It's seven in the morning. The Ortigas Business District looks tranquil and refreshing from your window while you savor the last piece of wheat bread and take more sips of your coffee freshly brewed from your kitchen. You know that you have a full day ahead - be it a leisurely walk in the area's shopping and entertainment centers or another grueling day at work.  Yet you look unperturbed because no matter how tiring and hard your holiday and work would be, you know you have a peaceful sanctuary after a full day outside.

The people that you deal with treat you like family. The facilities and amenities are complete and incomparable. You won't mind also what the future holds for you here because you know your needs will be taken care of once you request them.

This is just one of the many ways that Discovery Suites - a serviced apartment which provides five-star hotel service - are enjoyed by guests during its one full decade of existence.  It's a kind of of service that has re-shaped the hospitality industry in  a business district which was once dominated by international chain hotels. 

Discovery Suites began at the onset of the millennium when it first opened its doors  on February 14 2000. This 220-suite property quickly redefined the concept of full-serviced apartments in the Philippines by providing the best hotel services and amenities for long-stay and expatriate guests. It soon established itself as a major player in the area competing and even outperforming international hotel chains.  It boasts two food and beverage outlets, a business center,  eight meeting and function rooms, a luxury spa,a  fitness center, a swimming pool, butler service, 24-hour rooom service and laundry. It is now the leading service apartment in the area and has become synonymous with comfort and excellence in service. 

Filipino brand of hospitality

This achievemnt is regarded as remarkable. But what distinguishes Discovery Suites from the competition is the brand of hospitality that it is now known for.  It tapped the Filipinos' innate qualities and talents, unique characteristics that thay are now employing to delight all their guests. Bobby Horrigan, HSAI-Raintree vice president of hotel operations and Discovery Suites general manager, shares that personalized service is at the op of their agenda especially when dealing with guests' needs. He adds that  this service is not just any kind of service that one can find in any hospitality industry but one that is uniquely Filipino. 

"Filipinos who are in the service industry have been known the world over for their warmth and exceptional service. We highlight this character of the Filipino in everything that we do at Discovery Suites especially in dealing with our guest's needs," he relates. 

He adds that in the hotel business, no two days are the same and every guest has his own special request. Discovery Suites takes extra efforts to provide all these special requests . This is not a tall order for the team because going the extra mile is inherent in the Filipino culture. "The Fiilipino kind of service and hospitality is world-class," stresses Horrigan. "Our goal of making our hotel more than a home is easy because we breathe and live this kind of service. One that is all heart and is sincere. Service is just up there, we always wanted to exceed guest expectations. Our team sets a standard for us, our own five star standard. We're very dynamic and innovative which makes every day for us always special and exciting."

Discovery Suites' love and passion, which is very much present in its predominantly Filipino staff, is something Annabella Wisniewski, president of Discovery Suites' managing company HSAI-Raintree Hospitality Management, is familiar with. She elaborates, "If you are passionate about this industry, you can make it. Passion is something we look for in our key people. I always tell them, if you love your job and you have passion, you will be good at it. If you are  good at it you will be succesful. And if you are  succesful, you will make money."

Wisniewski also stresses that she has always had Filipinos in the center of doing business. She adds, "Discovery Suites aims to develop people with the skills and make them  proud of what they are doing. We hope to keep many talents in the country. "

High satisfaction levels. 

This brand of service has indeed paid well for Discovery Suites. It consistently enjoys high occupancy rates and satisfaction levels across all market segments. Long stay guests, frequent individual travelers and even local residents who want to enjoy the comforts of a hotel while in the city jungle cited the hotel's individualized brand of service for their continued patronage.  Aside from the flagship Discovery Suites, the Filipino hotel brand prides itself with a distinguished portfolio of accommodations located in key tourism spots in the country. 

The bed and breakfast Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay, which opened in 2005. has already set new standards in luxury accommodations in the country's second summer capital. This private mountain sanctuary is a stately manor home refurbished to showcase seven spacious and uniquely designed suites inspired by two exciting design concepts - the Asian Ceylon, Siam and Nara, and the genteel western charms of Andalucia, Saint -Tropez, Nantucket and Oxford. Soft, goose down pillows, feather beds, 300 - thread count beddings, and spacious bathrooms outfitted with exquisite L'Occitane accesories add the signature of indulgence, creating the perfect accommodation for a quiet and romantic getaway.   The Bed and Breakfast also features Restaurant Verbena, cited by the prestigious Miele Guide as one of the most outstanding restaurants in Asia.  Three years after its opening, Discovery Country Suites was ranked among the world's best inns, lodges, boutique hotels and resorts under the prestigious Kiwi Collection and quite recently, it was recognized as a top family destination by the Rotary Club of Paseo de Roxas, Makati.

In 2007, Discovery Shores Boracay redefined luxury resorts with unparralleled level of service and comfort in one of the best beaches in the world. It is a sprawling beachfront property with 88 luxurious guestrooms equipped with only the finest amenities within its praised architecture and  interiors. Under the tutelage of its general manager and HSAI-Raintree vice president Jun Parreño, its fame has reached overseas with its inclusion in the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Facilities include a world-class spa, restaurant, meeting and function rooms and water sports.

The Discovery group's distinguished portfolio is owned by The Discovery Leisure Company (TDLC) headed by its president Ruben Tiu. TDLC's fortuitous collaboration with HSAI-Raintree Hospitality Management headed Annabella Wisniewski are the key drivers of Discovery's success. When asked where TDLC intends to bring Discovery in the future, Tiu reveals that the company will continue investing in the brand and the training of its people. "We will strive to maintain our leadership position and showcase Filipino hospitality at its best."

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