RENOWNED luxury hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila shuts down today, July 1st, after almost 50 years of operations.
In a Facebook post published on June 30th, Sofitel bids goodbye to its patrons saying, “Your smiles and stories have left an indelible mark on our hearts. We hope these memories stay with you as fondly as they will with us.”
Spiral Manila, the hotel’s popular buffet restaurant, also posted to their social media, writing: “The metro’s most interactive dining destination now bids adieu.”
Sofitel Manila opened its doors in 1976 and has over the decades accommodated celebrities, politicians, and international corporations.
Its beginnings
Before the hotel’s closure announcement last May, it had its profound beginnings.
It was designed by National Artists Leandro Locsin and Ildefonso Santos Jr. in 1973 and was among the 12 rush-built hotels to lodge for the International Monetary Fund-World Bank annual meeting.
With the property owned by the Government Service Insurance Service (GSIS), the hotel management transferred from the Westin Philippine Plaza to Accor SA which took over in 2006. Holding the management contract, the hotel was renamed the “Sofitel Philippine Plaza.”
In 2023, Sofitel was awarded by the Travel and Leisure Luxury Awards Asia-Pacific as “The Philippines’ Best City Hotel.”
Though as a hotel venture of five decades, the deemed staycation resort of Mañilenos has faced numerous issues.
Safety and labor issues
Along with its statement of shutdown, Accor revealed that 24 fire incidents had affected the property’s structural integrity. But besides safety concerns, employees of the luxury hotel have protested against its closure.
The decision was deemed as a “union-busting move” as workers accused Accor SA and the Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc. (PPHI) of not consulting with the union.
The National Union of Workers in Hotel, Restaurant, and Allied Industries (NUWHRAIN) released a statement on Sunday that employees only desire retention of their jobs if the hotel will reopen. They demand “the respect and recognition of their unions and collective bargaining agreement.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros sought to investigate the case of “labor policy implications.” Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 1059, which aims to determine “the closure’s legitimacy, the treatment of employees, and the potential impact on labor policies in the hospitality sector.”
The resolution reads that 500 employees are affected by the closure, while NUWHRAIN says over 1,000 workers will be displaced.
In June 2023, the PPHI said to allocate around 3-4 PHP billion for the building’s rehabilitation which was allotted for their last 17 years of lease with GSIS. The company also eyed to extend their lease for 25 years or until 2066.
But even the Hotel Owners Association of the Philippines, which Sofitel is a part of, is unsure if the hotel will reopen or not.
With reports from Regine Dayao
