Kabayan Hotel’s landmark structure at Edsa corner Protacio Street in Pasay City has celebrated its 22 years by launching a new look with the addition of new 342-key rooms and the Kabayan Suites located at the top floor.
The new hotel wing intends to serve the growing clientele of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who want to take advantage of the hotel’s location with easy access to the LRT/MRT stations, domestic and international airports, transport terminals, government offices like OWWA and the DFA, as well as entertainment centers at the SM Mall of Asia, branding it as the hotel choice for OFWs that provides warm Filipino hospitality.
“Our DNA is Filipino hospitality. We would like to nurture that and propagate the Filipino hospitality and extend it to all our guests—OFWs, provincial travelers who are coming to Manila, businessmen, seamen, etc. These are basically our target market, the middle income group,” chairman Wyden King said in an interview with Hospitality News Philippines.
Innovations
Through the years, Kabayan Hotel has transformed the hospitality landscape with various innovations such as the Dorm Rooms, a gentle-exclusive rooms with 3 deck double deck beds; Pad Rooms for solo backpackers and seamen; Japanese-style Kapsule Rooms with 4, 8 and 10 beds gender-exclusive rooms; and Team Rooms good for those traveling with a group or families up to 4 guests. The new Kabayan Suite offers deluxe room space, well-appointed bathroom, and a relaxing resort ambience perfect for family staycations.The new building also has brand new Pad suites, Mabuhay Suites for travelers who would like to enjoy room amenities that are designed for a comfortable stay in the heart of the busy Metro. Not to mention is the inclusion of rooms for physically-challenged individuals, assigning 1 room per floor from the 3rd floor up to the 12th. All rooms are equipped with modern functionalities like powered bath showers and smart toilets.
Filipino-inspired interiors
The new Kabayan Hotel building features local elements that showcase Filipino culture and craftsmanship. Guests are welcomed to the spacious lobby through an elegant revolving glass door. Panels of handcrafted solihiya adorn the walls of the reception area; whole slabs of pristine marble and natural hardwood were used for the front desk. Piña embroidery and mother of pearl inlays accentuate the elevator’s interiors.“We want our guests to enjoy bisita sa bahay (house guest) hospitality here. We will continue to serve our target community with genuine Filipino hospitality,” King added.
The hotel prides itself with services that are tailor-fit for OFW kababayans, One notable feature is the OFW Help Desk that can refer their government agency-related inquiries or assist them with processing and printing their documents on-site. There are even weighing scales available at their convenient luggage packing area located at the lobby.
Growing together
“At Kabayan Hotel, our tagline has been kasabayan niyo kami, (we are with you)” whether they are the start of their journey as aspiring OFWs staying at their Dorms and Kapsules, or returning workers who have been able to save up and are already staying at our Superior or Suite Rooms, we are able to host them as they relax and bond with their families,” said General Manager Raymund Aves.
He added, “We are continuously innovating our trusted Filipino hospitality brand, offering improved services and brand new rooms…..while keeping to our promise of ‘sulit’ (worth it), and ‘alaga’ (care)…we are evolving our hotel products and services with a tagline—‘Bagong Kabayan Para sa Bagong Makabayan’ We would like to invite and welcome more guests who are looking for a relaxing, safe, and comfortable stay at every stage of their success journey.”
