Shangri-La The Fort, Manila — Hotel in Taguig

Amazing staff, good for business trips, but not worth it for a special occasion.

The staff at The Fort are phenomenal. They are all extremely knowledgeable and familiar with the ins and outs of the hospitality industry. When we arrived, the women at the front desk, Bea, Shairah, and Ryla were so personable, sweet, kind, and accommodating, and even sent us a bottle of wine for our special occasion. They were always available to try and accommodate our needs and greeted us with beaming smiles every time we saw them. Danielle was also so accommodating, as well as Aillen at the front desk. Helen in the buffet restaurant let us take home some bagels after we learned we couldn't take any of our other leftovers (understandable in a buffet, but we were brought food we didn't order and felt really bad about the obscene amount of waste--we could have fed a family of four with the leftovers, and I'd called the front desk earlier to ask if we could ) however she was very understanding and tried genuinely to offer alternatives. Also the bartenders at the beach bar of Samba restaurant engaged so genuinely in conversation. Be sure to visit Albert in the Back Room bar, he is so passionate about what he's doing and it is clearly reflected in the quality and craftsmanship of the cocktails. All of the concierge staff are so friendly and helpful, booking our grabs for us and staying on top of arrival time and information.

However, in comparison to other luxury hotels (such as the Peninsula, where we stayed earlier in the trip), it's not worth the price. The rooms have the air of a high quality Hilton, not a 5 star luxury hotel. The food off the room service menu was extremely bland (veg fried rice, oyster sauce veggies, green beans). While the hotel is more modern that some others, built in 2016, the room design is not well thought out. For example, there is no way to turn the lights off when you leave. There's no way to cast your device and watch from there. In comparison, (which, I admit, is anecdotal) for the same price at the Peninsula there are light controls all over their rooms, a printer in the desk, remote controlled curtains, a sound system and smart tv, two bathrooms in a suite, complementary toiletries. The soap in the Shangri-la is screwed into the wall, so you need to call service or fill up a cup from the bottle pump to take a bubble bath. Obviously these are trivial issues, but when you end up paying $500 a night for a hotel, the trivial things aren't so trivial anymore.

There are small details that make a luxury hotel worth the stay. If you're traveling on business, you probably won't be disappointed, but if you're looking for something special, for a honeymoon or the like, look elsewhere. I was overall disappointed with the quality of the hotel itself, not the staff, but it's clear that this hotel is curated toward people on business and not for the guests traveling for pleasure. Our room was upgraded because of my credit card, and I'd be shocked to see the quality of the room we booked. I would not consider this hotel a...

In my previous correspondence with Shangri-La, I have highlighted the exceptional quality of the cuisine in the Horizon Club Lounge and suggested that a menu refresh might enhance the experience further. During my recent stay, as I proceeded from my room to the Horizon Club Lounge in anticipation of a warm reception and a satisfying breakfast before commencing my day, I was delighted to discover that the morning selections had indeed been updated. The revised menu now features an array of innovative options alongside a selection of timeless favorites. Over the course of my brief visit, I sampled several of the new additions. While personal preferences vary and not every dish resonated equally, I found the majority to be exceptionally well-executed and a welcome enhancement to the overall offering. This positive evolution left me thoroughly impressed, and I have since recommended these updates to my friends and colleagues planning visits to the Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Manila.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to several outstanding members of your staff who exemplified exceptional hospitality, making us feel truly valued and at home. At the High Street Café, Sofia and Michael Aloria from the morning buffet team anticipated our beverage preferences with precision and provided attentive service that was both gracious and unobtrusive. Their manager, Alvin, ensured we were warmly welcomed and seated in our preferred location.

In the Horizon Club Lounge, Darwin, Dexter, Sharra, Mark, Johnathon, David, and Manu delivered impeccable care, reinforcing our loyalty to the Shangri-La at the Fort for all our Manila visits. The chef, who I'm embarrassed I can't remember her name, came out to our table to ask how our food was prepared and to make sure the taste and appearance met our expectations. She took a personal request for future dishes and unbeknownst to us, went back to the kitchen and actually made it for us on the spot. Additionally, Food and Beverage Manager Theta made a dedicated effort to personally check on our needs, surpassing our expectations in every regard. Thank you once again for an outstanding stay, despite its brevity.

I enjoy expressing my deep appreciation for the exceptional pool and gym facilities at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Manila, which consistently enhance the enjoyment of my stays. The serene ambiance and well-maintained environment of the pool area are truly commendable and reflect the high standards synonymous with the Shangri-La brand. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction and for continually seeking ways to refine the Shangri-La experience. My wife and I remain ardent supporters of your brand and look forward to our forthcoming visits where we eagerly anticipate exploring your latest offerings.

I commend your team for attentively incorporating guest feedback and consistently innovating to elevate the guest experience across...

Tribute for the Staff at the Shangri-La The Fort, Manila / Residences||My sincere apologies for the late review. My heart is telling me to express our BIG appreciation to the staff at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila Residences. Our family trip with my wife and two adult sons meant a lot because of our memorable stay at The Fort Residences. And I sincerely thank Tripadvisor for their kind consideration posting this late review.||Our family trip started from San Francisco to Osaka/Kyoto/Awaji Island/Boracay Shangri-La, then finally to a place we consider our second home: Shangri-La The Fort Residences (April 4-19, 2024 inclusive). It was the first time our second son stayed at The Fort Residences.||Based on our experience, the following description bears truth: ||‘True to its brand name, Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, operates on a simple yet powerful philosophy of Shangri-La hospitality from warm, caring people. With its lifestyle hubs that reshape living, dining and shopping experiences, it is truly a dynamic destination for contemporary lifestyle and accessible luxury and a prime example of BGC’s motto - a Home of Passionate Minds’. ||The staff deeply exemplified those sentiments.||In recognition/appreciation of regular guests at The Fort Residences, we were invited to attend the ‘Sunkissed Sips’ at the Samba Pool Deck (see attached). Truly an amazing get together with The Fort Management/Staff while cultivating pleasant memories during our stay. Warm human interaction was key and made our day. Thank you, The Fort Residences Management/Staff for the great food, drinks, while sharing stories and hospitality beyond our expectations.||We had great experiences during our daily breakfast at the High Street Cafe. We truly appreciate the special services by serving us new fruit drinks, ceviches, freshly cut fruits - all served with warm smiles.||Please extend our appreciation to the entire staff from The Fort Residences as follows - Max Verzo, Carl Tolentino, Dominic Esquivel, Cathlyn Ventanilla, Ross Saceda, Jerwin-Bellman/Concierge, Andrea-Food Services.||High Street Cafe staff led by Ms. Tata and Alvin Morecho, Morris Bolotaolo, Leandro Pineda-Sous Chef, Helen Muller-CDP, Nicole Mandilag, Hazel Ballesteros, Sofia Lachico, Raffy Tumbocon-Breakfast Sunshines, Micheal Aloria, France Tejada, Arianne Alcantara-Pastry, Jhoana Inna Habitan-Omelette, Alessandro Resio- Roti/Bacon, Daisy Tolentino-Wok, Iris Arcan-Medi/Fruit.||Again, thank you to the Management for hosting the ‘Sunkissed Sips’ namely Charmaine Celdran-Director of Rooms, Danessa Bartolo-Assistant Director of Food and Beverage, Danica Talana-Sales Manager, Jinnah Corpuz-Front Office Manager, Mirko De Giorgi-Resident Manager, and last but not the least, the admirable Chefs (see attached).||Happy New Year...