Makati Shangri-La reopens its doors

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

While many businesses were closed permanently because of the pandemic, this “popular landmark” remained standing right smack within the hustle and bustle of Manila’s business district, Makati City—prompting not a few to wonder if re-opening was only a matter of time.

On August 8, 2023, at precisely 8:08AM and around two years after its last guests have checked out and diners have settled their bills, Makati Shangri- l a r e-opened its doors and welcomed back its guests with the promise of its familiar luxurious accommodations, superior service, and trademark warm hospitality.

“When you come back to the hotel, in Makati Shangri- l a there are elements of familiarity,” hotel manager Udo Wittich told B usiness M irror

Guests and diners will be familiarized with the award-winning hotel’s known heartfelt service yet anticipate a new and elevated stay experience.

“We will cherish the moments we’ve had in the past by creating new memories and moving to the future,” Wittich enthused.

A strong comeback

The hotel’s reopening is a symbol of its fresh beginnings, said Wittich, and since its temporary closure as a result of the pandemic’s devastating impact to the economy, things have since gradually improved for the better not just for the hospitality and tourism industries but for businesses as a whole. i n every luxurious h o rizon Club Business Room, relaxation meets productivity.

As the Shangri- l a b rand in general and Makati Shangri- l a i n particular have always been regarded as iconic brands, it’s no surprise that there has always been a popular clamor for its re-opening. Many believed that a strong comeback is not just a question of if, it was a matter of when.

Now that it’s back, the more things change, the more they also stayed the same. From the moment you enter Makati Shangri- l a ’s driveway to stepping onto the lobby lounge, Wittich said they added and restored the landscape to provide a fresh look for the hotel. i n the reception area, guests will be cordially greeted the old-fashioned way even as they can now opt for an online check-in process for a fast and seamless transaction.

Aside from these small but significant changes to the hotel, Makati Shangri- l a now also boasts of adjusted offerings for the guests, spanning accommodations and amenities, dining destinations, entertainment, and incorporating sustainability.

Strategically located in Manila’s premier financial and commercial district, Makati Shangri- l a o ffers the h o rizon Club Business Room, the first-of-its-kind in the Philippines, to provide business travelers and staycationists a place to work away from their office or home.

Remembering a Dark Past

I’v E o nly heard and read about Auschwitz-Birkenau when I was still a student. s i nce I was in Krakow, I finally had the chance to visit and see the concentration camp in person. I booked a guided tour to get in-depth explanations and anecdotes about the memorial and museum. The trip was an emotionally heavy experience. I felt similar feelings when I visited the Killing Fields and Tuol s l eng in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was a mind-boggling experience to hear about the deception and murder the Nazis systematically implemented on the Jews. Our group moved from one section of the concentration camp to another. Other than tour groups, the eerie and empty roads and buildings made thinking about the atrocities more harrowing. We went to exhibits of clothes, furniture, household items, and shoes the victims left behind. The Nazis also cut the hair of victims they planned to profit from. Our guide took us to living quarters and illustrated the squalid condition of those imprisoned in Auschwitz. We also went to the gas chambers and walls where escaping prisoners were shot. The entire museum wanted to make a point, learn from the past and never forget.

Exploring Wieliczka

I COMBINE d a day trip to AuschwitzBirkenau with the Wieliczka s a lt Mine. I was looking forward to visiting the salt mine after a heave experience of learning more about the victims of the Nazis in Poland. The salt mine is a UNE s C O World Heritage s i te and was a major source of income during ancient times. Our group had to walk down several flights of stairs and go through passageways to explore the different chambers. The latter contained recreated tools and machines that enabled workers to move salt from the mine to the surface. What I found striking was the sculptures and murals made of salt. The details in works of (salt) art such as the Last s u pper, Pope John Paul II, biblical scenes, crucifixes, chapels, and depictions of royalty were eye-catching. Krakow is a noteworthy destination that I was glad I included in my itinerary when I traveled around Central and Eastern Europe. This Polish city retained its old-world charm with its renovation of its cultural and historic landmarks and monuments. The architectural gems such as the s t . Mary’s Basilica, the old town, Wawel Castle and Cathedral, as well as the Wieliczka s a lt Mine and even Auschwitz, are vestiges of the country’s storied past and the reasons tourists visit. an ergonomic chair. But what makes this remote work-friendly nook are its modern electronics, such as dual-screen 4K monitors to connect devices, a wireless mouse, keyboard, speakerphone, mobile stands, and fast-charging cable adaptors to complete tasks efficiently. This conducive setup is every working person’s dream. i n the h o rizon Club l o unge, a view of Makati and nearby cities’ skyline and greeneries will enchant its guests after a day of work, or even continue working from there while having some snacks. i n Makati Shangri- l a ’s h e alth Club, guests can let off steam by exercising using the hotel’s state-of-the-art weight training and cardiovascular training systems. Tensions from working can also be released through personal relaxation in the jacuzzi and cold plunge. Need more time to spend outside and breathe some fresh air? Fret not because the outdoor pool, children’s pool, and tennis courts are also ready for those who want to try outdoor activities.

