Ascott Makati, first full wifi hotel
Ascott Makati, a serviced residences hotel at Ayala Center, bills itself as the first building in the Philippines with full wireless Internet coverage anywhere within its premises. “It is the first building in the Philippines to have 100 percent wireless Internet coverage,” Ascott general manager Lew Yen Ping said, during the 25th year anniversary of the Singapore-based Ascott International, the parent firm of Ascott, Somerset and Citadines serviced residence hotels.
Ms. Ping said that through a partnership with Globe Telecom, each of the 306 units in Ascott Makati now has access to password-protected wifi Internet, which stands for wireless fidelity. She said that while Ascott Makati still charges from wireless Internet service, it is moving towards providing completely free Internet in the future.
The building has penthouses, studios, and one to three-bedroom residences, each with their own kitchen, entertainment systems, and washing machines.
Ascott Makati also has 17 function rooms and 23 office suites. The hotel now offers anniversary rates starting from P5,775, applicable for daily stays up to seven nights and for reservations made on or before 31 August 2009.
The serviced apartment, rising above the Glorietta shopping complex, was rebranded from its earlier name of Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in 2007.
Ms. Ping said Ascott Makati continues to enjoy occupancy rate above 80 percent, despite the impact of the global economic downturn. More than 90 percent of guests are expatriates and long-staying foreign tourists, she added.
During the same event, Mr. Gil Genio, CEO of Innove Communications, the landline arm of Globe Telecom, said Ascott Makati’s full Internet coverage is the first of its kind in the Philippines. In hotels, you have to have wifi coverage everywhere. Guests’ expectation of Internet access is becoming higher,” Mr. Genio said.
Mr. Genio said that while Globe also provides Internet coverage to almost all hotels in Makati and Ortigas commercial business districts, Ascott Makati is the first to be fully covered by wireless Internet.
Ms. Melanie Gaite, head for marketing and enterprise segments of Globe Telecom, said that aside from hotels, Globe Telecom is also providing Internet access to call centers, other business process outsourcing companies, banks, and other corporate establishments.
Visit Ascott Makati website.
Recent Comments