A business trip turned staycation. Cocooned myself in the comforts of the newly-renovated Business Class Room of Radisson Blu Cebu

The recent 3-night trip to Cebu was a business trip. The business part was accomplished on Day 1 and the rest of the stay turned into a staycation- a blissful one. Radisson Blu Cebu made sure they rolled out the “Blu” carpet on this visit. I guess they for every guest they welcome.

I arrived before the designated check-in time and was lead to the Business Class Lounge on the 20^th floor while they got the room ready. The lounge is a special amenity extended to Business Class Floors guests. Breakfast, all day coffee and snacks and evening cocktails are served in this room with a commanding view of the Northern part of the city and the Mandaue Bay.

The 400-room hotel has seven room types and I stayed in the newly-renovated Business Class room. With an area of 35sqm, the spacious room can accommodate three adults and one child. However, I had the room all to myself. Me time.

Around the clock, a tasty meal from can be delivered to the room with a push of a button. This makes breakfast in bed quite tempting. I find joy in picking my food items from a wider array and the Business Class Lounge has a lot to offer, Feria even more. Feria’s buffet spread is popular among the locals and if you’ve been to the restaurant, you would know why.

Personally, breakfast with a view of Cebu was more ideal. The lounge is one floor above, faster to reach, plus the spot is quiet and more private. There’s even a small function room to cater to business travelers. Food is “more curated” in a way, fewer choices but the favorites are available. From bacon to yogurt, whatever your diet is, they have it. 

Cebu is an exciting city. Foodies and night owls will find interesting places to go to. Even shopaholics will have a fields day with the mall next door. Me? I prefer to stay cocooned in the comforts of my room. I never knew how much I needed the do-nothing-but-stay-in-bed moment until I took laid on the plush king-sized bed. I was in a most ideal place to recuperate form a month of traveling, parties and work-related affairs.  

Diving deeper into the state of restfulness, an hour of ESC Spa’s signature Reboot massage was what I needed. It was the exclamation mark that completed a rejuvenating “Blu” staycation.

One more breakfast at the 20^th floor lounge before I fly back to Davao. I arrived late in the morning but there was no need to rush, I was told. Breakfast can be enjoyed ala brunch on weekends when it extends dining hours to noon. So I took my sweet time. Another serving of Cebu favorites of “danggit” and “pusit”, a serving of fresh mango with yogurt, and freshly brewed coffee. My hearty meal before my extended check-out time at 2PM.

It’s been a while since I entered the expansive lobby of the hotel again. I believe it was on a Christmas season as well. The towering signature blue and silver Christmas tree was up. It reminded how grand, yet warm, the place is—the hotel, the service, and the people.

Also published in the SunStar Davao newspaper.

Which hotel excites you most? It’s one of the FAQ’s I’ve been asked a lot by both extensive and budding travelers. I would say the Pullman hotels not only extend comfort, but visual surprises as well.

My first Pullman hotel stay was in Hotel G in Bangkok. Reaction? It has a very Miami vibe—expansive windows that flood the all-white lobby with natural light, artworks of local artists make interesting conversation pieces, a chic bar at the lobby and hip music playing complete the total sensory experience. Modernism was carried through the lift, the white spacious guestroom, and the Executive Club Lounge and Scarlett Rooftop Resto where red wine and the city view make ideal partners. I was pampered.

When Grand Ambassador Seoul associated with Pullman, an Accorhotel, nodded to host me in Seoul, Korea, I knew it was going to be a memorable first visit to the city.

The Grand Ambassador Seoul Pullman is a contemporary 19-story hotel in the Joong-go district in Seoul. It houses amenities any leisure and business traveler would yearn for—413 well-appointed guestrooms, fitness club with indoor pool, luxury spa and even an indoor driving range. Dining choices are generous with six first-class restaurants and bars, including Kings with its live buffet station, Entrée (contemporary Korean), Hong Bo Gak (Chinese) and Sushi Hyo (Japanese).

Establishing the unique and exciting stay is the “Artist Playground” at the lobby. The visual treat is a trademark feature of Pullman. Artworks sourced from local artists, galleries or art schools are showcased with the purpose of adding elements of local interest, cultural intrigue and visual ingenuity to the hotel’s communal and highly visible spaces. Not only does this “playground” create excitement and stir up curiosity, it also demonstrates that the hotel is a part of the community’s cultural scene. `

What else should guests look forward to when staying at Grand Ambassador Seoul Pullman for the first time? SooYeon Jamie Kang, the hotel’s PR Executive, pointed out three.

