Seamless stay in Seda Atria

Waking up early to the sound of rain in a strange but happy place. Looking at a historical landmark from my hotel window while sipping a cup of peppermint tea. Watching the raindrops against the window while meditating. A seamless hotel experience.

April to June are my busiest and most stressful months and it was capped with an unfortunate visit to a hospital’s emergency room and several days of agonizing over my lab results. During that time, I imagined myself having a nice vacation. God listened so I found myself spending the night at Seda Atria. 

Seda Atria and the Pison monument at night

AMENITIES

Owned by the Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation (AHRC), 4-star hotel Seda Atria is technologically advanced with its fast and paperless check-in. In just one minute, I already got my hotel keycard and was ushered to the elevator that will bring me to my floor.

I spent the whole afternoon and late evening in their luxurious room, just lying down on their comfy bed. Their beds were custom-made to ensure the correct firmness and support. 

We stayed in a De Luxe room with twin beds. Seda Atria has 150 guest rooms including Deluxe Rooms, Premier Rooms, and a Presidential Suite. LED HDTV with cable channels, media panel with HDMI, USB and audio-visual connectivity, complimentary Wi-Fi and broadband internet access, IDD phone with iPod dock, alarm clock, and radio, coffee and tea making facilities, minibar and in-room safe.

I wish they have a brighter lighting option, though. But, despite that, I was able to work on my pending articles and videos (room’s got a free Wi-Fi!) while my two companions are already in dreamland.

Their other amenities are the E-Lounge (located at the lobby, with a bank of iMacs) gym, function rooms, meeting rooms and a strong internet connection.

BEST BREAKFAST BUFFET

Whenever my tribe would crave a breakfast buffet, we would go to Seda Atria because of their thoughtfully prepared spread. I am very particular about the aftertaste. That greasy feeling after eating a feast? I never experienced that with them.

Their breakfast buffet is offered daily from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Misto, a full-service restaurant that offers traditional international dishes, Filipino classics, and must-try Ilonggo specialties.

A la carte is served for the rest of the day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. They also have Coffee Indulgence wherein for only P250, guests can enjoy unlimited coffee, tea, and delicious pastries from 2 to 5 pm daily.

Misto, a full-service restaurant

UNWIND

Their Straight Up Bar at the rooftop is a wonderful place to unwind during the evening. The only one of its kind in Iloilo City, the bar offers guests a spectacular view of the city, relaxing music and assorted mouthwatering pica-pica. It is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Straight Up Bar alfresco area. They also have an air-conditioned area.

HIGHEST RATED HOTEL

In choosing a hotel, it’s best to read the reviews first and you can get this from travel sites like TripAdvisor which gave Seda Atria a certificate of excellence after consistently earning great reviews from travelers.

Seda Atria has left a mark not only on me but on others who have walked its halls, enjoyed its food, and slumbered on its beds. Here are two examples:

On one occasion when the hotel’s F&B associate delivered food that a guest ordered, she noticed that the guest was having a bad cold and sore throat. A few minutes later, she was back with a pot of hot tea with lemon and honey.

Seda Atria’s staff are also quick to act during emergencies like in one instance, a room attendant found a guest lying on the bed in a room that is in disarray. She was weak, pale and nauseous. The staff immediately reported this to the front office manager and supervisor who immediately went to the guest’s room with security personnel. They were able to persuade the guest to go to the nearby Qualimed Hospital where it was later found that she suffered from severe dehydration. Because of their quick action and “malasakit”, a life was saved.

E-Lounge with iMacs and a strong internet connection is accessible for 24 hours

HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE

“I’m proud of our people here in Seda Atria,” Hotel Manager Joseph del Rosario told this writer.

Del Rosario is backed by 26 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has a Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP) recognition, the highest acknowledgment given by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) to those in the hospitality and tourism industry. He, along with Seda’s senior executives also passed their CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator) program with high remarks. The hotel’s front-liners and security have earned CGSP recognition, too.

Their Human Resources Department conducts regular Customer Service 101 Training to all the employees to make sure that everyone is aware of the basic customer service and the standards of Seda Hospitality.

Seda Atria is competent to handle local and international travelers and business and corporate groups especially now that Iloilo is an emerging venue for Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, and Exhibitions (MICE).

Joseph del Rosario, hotel manager

SAFETY

Seda Atria has trained security guards and canines like “Chona”, a Belgian Malinois to do inspections in all entrances and exits of the hotel to ensure the safety of the guests at all times.

Security cameras are also provided in every corner and certain areas of the hotel as a deterrent to crime. The hotel has an emergency backup designated lighting and power to key systems and equipment. They also have licensed engineers who do regular safety inspections/maintenance on specific items of equipment.

The hotel complies with the requirements of local fire safety enforcement laws by conducting fire drills and training team members in following fire evacuation procedures.

Lobby

RICH CULTURE

Seda Atria also showcases art and Iloilo’s rich culture. The polished interiors feature the works of Kenneth Cobonpue and Jaime Zobel de Ayala in the restaurant and meeting rooms. The hotel's hallways also feature canvasses of Iloilo’s heritage churches.

Seda Atria is at the center of a historical landmark, too. The area is a former sugar plantation and salt beds owned by Donato M. Pison. A muscovado chimney, a monument that commemorates the Pison family’s contribution to Iloilo’s agriculture industry, now stands across the hotel. I was lucky to have stayed in a room overlooking the said monument.

Meeting room

ACCESSIBILITY

The hotel’s location can make or break your vacation. Good thing, Seda Atria is located near the Shops of Atria that has dining and retail establishments. (Hotel guests receive a discount card for selected outlets at the Shops of Atria. The card is given along with the hotel keycard upon check-in.)

Before our check-in, we had pastries at the nearby Geronimo Cafe + Bakery. For dinner, we went to Brewery Gastropub which is also a few meters from the hotel.

The hotel is also near the malls, office spaces, hospitals, and schools. It is also just a 30-minute drive from the airport and about 15 minutes ride away from bus terminals - gateways to the different historical, cultural and leisure attractions in the province of Iloilo.

Seamless service. Modern amenities. Security. Rich culture. Accessibility. These are the reasons why I would recommend my friends to stay at Seda Atria.

To learn more about Seda Atria, visit their website https://atria.sedahotels.com/ 

Once in a while, they offer exciting promos. To get regular updates, follow their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sedaatriahotel/