The Manila Hotel
Asia's 1912 Beaux-Arts grande dame, once General MacArthur's Philippine home
About the Property
One of Asia's oldest and most storied grand hotels, The Manila Hotel opened in 1912 as the social heart of the American colonial Philippines. Its Beaux-Arts facade and chandeliered ballrooms hosted General Douglas MacArthur, who maintained a penthouse suite from 1935 to 1941, as well as the Beatles, three US presidents, and countless heads of state. The Champagne Room remains one of Manila's most iconic dining venues, and the hotel's Rizal Park setting anchors it to the Philippine national story.
Original Purpose
Grand luxury hotel
Highlights
History Timeline
Philippine Commission authorises construction of a first-class government hotel on Manila Bay
The Manila Hotel opens on July 4, instantly becoming the social centre of American colonial Manila
General Douglas MacArthur takes up residence in the penthouse suite as Military Adviser to the Philippines
MacArthur departs; Japanese forces occupy the hotel during WWII
The Beatles stay during their controversial Manila tour, sparking a diplomatic incident
Declared a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government