Property giant Megaworld, the country's largest hotel developer with over 7,000 hotel rooms in its portfolio, has formally opened the Philippines' biggest hotel development to date: the 1,530-room Grand Westside Hotel. Inaugurated by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the 19-story, two-tower Grand Westside Hotel features 1,530 rooms within the rising 'Broadway of Asia.'

"My heartfelt congratulations to all the hardworking members and personnel who contributed into the completion of this grand 1530 room structure, the biggest hotel in the country today," President Marcos said during his keynote speech.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has the honor of drawing the curtain to officially open the Grand Westside Hotel with the the press of this giant red button. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

"It is an important addition to the company's impressive lineup of prestigious hotels as well as to Philippine tourism, hence to our economy. This is particularly noteworthy considering the remarkable growth of the tourism sector, which contributed 8.6 percent to the country's GDP last year. Thanks to this hotel, we can do more," the President added.

Located within Megaworld's 31-hectare Westside City township at the bustling Entertainment City in Parañaque, Grand Westside Hotel offers a variety of room types and sizes, bannered by presidential suites that feature its own living, dining, and kitchen spaces. Other room types include Queen Suites, Twin Suites, and Executive Suites. It will also have dedicated rooms designed specifically for specially-abled guests.

"Grand Westside Hotel is the latest addition to Megaworld's Westside City township, which continues to take shape today as the 'Broadway of Asia.' The hotel offers guests a wide variety of room selections, each one designed for the varied preferences of guests, whether they are traveling for business or for leisure. Even more exciting is the fact that the hotel sits along Manila Bay, which allows guests to marvel and enjoy the captivating sunset from this side of Metro Manila," said Cleofe Albiso, managing director, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts.

The President arrives at the "Philippines' biggest hotel" and is given the tour by no less than Megaworld's Kevin Tan.

First-class dining options and amenities

The hotel has a variety of different dining outlets, including Café by Westside, an all-day dining restaurant serving Filipino and international cuisines. Guests will also enjoy craft concoctions at the Zabana Bar on the ground floor, while the Plunge Bar at the open deck on the fifth floor serves guests their drinks of choice and more.

The hotel will also have its own specialty restaurant, LaMeza, which is set to open later this year.

The property's all-day dining destination, Cafe by Westside.

The façade design of Grand Westside Hotel is inspired by the formation of waves approaching the shore, as seen through the lines enveloping the entire structure. Grand Westside Hotel will also feature a two-level retail and commercial space.

At the ground level, guests will be welcomed to a high-ceiling lobby that carries a contemporary design, exuding a sophisticated ambiance with the use of natural elements, such as wood, stone, metal and leather.

Over at the amenity floor on the fifth floor, guests will enjoy a variety of first-class amenities, including an expansive pool area with views of the Manila Bay sunset. There's also a children's pool, gazebo, a sprawling Zen garden, and an outdoor seating area decked with colorful shrubs, flowering plants, and small trees.

The hotel also features function rooms that can host various themed events, from intimate celebrations to big gatherings. A fitness gym and massage rooms complete the roster of facilities on the amenity floor.

There's also an Executive Lounge, exclusive to VIP guests where they can dine, do their express check-in and check-out, and fulfill other business functions using the meeting room integrated into this facility.

Soon, Grand Westside Hotel will be connected to the rising Westside Resort complex, a sprawling entertainment complex that will feature four theaters where a variety of performing arts shows, ranging from musicals to concerts, comedies, and more, will be shown.

The largest of these theaters will be The Grand Opera House, poised to be the first of its kind in the country, which will have a 2,000-seating capacity.

A milestone development launched on the occasion of Megaworld's 35th anniversary this June, Grand Westside Hotel provides a big boost to the company's continuing support for Philippine tourism. Aside from offering the biggest selection of hotel rooms in the country, the hotel is also seen to generate hundreds of jobs for Filipinos in the hospitality sector. At present, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts employs about 3,000 people in its operating hotels across the Philippines.

In 2019, Megaworld committed to invest around P64 billion to build Westside City within the next 10 years.

Managed and operated by Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, Grand Westside Hotel is the second hotel property to welcome travelers at Westside City, the first being the 529-room Kingsford Hotel Manila.

Grand Westside Hotel is the Philippines' biggest hotel development to date with 1,530 rooms.

At present, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts has already launched 20 hotel properties across the Philippines. Aside from Grand Westside Hotel, other developments in the group's portfolio include Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Savoy Hotel Manila, Savoy Hotel Boracay, Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, Savoy Hotel Capital Town, Savoy Palawan, Belmont Hotel Manila, Belmont Hotel Boracay, Belmont Hotel Mactan, Belmont Hotel Iloilo, Kingsford Hotel Manila, Kingsford Hotel Bacolod, Twin Lakes Hotel, Hotel Lucky Chinatown, ArcoVia Hotel, Paragua Sands Hotel, and Chancellor Hotel Boracay.

"Having developed many hotels and other tourism related establishments around the country, Megaworld has shown that it is a true partner in national development and a great builder of dreams and sustainable communities in our society. For that, and for all the project underway, you have my utmost gratitude," President Marcos ended. CA