InterContinental Manila, hotel in Makati, Philippines
InterContinental Manila was a five-star hotel on Ayala Avenue in Makati, Philippines. The building was designed with input from architect Leandro Locsin, and its rooms were later updated with Filipino design elements in the early 2000s.
The project began in the 1950s under the name Rizal Intercontinental Hotel and took nearly a decade to take final shape. It opened in April 1969 as Manila's first five-star hotel, at a time when Makati was transitioning from a largely undeveloped area into a modern business district.
The 365 Club inside the hotel was a regular meeting spot for media professionals, politicians, and wealthy families from across Makati. Fashion shows and wedding receptions were held there, making it a reference point for the city's social life.
The hotel stood on Ayala Avenue, one of Makati's main roads, within walking distance of shopping centers and office buildings. Visitors exploring the area today will find the surroundings easy to navigate on foot, especially during daytime hours.
At the opening party in April 1969, singer Pilita Corrales performed inside a glass tube that rose from the hotel's swimming pool. The hotel was also the first in the Philippines to introduce the guest relations officer role in the 1970s, a concept that other hotels across the country later adopted.
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