ON the eve of the Chinese New Year, as the nation—along with the rest of the world—geared up to welcome the Year of the Fire Monkey on the lunar calendar, Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel relaunched the iconic Chinese hotel.
Strategically located right in the heart of Chinatown in the City of Manila, which is considered as the oldest Chinatown in the world, Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel stands at the corner of Ongpin and Padilla streets, where crowds of merry-makers converged around stalls selling tikoy, huat ke (prosperity cake), giant prosperity siopao, monkey figurines and balloons, lucky charms and bracelets, fruits and practically everything else that has got to do with bringing about luck and prosperity in the coming year. Ongpin is the center of celebration every Chinese New Year, and the celebration that takes place starts heating up on the eve of Chinese New Year, which this year fell on February 7, 2016 (yesterday). So, no other time of the year could have been more auspicious for the hotel to relaunch.
Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel actually opened its doors on September 1, 2014, when the management company behind Binondo Suites Manila, led by Jackson Chua, took over the old hotel. The new management had the old establishment developed into a modern Chinese style hotel—from the facade to the lobby and rooms. It recently underwent another round of renovations that had its interiors designed based on feng shui so that anyone who stays at the hotel would feel positive energy, harmony and happiness. Its name alone, Lai Lai, means “welcome” in Chinese, and, unlike other hotels which ask for deposit when a guest checks into the hotel, Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel asks a guest what his/her birthday is and assigns a room in accordance to the “luck” of the guest.
Every room in the hotel has been renovated, including the tiling and beds, air-conditioning system, sofa and other furniture and facilities. It comes equipped with LED TV with cable, electric kettle, hair dryer, hot and cold shower in the bathroom, working table, phone, built-in safe, unlimited WiFi access and 24-hour room service; and everything in the room is positioned and placed according to feng shui. In the hallway, there is now bright lighting and CCTV cameras have been installed for the safety of guests.
Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel, which has a total of 84 rooms, offers five different types of rooms—Standard Room (with one Queen sized bed, toilet and bath, at Php2,280); Superior Room (with two Single beds, toilet/bath, at Php2,880); Deluxe Room (with one Queen sized bed and one Single bed, toilet/bath and mini refrigerator, at Php3,180); Junior Suite (with one Queen sized bed, toilet/bath, sofa, dining area and mini ref, at Php3,880); and Executive Suite (with a King sized bed in the bedroom, a living room, toilet/bath, two TVs, two mini refs and two air-cons, at Php4,580).
The hotel also boasts of its food outlet, Café Chino, located in the basement of the establishment. It was packed on the eve of the Chinese New Year because it offers all-day buffets that are reasonably priced. Its breakfast buffet, which is available from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m., is only Php149. The lunch buffet (from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) and the dinner buffet (from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.) are pegged at an incredible Php299 per person, with the buffet spread normally consisting of eight to 10 dishes. According to Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel’s officer-in-charge, Jean Chua, the menu cycle allows the restaurant to offer a different set of dishes per day, so diners can be sure that although the buffet is priced really low, the food is cooked fresh every day and the selection of dishes is good and varied.
Other services and facilities that come with Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel are an events venue at the roof deck called Rich Apple, which can accommodate from 100 to 200 persons and treats guests to a breathtaking bird’s eye view of Manila; a Spa that offers 24-hour massage, reflexology, facial and body scrub services; and five KTV rooms that can accommodate from 10 to 30 persons. Set up with tables and chairs where “singers” can enjoy food and drinks at the same time, these KTV rooms also serve as private function rooms when necessary.
The relaunch of Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel began with an auspicious Lion and Dragon Dance right outside the hotel to the sound of merry drumbeat. The three lions and the grand-looking dragon then swayed, leaped, and danced their way into the hotel, first filling the lobby with pomp, gaiety and positive vibes, then moving around the hotel to bring luck and prosperity everywhere, before going out and joining the grand celebration outside. A small stage had also been set up right beside the hotel entrance for the Little Emperor and Empress competition to keep merrymakers busy while waiting for the countdown to the Chinese New Year.
Outside, the crowd grew larger as the evening progressed, bringing Chinoys and Pinoys together and blending Filipino and Chinese cultures and making them come together as one.
(Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel is located at 801 Ongpin St. corner S. Padilla St., Sta. Cruz, Manila 1006; with telephone number 252-2888.)
