UPDATED: Here's What We Know About Sofitel Closing This Year
The hotel has confirmed in a statement to media.
(SPOT.ph) Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila has officially confirmed that they will be closing this year, after many speculation from secondhand reports made the rounds online. They "will close and cease operations starting July 1, 2024," said the hotel in a statement sent to media on Friday, May 10.
Sofitel confirms 2024 closure
The full statement reads:
"Built in the 1973 era and opened without interruption since 1976, the hotel has announced that it will close and cease operations starting July 1, 2024. This decision comes as part of our ongoing commitment to providing our guests and colleagues with the best possible experience. The hotel will honor engagements and reservations until the end of June and close its iconic doors thereafter.
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila had a long legacy as the hotel of choice for almost five decades for heads of states, celebrities and global corporations alike, and it has been home to celebrations and milestones of our beloved patrons and clients. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and patronage of our stakeholders, employees, and guests who have been instrumental in this long journey."
Sofitel Manila Closure: Permanent or Temporary?
The hotel clarified that it will honor all deliverables until the end of June. What is unclear in the statement is whether the closure is permanent or temporary, although other reports point to the latter.
Pointedly, Sofitel's statement says "This decision comes as part of our ongoing commitment to providing our guests and colleagues with the best possible experience."
That is in line with other reports saying that the Pasay landmark will be closing temporarily to make way for renovations. The hotel still has 17 years left in its lease with GSIS, the owner of the land it is on, according to Esquire Philippines. Their sources confirmed that the hotel will be closed for "up to 18 months," while the decades-old building is renovated. Biz Buzz states that on top of the 17 years left on the lease, Sofitel owner Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc. (PPHI) has asked GSIS for an additional 25 years, a move that would logically help them get back what they invested for the supposed renovation.
The History of Sofitel Manila
The Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila was originally built as the Philippine Plaza. It was one of several hotels ordered by Imelda Marcos for the 1976 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Manila during the term of her husband, then-President Ferdinand Marcos.
The hotel was designed by national Artists Leandro Locsin and Ildefonso P. Santos and was managed under the Westin brand until the management contract with Starwood Hotels ended in 2005. In 2006, the hotel signed a new management contract with AccorHotels, which resulted in more renovations, turning it into the luxury hotel and urban oasis it is today.
As part of the hotel's main draw, it boasts over 500 rooms of varying sizes, with some having unimpeded views of the Manila Bay sunset. Aside from this, it also has a range of hotel restaurants and buffets, including the famed Spiral Buffet, a wellness center, and tons of meeting rooms and function halls.
In its 48 years in the Philippine hospitality space, Sofitel Manila has welcomed many VIPs and international guests, including former US President Barrack Obama and Madonna, the Queen of Pop.
UPDATED (May 10, 2024): This article was updated following Sofitel's official statement.
For more information, visit Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila's Facebook page.
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