Pan Pacific Hotel Opens

<B> Pan Pacific Hotel Opens</B>

By Robert Selwitz

Business travelers are the target of the recently opened, 240-room Pan Pacific Hotel Manila, but when it comes to food service, the hotel defers to others.

"We acknowledge that hotels do not know how to run restaurants," said Pan Pacific's general manager Andrew McBurnie, "so we placed the hotel atop a five-story podium block of 30 fine dining establishments."

Though McBurnie's property has no in-house food and beverage service, room and banquet services come directly from a variety of downstairs eateries.

Aside from the hotel's copious food choices, the Pan Pacific is staffed with approximately 170 butlers, who will handle all of the customer services, including in-room checkin and checkout, and foreign exchange.

Each room in the hotel features a sizable business desk, computer, fax machine, printer and scanner.

Also, McBurnie says, "Each guest gets a gratis pager and mobile phone for use during his or her stay."

Other amenities include two-line IDD telephones with hands-free facility and bathroom extension; personal safe and hairdryer in each room; cable television with in-house movies; and complimentary laundry service plus a free suit-pressing upon arrival.

Guests also receive complimentary buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and pre-dinner cocktails at the hotel's Pacific Lounge. A health and fitness center, and a pool are also onsite.

The Pan Pacific is located in the Manila Bay district, near the United States and Japanese embassies.

Also located in close proximity to the Pan Pacific are the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Meetings, the World Trade Center and the Philippines International Convention Center.

Andrew McBurnie said that the Pan Pacific Hotel's $150 daily rate is typical for five-star Manila properties.