Sparkling Holidays at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

This coming holiday season, the festive Christmas sparkle shines brightest this side of the metro...at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila formally launched their Yuletide celebrations with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony last Thursday, November 7, 2019 with special guest and Secretary of the Department of Tourisim, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. The evening sparkled to open up the much-awaited season...at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

At the lobby high up on the 24th floor of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, elegant holiday decor added a festive vibe...

...with the elaborate Christmas Tree prominently positioned at one side of the lobby draped with all the holiday trimmings. 

A string quartet entertained guests before the formal Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony...

...filling the luxurious space with their bright notes.

The elegant lobby shone brightest with the arrival of Secretary of Tourism Berna Romulo-Puyat...

...as guests eagerly awaited the formal Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. An advocate of sustainable farm and culinary tourism, Secretary of Tourism Berna Romulo-Puyat is changing the game with her innovative programs.

Top management and special guests at the formal Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was led by Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's General Manager Frank Reichenbach (extreme right) and Secretary of Tourism Berna Romulo-Puyat (second from right). The collective tap formally opened the holiday season at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

After the ceremony, Secretary of Tourism Berna Romulo-Puyat exchanged views with Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's management and owners in a casual conversation. Starting December 13, 2019 to January 12, 2020, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila becomes your home for the Yuletide season with special room rates starting at P 6,800, including breakfast for two adults and two kids aged 6 years old and younger, access to the fitness center and indoor pool as well complimentary wireless internet. Overnight stays on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are also available for guests to enjoy starting at P 7,000 and P 7,500 respectively.

Guests can also enjoy a flavorful celebration in any of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's restaurants and bars, from the sumptuous buffet spreads at Cucina and the authentic Cantonese cuisine at Lung Hin (check out their Roasted Goose offer at Lung Hin on my post, The Return of the Premium Hong Kong Golden Roasted Goose at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Lung Hin) to signature cocktails at Vu's Sky Bar and Lounge and indulgent pastries at Cafe Pronto.     

That evening, guests sampled some of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Festive Sips like Spiced Cocoa, Tango Spritzer and Sangria Twist available throughout the holiday season along with savory and indulgent bites.

Later that evening, guests were invited to a lavish dinner at Cucina. Known for their extensive buffet spread, Cucina's Fresh Seafood Station has always been one of my favorites with the day's freshest catch laid on ice. Enjoy your seafood as is or lightly sauteed in creamy butter with garlic, baked with cheese or grilled.

From large and plump clams and elephant clams to succulent mussels, prawns and crabs, Cucina's harvest of fresh seafood is always impressive (for more on Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina, see my previous posts, Italian Flair: A Pizza Acrobat and Classic Italian Cuisine at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's La Vita Italia, Kaon 'Ta sa Cucina! Savor Ilonggo Flavors at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina, The British are Coming...The British Invasion at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Mangiamo! Savor Hearty Italian Flavors with Deliziosa Italia at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina, Five Star A La Carte: A Peek at the New Cucina A La Carte Signature Dishes, From Palette to Palate: Art and Modern Filipino Cuisine at Marco Polo Manila's Cucina and Tasty Indulgence at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina).

And you can come back for more...

...as much as you want. After all, it's the holidays.

Then, there's Cucina's Japanese Station with hand-rolled sushi and maki (L) and the signature Paella (R). From garden-fresh salads to premium cheeses and charcuterie, Chinese and Indian dishes and comforting local cuisine, you'll find it all here at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina.   

At the Carving Station, the crisp and juicy slab of Ilocano Bagnet seemed to be the most popular offering for the evening. It was, coincidentally, the last day of the Ilocano Food Festival at Cucina (for more on the previous Ilocano Food Festival at Cucina, see my earlier post, Amazing Ilocos: Bagnet, Empanada, Dinengdeng, Dinardaraan, Papaitan and More at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina).

This holiday season, make Marco Polo Ortigas Manila your home away from home with the family. It shines bright, and sparkles, this side of the metro...at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.