Hotels & Accommodations
World Travel Awards: Manila’s Luxury Hotels Earn International Recognition
Monday, August 4, 2025
Manila, the busy capital of the Philippines, has some of the most luxurious and prestigious hotels in Southeast Asia. Two of these, Conrad Manila and Lanson Place Mall of Asia, both under SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), have received significant recognition at the 2025 World Travel Awards. Conrad Manila, known for its high-quality service, and Lanson Place Mall of Asia, a new player in the luxury hotel market, have both been nominated in several categories.
These nominations highlight SMHCC’s commitment to offering excellent hospitality and luxurious accommodations in Manila. As a top destination for business, leisure, and long-term stays, Manila strengthens its role as a center for world-class hospitality, with these hotels playing a big part in this growing reputation.
Conrad Manila: Consistently Leading the Way
Conrad Manila, SMHCC’s flagship hotel, has been nominated in three important categories: Philippines’ Leading Conference Hotel, Philippines’ Leading Hotel, and Philippines’ Leading Hotel Suite. For the past six years, the hotel has been recognized as the Philippines’ Leading Conference Hotel, thanks to its top-notch conference facilities and outstanding service. Its Forbes Ballroom has significantly contributed to Manila’s rising profile as a prime destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).
Guests at Conrad Manila enjoy a luxurious stay, with panoramic views of Manila Bay and easy access to the Mall of Asia and other popular sites. The hotel’s focus on excellent service and personalized guest experiences has attracted a loyal clientele among business travelers, conference attendees, and leisure visitors.
As the hospitality landscape evolves, Conrad Manila stays ahead, setting the standard for luxury hotels in Manila and the Philippines. Its consistent high level of service meets the diverse needs of travelers, establishing it as a leader in the region’s hospitality sector.
Lanson Place Mall of Asia: A Newcomer With Big Ambitions
Lanson Place Mall of Asia joins the luxury accommodations in Manila, having already made a splash with its nomination in the Philippines’ Leading Hotel Residences category. Designed for both business and long-term travelers, Lanson Place offers a modern urban escape by the bay, combining contemporary design with the comfort and convenience that today’s travelers want.
Lanson Place Mall of Asia is conveniently located near the Mall of Asia, one of the largest shopping malls in the Philippines, making it a perfect spot for those who want to explore Manila. The hotel’s simple yet elegant design offers a comfortable stay, with peaceful bayfront views that create a calming environment. It has quickly become a preferred choice for guests seeking an upscale and comfortable extended stay experience in the heart of Manila.
The nomination for the Leading Hotel Residences category reflects the hotel’s excellent service, luxurious amenities, and unique offerings tailored to long-term guests. With its prime location and dedication to personalized experiences, Lanson Place is rapidly becoming a top pick for travelers in Manila.
SMHCC: Committed to Excellence and Filipino Hospitality
Both Conrad Manila and Lanson Place Mall of Asia showcase SMHCC’s dedication to its service culture of “We Go Beyond,” which focuses on delivering personalized, guest-focused experiences. This approach is rooted in Filipino hospitality, known for its warmth, attentiveness, and commitment to making every guest feel at home.
Eugene Naughton, president of SMHCC, stated that these nominations are not just about awards but about doing the right thing for the guests. “We provide the best guest experience in the country not to win awards but because it is the right thing to do,” Naughton said. His words underline the company’s commitment to maintaining high service levels and building a solid reputation in the hospitality industry worldwide.
The World Travel Awards: Recognizing the Best in Global Hospitality
The World Travel Awards are among the most prestigious in the global travel and hospitality sector. Nominations and winners stem from votes by travelers, industry experts, and consumers, who assess various aspects of hotels, resorts, and hospitality businesses. Being nominated for these awards signifies excellence, and both Conrad Manila and Lanson Place Mall of Asia have proven themselves worthy contenders.
Voting for the 2025 World Travel Awards is now open, with winners set to be announced later this year. The recognition of SMHCC’s hotels underlines their ability to provide exceptional service and world-class amenities that compete with the best globally.
Dollywood’s Success as a Model for Excellence
While the World Travel Awards cover many categories, the recognition of Manila’s luxury hotels highlights the growing importance of unique, guest-focused experiences. The influence of properties like Conrad Manila and Lanson Place Mall of Asia extends beyond just providing accommodations; they are vital in shaping Manila’s tourism and hospitality environment. By consistently exceeding guest expectations, these hotels raise the Philippines’ profile on the global travel scene, much like other renowned international attractions.
As travelers continue to come to Manila for both business and leisure, the focus is now on the city’s top hotels, which are celebrated for their unique offerings, customer service, and overall guest experience. Whether on a short business trip or a longer vacation, visitors can now enjoy luxurious stays at some of Asia’s finest establishments.
Conclusion: Manila’s Hospitality Shines Bright in Global Rankings
With its prestigious nominations at the 2025 World Travel Awards, the success of Dollywood in the Philippines remains a guiding light for global hospitality. As hotels like Conrad Manila and Lanson Place Mall of Asia lead the way in improving luxury hospitality standards in Manila, the city’s recognition as a leading global travel destination is set to rise even higher. These accolades are a testament to the hard work and dedication of SMHCC, along with the lasting charm of Filipino hospitality that welcomes travelers from around the world. Whether for a quick escape or a longer stay, Manila’s luxury hotels are ready to provide an unmatched experience.