First, good accessibility. Grand Ambassador Seoul Pullman is located in the center of Seoul and has easy access to the main tourist attractions, historical sites and shopping areas via the subway station a short walk away from the hotel. Hotel guests can also avail of the free shuttle bus service which go around Myeongdong, Insadong and Dongdaemun from day to evening. 

Second, the hearty breakfast. The breakfast experience at Premium Live Buffet "THE KING'S" may be one of the most attractive reasons for guests to choose the hotel. International cuisine offerings, including Halal, and the fresh juice bar are good reasons to start the day right and power up of for an exploration of the city ahead.

Third, the “Executive Library &” on the 14^thfloor. It’s like a “multi lounge” offering a selection of books, premium massage chair, reclining sofas and a panoramic view of Namsan. It’s a good spot to slow down after a hectic day.

Modern amenities for the global nomad plus Korean hospitality is an outstanding combination. 

“Korean hospitality can be described as well-mannered. Since the Joseon Dynasty period, the Confucian ideology of serving Confucius is valued etiquette, and this is well reflected in the current hospitality service in Korea. In our hotel, we offer a friendlier and solicitous service. You will surely be enamored with homely comfort and kindness of our hotel staff,” shared SooYeon Jamie Kang.

A world-class hotel with a local art showcase and admirable Korean hospitality made for a very memorable first visit in the special city in the Land of the Morning Calm. It was one fine Seoul-ful experience indeed.

Grand Ambassador Seoul associated with Pullman is at Dongho-ro 287, Joong-gu, Seoul 04618, Korea.

Also published in the SunStar Davao newspaper.

While location is king for hotels, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun & Residences, the 500th Novotel of the global hotel group Accorhotels, won't rest on its laurel. The hotel’s address is prime, a confluence of history, culture, fashion and art— major attractions a short walk away. There’s an airport limousine bus stop by its doors and a subway station, too. 

Novotel in Seoul is the brand’s very first hotel and residence complex. The building is eye-catching, almost sculpture-like. The modern structure imbibes the character of its address (designed with the eaves of Heunginjimun Gate, aka Dongdaemun Gate, as motif) and enhanced with state-of-the-art details.

The hotel’s interior is as impressive as its exterior. The interior décor follows the design style of minimalism— exuding a very Japanese aesthetic— and to make it more exciting, injected with modern technology to deliver a unique, easy living and rich digital experience to the guests.

The digital experience is first encountered at check-in on the 20th floor. The elevator hall sports an expansive LED wall showing a 24/7 visual treat of Dongdaemun district. It leads to a modern lobby designed as a proper social space more than just a transient area. At the other end of the room are two food outlets, the Gourmet Bar and Food Exchange, the all-dining restaurant. The same floor gives access to the relaxation area where the spa, fitness center, and a Jacuzzi and an indoor swimming pool with natural lighting, automatic water temperature control, water purification system and a waterfall screen.

One floor up is Dongdaemun’s only rooftop pool. The outdoor pool is designed with a transparent acrylic floor to provide an unusual “pool
in the pool” view of the indoor pool below. Sharing the rooftop space is a bar, The Social 21. Day or night, wet or dry, sipping a fruit drink or a cocktail, the view of the Seoul bright under the sun or lit up under the dark blue of night is perfect company.

What makes Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun truly unique? It provides the first Artificial Intelligence hotel service in Korea. Each of the 523 tastefully decorated suites (331 hotel rooms and 192 residence rooms) is assigned with its own genie—the GigGA Genie. Genie-ya is to Novotel as Siri is to iPhone, and Ginie-ya is every guest’s access to a more comfortable living experience.

“Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun provides smart speaker GiGA Genie hotel service. It is designed to control room settings such as lighting, temperature, and music. Requested amenities can be transmitted to hotel front desk electronically through the gadget as well. The Genie phone is pre-loaded with hotel information, maps, as well as call and message functions when guests are out exploring the city,” shared Claire Yoo, the hotel’s marketing and communication supervisor.

“Guests can access their rooms via a QR code via the iStay app they can download on their smart phones,” she said. This eliminates the use of key cards. The app aslo provides guests useful hotel information including facilities, latest F&B and room promotions and a media wall that showcases a sketch of the Dongdaemun district. 

Want to double the excitement on your trip to Seoul? Stay at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun. I speak from experience.

A member of the Accorhotels, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun & Residences is at 238 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04561 Korea.

Also published in the SunStar Davao newspaper.