Budget Hotel NIDA Provides Affordable Option for TravelBook.ph Customers

Press Update:

TravelBook.ph, the leading hotel booking website in the Philippines, has officially partnered with NIDA rooms, one of the biggest budget hotel operation networks in South East Asia, as part of the company’s goal to provide quality and affordable rooms for every traveler.

Travelbook.ph is the first Online Travel Agent (OTA) that established a partnership with NIDA Rooms.

Visitors to TravelBook.ph or users of the mobile app can now browse for NIDA rooms at the country’s key destinations including Boracay, Cebu, Davao, and Manila. As the only hotel booking website that sells NIDA rooms in the Philippines, Travelbook.ph ensures that more travelers get quality rooms at very affordable rates with more than 200 properties available and ready for booking.

Originally established in Indonesia, NIDA rooms is a growing branded hotel room network that partners with budget hotels and manages low-occupancy vacant rooms to help these hotels sell accommodations in a much lower cost. These rooms then are branded as NIDA rooms, which come with clean and comfortable beds as well as amenity kits that include standard conveniences like towels and basic toiletries. To date, NIDA rooms is the first and only Virtual Hotel Operator (VHO) in the Philippines with over 50 partner hotels nationwide.

While travelers can reserve hotel accommodations directly with NIDA rooms, Travelbook.ph assures a better deal as your bookings come with exclusive reward points, where one point is equivalent to PHP 1.00. You can then use these reward points to lower the cost of your future bookings.

Find the best NIDA room near you by visiting the TravelBook.ph website or checking out the mobile app on Android or iOS.

Top Holy Week Destination for 2017----Metro Manila

Press Update:

It seems that more Metro Manila residents chose to just stay near their homes for this year’s Holy Week.

Metro Manila is the top destination for Holy Week, making a huge leap from its 5th ranking in 2016, according to leading online travel agency TravelBook.ph.

“Data shows that three months prior, Filipinos booked a stay in the metro for Holy Week (April 10 to 16) this year, which is 10.4% of Travelbook.ph’s total bookings for the Lenten Season,” the report said.

The report also indicated that Makati, Manila, and Quezon City thrive the most among other cities in Metro Manila.

In comparison to the 2016 data, Metro Manila only acquired 6.6% of the previous year’s total bookings, which placed them on the 5th rank while Baguio City is at first with 10.8%.

According to a Jane Cariaga, a Travelbook.ph customer, spending the Holy Week within Metro Manila is a practical choice.

“Considering the additional expenses for the fare and other travel necessities, plus the heavy traffic you’d have to endure while traveling, it is best to spend a quiet staycation in Metro Manila to observe the Holy Week,” the customer said.

Travelbook.ph caters mostly to Filipino travelers aged 18 to 34.  A lot of them are also from Metro Manila.

In 2016, the top 15 destinations were Baguio, Cavite, Boracay, Zambales, Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Ilocos Sur, Batangas, Albay, Davao, Pangasinan, and La Union respectively.

It is also interesting to note that Mindoro, Camarines Sur, and Laguna made it to this year’s list, replacing Ilocos Norte, Bohol, and La Union.

Interested travelers can book accommodations for their staycations or out of town trips by visiting www.travelbook.ph or downloading the TravelBook.ph mobile app for free on Google Play and App Store.

Filipino Comfort Food Enhanced at The Heritage's Filipino Fiesta

After all that is said and done, traveling and exploring beyond the borders of the Philippines, Filipinos eventually go back to what they are familiar with---their very own Filipino cuisine.  It's always a safe choice to have a Filipino Buffet when you are having a party in the Philippines.  What can I say, Filipinos love their dishes even if it may not be considered a fine class cuisine in other countries.  Give to Ceasar, what is Ceasar's and give to the Filipinos their own food.  This month of April, The Heritage Hotel Manila is doing just that---serving the best of Filipino food to whoever want to try native dishes other than Pinoys.

What makes this Filipino Fiesta Buffet special, especially for a  Filipno like me, is that they serve not only the classics, but hard-to-find dishes and street food enhanced.    The moment I dug in, I went for the classic lechon (like who wouldn't) and Arroz Valenciana, grilled pusit with a special sauce.  Then I just had to try the crispy chicharon bulaklak, ukoy, dried pusit which I kept coming back for more.   I tried their cheeses and Filipino rolls. I knew I wouldn't be able to try everything, so I kept getting two spoonfuls of whatever I wanted to try.  Even then,  I wasn't able to try all.  I would've wanted to make my own mami with the raw ingredient selection, but alas, I was full.  I did have a chance to sample the desserts of "kakanin" or rice cakes as well as the pilipit, which I wanted to get more of if there was still space in the tummy.  I had to skip the halo-halo stand unfortunately, as I very well knew I have had  more than enough as it is.  I was very pleased with my selection and I didn't hesitate to tell Head Chef Domingo Madridono so.

"What makes us different from other Filipino buffets, we serve our soups and grills hot and freshly-made right after you make your requests.  We vary our dishes daily so you get to try dishes from different regions of the Philippines," shares Chef Domingo.  He also shares tentative upcoming buffets for the following months based on their client's preference such as Sea Food Festival for May and Mother's Day; "International Festival" for June, and Malaysian Cuisine for July and August.

The location and accessibility of the hotel is definitely a plus factor for their Riviera Cafe buffets, whether Filipno or International.  According to Doer Escoto, F & B Manager, that the hotel is renovating and updating their services to glorify our Philippine Heritage through their food outlets, accommodations, and function rooms.  He also shares that all meat dishes are halal-certified and their herbs are home-grown.

As  former OFW working for more than 18 years abroad, he believes that hotels are portals of Tourism for the country so hotel staff should behave properly, with integrity and concern for their guests.  He also shared that OFWs are the unofficial Philippine Ambassadors with their recommendations taken seriously by their foreign friends, even their personal FB photo posts weigh more credibility than the usual tourism promotions.  So take note of that, PH Tourism officials.  There is more to learn from our OFWs and their insights that may help promote Tourism in the country.

"Wow Philippines campaing was a big hit, as former Tourism head, Dick Gordon focused his attention on OFWs and their untapped Tourism potential.  Pouring resources on expensive advertising campaigns may not be the most effective way to go, rather educate the frontliners, such as the Travel Agencies,Hotel Receptionist and Guest Relations Officer, to be honest and not find a way to make extra money from the guests.  That small negative "dishonest" experience may spell the difference between not ever coming back here and bad mouthing the country to their friends, OR remembering their happy experience and inviting others to come visit," shares Escoto.

The Heritage Hotel Manila is a witness to the daily glory of the famed Manila Bay.  A four-star deluxe hotel, with 450 rooms, 12 function rooms,  a Riviera Cafe and Lobby lounge--- offering famed pastries and one of the best buffets in Manila. The hotel is located along Roxas Boulevard corner EDSA, Pasay City, minutes away from the international and domestic airports, Manila Bay Yacht Club, SM Mall of Asia, SMX Convention Center, PICC and World Trade Center.


For more information, visit their website at www.heritagehotelmanila.com.