(Source: SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., TripAdvisor, Philippines Department of Tourism, 2025)
Torrential rains couldn’t dampen the spirits of Sydney hoteliers this weekend, with rugby fans packing out hotels for the final test of The British and Irish Lions Tour.
A crowd of 80,312 attended Saturday night’s Wallabies v Lions match at Accor Stadium, with Accor hotels also having cause for celebration, reportinga combined occupancy of 97% for Sydney Centre and 95% for Sydney West.
Sydney is the last city to experience the Lions effect, which Accor has declared “a nationwide tourism triumph”, with tens of thousands of travelling fans driving record hotel occupancies and major economic benefits across the country.
“From Perth to Sydney, the influx of international and domestic visitors is driving exceptional results for our hotels and the broader visitor economy,” said Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer, Adrian Williams.
“This tour is a powerful reminder of the impact major sporting events have in energising cities, filling hotels, and supporting restaurants, bars, and attractions nationwide.”
For the majority of games, Accor hotels in hosting cities achieved occupancy rates above 90%.
In Adelaide, Accor hotels hit 100% occupancy on July 12 for the Invitational AU and NZ vs The Lions game, while the Western Force vs Lions clash in Perth saw the largest year-on-year growth with a +21% increase, reaching 92% occupancy for Accor hotels on June 28.
The Lions effect even eclipsed the star power of Taylor Swift for Accor hotels across Melbourne, which recorded 99% occupancy for the Wallabies vs Lions match – Accor’s highest ever occupancy result for Melbourne Centre, surpassing the Taylor Swift effect, which peaked at 96%.
Accor’s booking platform, ALL.com, has also experienced a surge in bookings from the UK and Ireland in the past four weeks compared to 2024, with international stays up 92.9%.
“This isn’t just a win for rugby – it’s a win for tourism, hospitality and every community lucky enough to host a game,” added Williams.
Many Accor hotels across the country leaned into the buzz of the major sporting event by creating guest-focused experiences, from themed food and beverage promotions to playful lobby activations.
Hotels & Accommodations
After 137 Years of Operations, Gulmarg’s Iconic Nedous Hotel Served Eviction Notice
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has served an eviction notice to the famed Nedous Hotel in Gulmarg, ordering it to vacate nearly 98 kanals of government land it has occupied without a valid lease since 1985.
The Estates Officer, Gulmarg, vested with powers under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988, issued the order in compliance with directions from both the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and the Supreme Court of India. The District Magistrate, Baramulla, has been asked to deploy a magistrate and adequate police to ensure the peaceful execution of the eviction and maintain public order.
The notice states that the premises, “presently in unauthorised occupation,” must be vacated “forthwith” and handed over to the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA). Officials say the sealing of the hotel will follow shortly.
Nedous Hotel, established in 1888 by European entrepreneur Michael Adam Nedou after he popularised Gulmarg as a hill station for colonial-era visitors, is considered the first modern hotel in Kashmir’s history. Over generations, the Nedou family became linked to Kashmir’s political elite. The hotel founder’s daughter was Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s wife, the famous Begum Akbar Jehan. The family-run hospitality business is now owned by Omar K Nedou, a relative of the current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The dispute over the Gulmarg property dates back decades. The hotel’s last lease, for just 2 kanals and 13 marlas, was renewed in 1963 for 20 years, expiring on 31 December 1985. The government refused to renew it, citing violations and encroachment on an additional 91 kanals of land. Despite eviction orders issued in 2015, legal challenges kept the case tied up in court.
In 2018, a Division Bench of the High Court, led by then Chief Justice Gita Mittal, found that no rent had been paid since 1990 and declared the hotel an unauthorised occupant. The court stressed that renewal of a government lease was “a privilege, not a right” and that public property could not be retained without a transparent, competitive process. The court also cited the hotel’s massive overreach beyond its original allotment.
Following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the hotel’s appeal, the Tourism Department, earlier this year, empowered the Assistant Director Tourism, Gulmarg, to act as Estates Officer for all tourism properties in Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora, clearing the way for enforcement.
Officials say the move is part of a broader crackdown on unauthorised commercial exploitation of prime government land in Gulmarg, an ecologically fragile and strategically sensitive tourist destination. Once the eviction is executed, the property will be taken over by the GDA, and any future use will have to follow the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022, which require a fresh public auction for all such properties.
Hotels & Accommodations
Sinclairs Hotels Faces Evaluation Shift Amid Declining Profits and Stock Performance
Sinclairs Hotels, a microcap player in the Hotels & Resorts industry, has recently undergone an adjustment in its evaluation. This revision reflects a shift in the technical landscape surrounding the stock, moving from a mildly bullish stance to a more neutral position.
Key financial metrics indicate that the company has faced challenges in recent quarters. For instance, the latest quarter reported a significant decline in profit before tax, which fell by 31.19%, while profit after tax decreased by 28.9%. Over the past five years, net sales have grown at an annual rate of 3.29%, and operating profit has seen a modest increase of 2.33%.
The stock’s performance relative to the Sensex shows a return of -5.50% over the past year, contrasting with a 3.15% gain in the index year-to-date. Additionally, the company’s return on capital employed (ROCE) has reached a low of 14.26%, and its return on equity (ROE) stands at 12.1%.
Despite these challenges, Sinclairs Hotels maintains a low debt-to-equity ratio, which may provide some stability in its financial structure.
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