Where business meets leisure. For Gab Perez, the 31-year-old innovative founder and president of the Privato Hotel Group, this is more than a tagline or slogan. It’s Privato hotel chain’s tried-and-true, rock-solid commitment to its clientele, consisting mostly of business and leisure travelers as well as those who travel for “bleisure.”
This true-blue Atenista-turned-entrepreneur was armed with a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the Ateneo de Manila Graduate School of Business when he founded the Privato Hotel Group by Green Asia Real Estate.
Business must have been so good that since Privato was launched five years ago, there are now two Privato hotels (Ortigas, Pasig City, across Capitol Commons; Scout Castor, Tomas Morato, Quezon City) with another one (Makati) opening soon. Two of these, Ortigas and Makati, Gab built from the ground up. The one in QC (formerly Meranti) he acquired from the Max’s Group as he was delighted to see that the hotel’s amazing aesthetic jibed with his vision. The hotel was designed by the firm of Budji Layug and Royal Pineda, with furniture by Kenneth Cobonpue.
“Yes, Privato is now in Makati (Barangay San Antonio, along Kamagong St., a strolling distance from Poblacion),” Gab shares with pleasure. “For Makati, we’re also tapping into the corporate market and the yuppie professionals.”
Not Your Usual Business Hotel
But then again, Privato is more than just a business hotel. True to its promise, this business boutique hotel seamlessly combines business with leisure. “We’re one of few business hotels that have a swimming pool, a gym, a function room, a ballroom, and restaurants,” says Gab with a hint of pride. “We’re really a no-frills business hotel, but we raised the standard a bit by adding some amenities.”
Wrapped in Italian marble, reputedly one of the best materials in the world, Privato Makati sports an Italian vibe. The rooms, designed by Gab himself, have a streamlined, efficient look in three no-nonsense colors — white, black and gray.
For Ortigas, where there are 200 rooms, the biggest is 60 sqm., then 30 and 21. For Privato in Quezon City, the rooms (60 in all) are all 35 sqm. For Makati, the rooms (a total of 65 for the 10 floors) are 21 and 30 sqm., at around P3,000 to P3,500 per night. The most expensive room (60 sqm.) is priced at P7,000 per night while the cheapest and most salable (21 sq.m.) is at an average nightly rate of P2,500 to P2,700. Yes, the 20-percent senior discount applies.
Despite its central location, Privato, as its name suggests, offers guests some privacy. A welcome respite for the harried businessman who can enjoy a great meal at the Privato restaurant after a hard day’s work. No need to go out of the hotel. The delicious news is that the new Privato Makati is negotiating to get Maple, famous for its spicy blackened chicken, prime rib tapa and clam chowder.
Fact is, Privato has become a popular breakfast place for joggers in Pasig who’d jog every morning to the hotel to enjoy its P350-buffet breakfast, which includes coffee and tea, a pancake station, pasta station, salad, soup, cereals, fruits, and dessert station.
Making it its business to pamper guests, Privato has also attracted families from the provinces as well as families who simply want to get away from it all without going out of the city. “They check in for a weekend staycation,” Gab tells us. “We also have couples who just need a break (perhaps away from their children?) and want to have a good experience without having to spend a fortune at a five-star hotel. Here, they’ll only pay P2,500 for a room. They’ll start with dinner at the roofdeck, with a small garden by the pool, and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city skyline at night, have a drink at the bar, and then, have a good night’s sleep. The next morning, they can have buffet breakfast. They can get a massage, swim or use the gym. So, their weekend experience is complete.”
Champagne For The Price Of Beer
Gab declares, “Our goal is to serve champagne for the price of beer. So, even with our low rates, guests get all the accoutrements of a typical hotel.”
Privato attracts a big market of well-traveled, exposed yuppies who have discerning tastes but don’t necessarily want to spend. “That’s me,” says Gab with a chuckle. “Cheapskates, but they’ve seen the world. They want champagne but are only willing to pay for the price of a beer.”
He adds, “There’s a big chunk of underserved hotel market in Makati. Because when you think of Makati, not everyone can afford to stay in a posh five-star hotel. We want to fill that gap, so when you’re in Makati, you don’t have to spend this much for a good hotel stay. Our corporate rate comes out cheaper when you add everything up because we pay for your Internet (yes, there’s free WiFi), electricity, telephone bill, it’s all in. There are also a lot of other hotel brands in Makati, so we’re complementing them.”
Privato is also open to long-staying guests who book with Privato for work-related reasons (the hotel chain is in every online booking agency, or you can go through travel agencies or direct booking agents, says Gab; or call 376-6340 to 42).
With its well-trained, attentive, dedicated, friendly staff to ensure a most memorable stay, Privato’s day-to-day operations are professionally run by the Enderun management team. The food is also outsourced. “In Ortigas, we use Interpro, the old operator of Manila Polo Club while in Quezon City, it’s Kitchen City,” says Gab.
Now, shall we raise a toast to the new Privato Hotel and enjoy our champagne?
Where business meets leisure. For Gab Perez, the 31-year-old innovative founder and president of the Privato Hotel Group, this is more than a tagline or slogan. It’s Privato hotel chain’s tried-and-true, rock-solid commitment to its clientele, consisting mostly of business and leisure travelers as well as those who travel for “bleisure.”
This true-blue Atenista-turned-entrepreneur was armed with a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the Ateneo de Manila Graduate School of Business when he founded the Privato Hotel Group by Green Asia Real Estate.
Business must have been so good that since Privato was launched five years ago, there are now two Privato hotels (Ortigas, Pasig City, across Capitol Commons; Scout Castor, Tomas Morato, Quezon City) with another one (Makati) opening soon. Two of these, Ortigas and Makati, Gab built from the ground up. The one in QC (formerly Meranti) he acquired from the Max’s Group as he was delighted to see that the hotel’s amazing aesthetic jibed with his vision. The hotel was designed by the firm of Budji Layug and Royal Pineda, with furniture by Kenneth Cobonpue.
“Yes, Privato is now in Makati (Barangay San Antonio, along Kamagong St., a strolling distance from Poblacion),” Gab shares with pleasure. “For Makati, we’re also tapping into the corporate market and the yuppie professionals.”
Not Your Usual Business Hotel
But then again, Privato is more than just a business hotel. True to its promise, this business boutique hotel seamlessly combines business with leisure. “We’re one of few business hotels that have a swimming pool, a gym, a function room, a ballroom, and restaurants,” says Gab with a hint of pride. “We’re really a no-frills business hotel, but we raised the standard a bit by adding some amenities.”
Wrapped in Italian marble, reputedly one of the best materials in the world, Privato Makati sports an Italian vibe. The rooms, designed by Gab himself, have a streamlined, efficient look in three no-nonsense colors — white, black and gray.
For Ortigas, where there are 200 rooms, the biggest is 60 sqm., then 30 and 21. For Privato in Quezon City, the rooms (60 in all) are all 35 sqm. For Makati, the rooms (a total of 65 for the 10 floors) are 21 and 30 sqm., at around P3,000 to P3,500 per night. The most expensive room (60 sqm.) is priced at P7,000 per night while the cheapest and most salable (21 sq.m.) is at an average nightly rate of P2,500 to P2,700. Yes, the 20-percent senior discount applies.
Despite its central location, Privato, as its name suggests, offers guests some privacy. A welcome respite for the harried businessman who can enjoy a great meal at the Privato restaurant after a hard day’s work. No need to go out of the hotel. The delicious news is that the new Privato Makati is negotiating to get Maple, famous for its spicy blackened chicken, prime rib tapa and clam chowder.
Fact is, Privato has become a popular breakfast place for joggers in Pasig who’d jog every morning to the hotel to enjoy its P350-buffet breakfast, which includes coffee and tea, a pancake station, pasta station, salad, soup, cereals, fruits, and dessert station.
Making it its business to pamper guests, Privato has also attracted families from the provinces as well as families who simply want to get away from it all without going out of the city. “They check in for a weekend staycation,” Gab tells us. “We also have couples who just need a break (perhaps away from their children?) and want to have a good experience without having to spend a fortune at a five-star hotel. Here, they’ll only pay P2,500 for a room. They’ll start with dinner at the roofdeck, with a small garden by the pool, and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city skyline at night, have a drink at the bar, and then, have a good night’s sleep. The next morning, they can have buffet breakfast. They can get a massage, swim or use the gym. So, their weekend experience is complete.”
Champagne For The Price Of Beer
Gab declares, “Our goal is to serve champagne for the price of beer. So, even with our low rates, guests get all the accoutrements of a typical hotel.”
Privato attracts a big market of well-traveled, exposed yuppies who have discerning tastes but don’t necessarily want to spend. “That’s me,” says Gab with a chuckle. “Cheapskates, but they’ve seen the world. They want champagne but are only willing to pay for the price of a beer.”
He adds, “There’s a big chunk of underserved hotel market in Makati. Because when you think of Makati, not everyone can afford to stay in a posh five-star hotel. We want to fill that gap, so when you’re in Makati, you don’t have to spend this much for a good hotel stay. Our corporate rate comes out cheaper when you add everything up because we pay for your Internet (yes, there’s free WiFi), electricity, telephone bill, it’s all in. There are also a lot of other hotel brands in Makati, so we’re complementing them.”
Privato is also open to long-staying guests who book with Privato for work-related reasons (the hotel chain is in every online booking agency, or you can go through travel agencies or direct booking agents, says Gab; or call 376-6340 to 42).
With its well-trained, attentive, dedicated, friendly staff to ensure a most memorable stay, Privato’s day-to-day operations are professionally run by the Enderun management team. The food is also outsourced. “In Ortigas, we use Interpro, the old operator of Manila Polo Club while in Quezon City, it’s Kitchen City,” says Gab.
Now, shall we raise a toast to the new Privato Hotel and enjoy our champagne?
