real deal with hotel

Why a hotel reception?

I always dreamed of a hotel reception. When I was younger, I passed off celebrating my debut or passing the bar kz sbe ko, Im saving it for my wedding. I really wanted a hotel reception.

Pero dahil sa prices, natakot yta si future groom and he suggested that we also check out the rates for a separate venue reception plus caterer. So we did an ocular of Blue Leaf, One Esplanade and the Loft. Ohmy! we were surprised na yn rates which are almost similar are at least 100K. Grabe naman, venue pa lang 100K to 120K na.

So finally, pumayag na rin si future groom for a hotel reception. I emailed different hotels in Makati and Manila for their wedding packages.
After collating their wedding packages, I observed the following:
1.The package cost do not usually include 12% VAT, 10% service charge and local government tax.
2. Packages quoted are good only for 2009weddings. They have an additional 10% increase on th cost for weddings the following year.
3. Some packages are good for 100 pax while some are good for 150 pax.
4. Some packages will include flower centerpiece for all the tables while others will charge additional fee for flower centerpiece in excess of 15 tables.

I even prepared a comparative table of the different packages of different hotels. Please pm me with your email address if you want a copy.

With the comparative table, mas easier to zero-in the best wedding reception hotels. We ended up choosing Renaissance Hotel for the following reasons:
1. Cheapest yn package, even if net with taxs, which already includes a carving station.
2. Flower arrangement in their grand staircase.
3. Convenient location which is very near sa mall so kung mern emergency na nakalimutan, madali lang bilhin.
4. They extended to us the 2009 rates.

On Holy Wednesday, we met with Ms. Bonnie Detuelo of Renaissance Hotel. She was very accomodating. She showed us the ballroom area. Since we have 250 expected guests, the whole ballroom area which are divided in three portions (each portion is good for 12o pax), will be given to us. Take note that we are reserving for a lunch reception so ok pa rin yn slots nila for january 2010, although yn evening reception was already booked. Di muna kme nagdeposit but we already signed the reservation form.

After the Holy Week and after attending a hearing in a Manila court, I decided to inquire sa Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila. Malapit lang sya sa Manila cityhall so naisip ko try ko lang inquire since they did not replied on my inquiry abt the rates for wedding packages.

When I arrived in Hyatt, I was made to wait in the Events Lounge for almost 25 minutes. I was already harboring thoughts that visiting this hotel is really not a good idea and that I should be satisfied na with Renaissance. And then dumating na rin yn personnel nila, JC Cabrera. He gave me the packages and I was really surprised. Their packages are already net of taxes so mas madali magcompute and magcompare with other hotels. Although the cheapest did not include a carving station but it included a pasta station instead. We also checked the ballroom area. I told him that we already signed a reservation form with Renaissance but Hyatt's package is very attractive that I might consider backing off from Renaissance if it is still possible. I promised to email him na lang.

When I came to the office, compute-compute na naman... Ohmy! mas mura tlga and the inclusions and freebies are very tempting to let it pass.

So, I emailed Ms. Bonnie of Renaissance kung pwd pa kme back out sa reservation on 2 grounds:
1. We couldn't find a church near Renaissance (which is half-true kz the nearest that we got was Nuestra and St. Michael)
2. We are considering Hyatt which is owned by a similar group owning Renaissance.

After 2 days, we got a reply from Ms. Bonnie that they are releasing us from our 30 January 2010 reservation. Yahoo!! I immediately emailed JC to set a meeting with future groom on Saturday.

Come Saturday, we were again met with JC. He showed us the Bridal Suite, standard room room and ballroom. We paid the reservation fee of P50K. And we were given free buffet lunch at the Market Cafe. The food was great and talking to JC is very entertaining. I even asked him if he can be the host of our wedding reception. hahaha.

Reasons why we finally decided on booking Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila:
1. It has cheaper wedding package or at least almost similar rate with Renaissance Hotel;
2. We were extended 2009 package rate;
3. Hotel accomodation for bridal suite is 3d/2n;
4. Free hotel accomodation for a standard room on the eve of the wedding which can be used by the groom for his preps;
5. No additional charge for Multimedia projector with screen;
6. Relatively new compared to other Makati hotels;
7. Bride and groom were once booked in Hyatt, although in different years, for the bar operations - at least mrn kme connection sa Hyatt. ahahaha, pinilit ba.

Finally booked - hotel reception venue @ Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila!