social Responsibility program, the Hotel has recently awarded the proceeds of its companywide fund-raising campaign to Shepherd of the Hills foundation. The beneficiary is a non-government organization helping street children and orphans have more meaningful lives through music therapy and provisions for basic care and education.

Employee involvement was a key ingredient in pooling the donation via ticket sales supporting the candidates of the health and wellness program dubbed as “Love Your Body: The Heritage Hotel’s Fitness Challenge 2008.”

In the spirit of fun and camaraderie, representatives of various departments embarked on a lose weight program wherein selected managers and staff were encouraged to lead a more active lifestyle. Colleagues cheered and championed their candidates by means of ticket sales.

The Shepherd of the Hills Foundation is endorsed by Tin-tin Bersola, television personality and its Executive Directors are Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Ruth Mejica. The foundation will use the donation to buy books and school materials for the street children and abandoned children they are taking care of in home shelters situated in Quezon City, Pampanga and Baguio.

GARY LEWIS AND THE PLAYBOYS CONCERT… A SMASHING HIT at The Heritage Hotel Manila

If you know the band that run downed the iconic Beatles to clinch the no.1 records chart in their heydays, then you must instantly recognize Gary Lewis and the Playboys band who recently rock and rolled and brought the house down during its concert at the Grand Ballroom of The Heritage Hotel Manila.

The quintessential 1960s band reunited once more to relive the decade of hairspray, vintage cars, liberal mindedness and idyllic panache with the baby boomers and new generation of music lovers in Manila.


After partaking of the especially prepared 4-course dinner by Executive Chef Sunny Goh, guests including Imelda Marcos, PAGCOR Casino’s JB Bangsil, Issam El Debs, Consul General, Consulate of the Syrian Arab Republic together with Mr. Eddie Yeo, THHM General Manager and spouse Mrs. Mary Yeo were caught dancing and even singing along to Gary Lewis performance.

Renditions of original No.1 Hits on the Billboard 100 - "This Diamond Ring," "Count Me In," "Save Your Heart For Me," "Everybody Loves A Clown," "She’s Just My Style," "Sure Gonna Miss Her," and "Green Grass" set the time machine to the 1960s, simply made the fans at the ballroom kick their dancing heels and sway to the groove.

The elegant throng of elite were exuberant at the 1960s string of hits and went agog too on the cover version of “Love Potion No. 9,” ”Wooly Bully,” “My Little Runaway,” “Sealed with a Kiss,” “Mustang Sally,” and “Barefooting.”

The jam packed ballroom reverberated with the cajoling of fans for an encore and Gary Lewis and the Playboys thrilled the audience to the final sweet melody of “Your Sixteen and Your Mine.”

Being the son of the famous comedian and actor, Gary Lewis is no stranger to show business. He recorded a breakthrough song "This Diamond Ring” in 1965. Backed by heavy airplay in New York City, his band made a guest appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that catapulted Gary Lewis and the Playboys to instant stardom. "This Diamond Ring" shot up to No. 1, with the record company finding it hard to keep up with the growing demands for more copies.

In 1965, Mr. Lewis was named by Cash Box magazine as its "Male Vocalist of The Year," winning over other formidable nominees like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. He also became the first and only artist during the 1960s to have his first seven singles reach Billboard magazine’s Top 10 on the Hot 100 list.