Conference participants are responsible to reserve and pay for their own accommodations. WANGO has secured a special conference rate for hotel rooms at the Manila Hotel (One Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines; Tel: (632) 527-0011; Fax: (632) 527-0022; resvn@manila-hotel.com.ph; www.manila-hotel.com.ph), where the conference sessions will be held. The Manila Hotel is a five-star hotel overlooking Manila Bay and Rizal National Park. It is located about ten kilometers (thirty minutes) from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The conference rate at the Manila Hotel for a superior deluxe room (whether single occupancy or double occupancy) is 6,500 Philippine pesos per night net (about US$ 136 net). Thus, for two people sharing a room, the total cost for each person would be Php 3,250 per night net or about US$ 68 per person. The price listed is net in that it already includes the 11% government tax and 10% service charge. Buffet breakfast is included with the accommodations. To receive this discount rate, guests must be registered for the World Congress of NGOs.
The special rate for the Manila Hotel is only available until October 26, 2009. After this time, the room block and special rates will be released.
To make reservations at the Manila Hotel, one can use the secure online form at www.manila-hotel.com.ph. Alternatively, international guests may call (632) 527-0011 or E-mail resvn@manila-hotel.com.ph to make room reservations.
Since attendees are responsible for their own room reservations, those who wish to share a room with another participant will need to make their own arrangements for a roommate. Unless the correct name of the roommate is specified with the hotel, and both roommates confirm their reservations with the hotel, the hotel will assume single occupancy. WANGO members may utilize a special online roommate matching service to help in locating a roommate for the conference. This service can be accessed on the conference website at http://www.wango.org/congress/roommate.
Participants may also secure accommodations at other hotels in Manila. One hotel within reasonable walking distance (10-15 minutes) is the Bayview Park Hotel (1118 Roxas Boulevard, corner United Nations Avenue; tel: (632) 247-9000; fax (632) 522-3040; www.bayviewparkhotel.com). Participants of the World Congress of NGOs have been offered a single occupancy rate of Php 2,700 net per person per night (US$ 60 net), a double occupancy rate of Php 1,600 net per person per night (or US$ 35.55 net per person per night), and a triple occupancy rate of Php 1,200 net per person per night (US$ 26.67 net per person per night). Buffet breakfast is also included with the room accommodations at the Bayview Park Hotel.
An historic landmark, built in 1909 and inaugurated in 1912, the Manila Hotel is finishing a complete renovation of its rooms (in 2009). This premiere hotel is centrally located in the heart of the Manila Bay area, within walking distance of the Rizal Park and Intramuros, an old walled city of the Spanish period. Nearby are shops, the public aquarium, and it is about ten minutes by car from the largest mall in Asia, the ultramodern Mall of Asia, which opened in 2006.
The Manila Hotel includes several restaurants, a sport and health club complex, two tennis courts, two squash courts, gyms, sauna, and a pool with a swim-up bar. There is a 24-hour full-menu room service, medical and dental clinic, and other world-class facilities. Among the restaurants are Ilang-ilang coffee shop (international and Filipino cuisine), the Cowrie Grill (Western), Ginza (Japanese), Champagne Room (French-Italian), and Tap Room Bar.