“We are trying to touch on the business needs of international travelers and local businessmen to make the best of the time of their stay,” said Wittich.

To achieve that sought-after “work-life balance,” the hotel’s amenities await.

The Spa at the Shangri- l a , meanwhile, will provide the ultimate relaxation experience in the first quarter of 2024.

Gastronomic indulgence

M A KAT i S hangri- l a ’s acclaimed dining outlets have also reopened, reintroduced a range of Asian and Western cuisine, and updated the menu’s food offerings.

Guests can expect the usual excellent dining and service, completing the gastronomical experience. The hotel’s iconic l o bby l o unge, which was the first to reopen, offers light snacks and refreshments while feasting their eyes with the relaxing green sceneries of the revamped hotel gardens, giving that familiar feel to the guests.

To accompany the afternoon tea sessions in the lounge, an orchestra will provide live entertainment from Friday to Sunday, said Wittich.

For the business community who wants to conduct a productive and distraction-free meeting at the lounge, a three-piece orchestra will give a more relaxed and quiet feel to the atmosphere from Monday to Thursday. Wittich said they will have a pianist and a three-piece band in the evening. i t f eatures a brand-new menu with eight new signature dishes highlighting the very best of Cantonese cuisine. l a stly, in a move toward sustainability, Makati Shangri- l a for instance, foregone single-use toiletries and now uses dispensers, and shifted to wooden key cards and pens made of bamboo to reduce single-use plastic usage in the hotel. They will also embrace a garden-totable approach to produce by using the garden at the patio to cultivate herbs and vegetables to be used in such food and beverage offerings.

Shang Palace, the hotel’s Cantonese dining staple, is headed by a new Chinese executive chef with more than 17 years of experience in Chinese fine dining cuisine.

Meanwhile, Sage, the hotel’s signature grill restaurant, returns with an elegant look and an updated menu curated by an Argentinian chef with a culinary approach that prioritizes repurposing and sustainably sourcing quality ingredients.

For starters, guests can enjoy signature beverages such as the handcrafted Sage Martini using the hotel’s blend of vermouth and sherry infused with sage.

To perfectly cap off the dinner, the “digestive” Sage Negroni can be savored as well. Also, the hotel’s events and banqueting spaces reopened to make events and banquets significant and more memorable. At the same time, the Circles e v ent Cafe and Sage Bar are also slated to reopen in the upcoming months.

With report from Edwin P. Sallan

Amazon to roll out generative AI feature summarizing product reviews

By Haleluya Hadero Associated Press

AMAZON is rolling out a new generative AI feature that summarizes product reviews for customers.

The feature, which the company began testing earlier this year, is designed to help shoppers determine at a glance what other customers said about a product before they spend time reading through individual reviews. It will pick out common themes and summarize them in a short paragraph on the product detail page.

The company wrote in a blog post published Monday that the AI-generated reviews are now available to a subset of mobile shoppers in the U.S. across a “broad” selection of products. And it may be expanded to more shoppers and additional categories of products in the “coming months” based on customer feedback, said Vaughn Schermerhorn, Amazon’s director of community shopping.

The Seattle-based company has been looking for ways to integrate more artificial intelligence into its product offerings as the generative AI race heats up among tech companies. Amazon hasn’t released its own high-profile AI chatbot or imaging tool. Instead, it’s been focusing on services that will allow developers to build their own generative AI tools on its cloud infrastructure AWS.

Earlier this year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in his letter to shareholders that generative AI will be a “big deal” for the company. He also said during an earnings call with investors last week that “every single one” of Amazon’s businesses currently has multiple generative AI initiatives underway, including its devices unit, which works on products like the voice assistant Alexa.

In addition to the AI generated review, the company said Monday it will also offer a product insights feature that allows customers to surface common themes in reviews.