AC Hotels by Marriott has officially entered the Philippine market with the opening of AC Hotel by Marriott Manila, a design-forward, business-focused property inside the LEED Platinum-certified GLAS Tower in Ortigas Center.

The debut introduces the Spanish-born lifestyle brand to the archipelago for the first time, expanding Marriott’s footprint in Metro Manila and adding a new option for travelers seeking modern, understated luxury in one of the capital’s busiest commercial districts.

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Brand Debut in a Key Manila Business Hub

The launch of AC Hotel by Marriott Manila marks the formal debut of AC Hotels by Marriott in the Philippines, a milestone that Marriott International has been signaling in its development pipeline for Asia Pacific.

Located in the Ortigas central business district, the hotel targets business travelers, urban staycationers, and international visitors who want to be based within one of Metro Manila’s major corporate and retail corridors.

The property occupies upper floors of the all-glass GLAS Tower at the corner of Ruby and Opal roads, placing guests within reach of several office complexes, financial institutions, and shopping malls that have turned Ortigas into a business and lifestyle hub.

Its opening in late 2025 comes at a time when Metro Manila’s hospitality sector continues to rebound, with both domestic and regional travel demand pushing up occupancy in centrally located hotels.

For Marriott’s AC Hotels brand, which is known for European-influenced minimalism and a focus on “elevated essentials,” Manila represents a strategic gateway in Southeast Asia.

The Philippines’ growing middle class, increased airline connectivity and expanding meetings and events market have made the capital an attractive stage for new lifestyle-oriented brands to test concepts tailored to younger and design-conscious travelers.

Design-Led Spaces Above the Ortigas Skyline

AC Hotel by Marriott Manila positions itself as a vertical urban retreat. Public areas are arranged across the upper levels of GLAS Tower, with the main lobby set on the 38th floor, giving arriving guests an immediate panorama of the Ortigas skyline through floor-to-ceiling glass.

The high-altitude layout is intended to create separation from the traffic and noise at street level, while maximizing daylight and city views.

The design draws on the brand’s European roots, but with a distinctly Filipino sense of warmth. Interiors lean toward clean lines, neutral tones, and carefully edited décor, avoiding visual clutter in favor of open, functional spaces.

Double-glazed glass and acoustic treatments are incorporated to dampen city noise and filter harsh sunlight, turning guestrooms and lounges into quiet vantage points above the metropolis.

The tower itself, certified LEED Platinum, underscores an emphasis on environmental performance. Energy-efficient glazing, modern building systems, and a compact urban footprint align with growing interest among corporate and leisure travelers in more sustainable hotel options.

For Ortigas, which has seen a wave of new office and residential towers in recent years, the hotel adds a hospitality anchor that fits into a newer generation of high-spec buildings.

Rooms, Suites and Extended-Stay Options

The hotel offers 160 rooms and suites, including accommodations designed for both short city breaks and longer stays. Configurations range from standard guest rooms to larger executive suites and serviced-style apartments with separate living areas and kitchens, aimed at visiting executives, project teams and travelers who need more space and flexibility.

Guestrooms are contemporary and streamlined, with a focus on functionality. Features typically include generous work surfaces, integrated charging points, and seating areas positioned to take advantage of the tower’s outward vistas. Panoramic views vary from dense cityscapes to golf-course greenery and sunsets over Metro Manila, depending on room orientation and floor level.

The brand’s “AC Signature Moments” are also present in Manila, bringing small, ritualized touches to the stay experience. In-room lavender turndown amenities are designed to promote restful sleep, while eucalyptus and mint shower steamers provide a spa-like sensory element to morning routines.

High-thread-count bedding, double-glazed windows, and blackout curtains aim to create an insulated environment for both business and leisure guests who need reliable rest in a city known for its round-the-clock pace.

European-Inspired Dining with Filipino Flair

Food and beverage play a pivotal role in AC Hotels’ positioning, and the Manila property leans heavily into a culinary narrative that marries European techniques with Filipino flavors.

At AC Kitchen, the main all-day dining restaurant, menus are structured around a mix of international dishes and local comfort food, with an emphasis on presentation and simplicity.

Guests can expect Spanish and Mediterranean influences such as Manchego cheese, prosciutto and the brand’s signature breakfast cazuela, alongside Filipino staples including adobo, sinigang, pork sisig, chicken inasal and vegetarian kare-kare.

The idea is to create a dining experience that feels both familiar and cosmopolitan, with plates designed as much for business lunches and power breakfasts as for relaxed weekend brunches overlooking the city.

AC Lounge, situated near the elevated lobby, functions as a hybrid work and social space. During the day it caters to informal meetings and laptop work, while in the late afternoon it transitions into a bar setting.

The property observes the brand’s “AC Hour,” typically in the early evening, when cocktails such as the signature AC Gin & Tonic are paired with complimentary tapas, encouraging guests to linger and socialize after office hours.

Rooftop Cocktails, Indoor Pool and Wellness Facilities

One of the hotel’s visual highlights is the AC Bar, an open-air rooftop venue perched on the uppermost floors of GLAS Tower. Designed for sunset viewing and nighttime cityscapes, the bar offers creative cocktails, wines, beers and small plates in an intimate setting with limited seating, positioning it as a venue for both in-house guests and local visitors seeking a more elevated night out in Ortigas.

For wellness, AC Hotel by Marriott Manila includes an indoor swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Both are housed on high floors to capitalize on views and natural light, with the fitness area equipped for cardio, strength and functional workouts.

The indoor pool, sheltered from the elements yet overlooking the skyline, is intended as a calm counterpoint to the bustle below, catering to early-morning laps and post-meeting decompression alike.

Complementing these facilities is the AC Library, a quiet, light-filled corner conceived as a place for reading, casual work, or reflective downtime. Together, the lifestyle amenities aim to offer a balanced experience in which business travelers, in particular, can maintain routines and find brief moments of leisure without leaving the building.

Meetings, Events and the MICE Market

Beyond transient stays, AC Hotel by Marriott Manila is also targeting the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector. The property provides more than 800 square meters of flexible event space spread across seven meeting rooms, including a grand ballroom encased in floor-to-ceiling glass that frames the Metro Manila skyline. Capacity can reach several hundred guests for weddings, corporate gatherings or large social functions.

The ballroom and breakout spaces are equipped with modern audiovisual systems and are configured to accommodate a range of setups, from boardroom-style discussions to theater and banquet arrangements. Adjacent pre-function areas and foyers have been designed to host cocktail receptions, coffee breaks and exhibition booths, positioning the hotel as a contender in the competitive Ortigas events market.

For smaller groups, executive meeting rooms offer more intimate spaces suited to leadership retreats, training sessions and client presentations. Natural light, minimalist interiors and built-in technology are intended to support productive sessions with minimal need for additional setup, an important consideration for corporate clients seeking efficiency and predictability in event planning.

Marriott Bonvoy Integration and Market Strategy

As part of the global Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, AC Hotel by Marriott Manila is fully integrated into the company’s loyalty ecosystem, allowing members to earn and redeem points across more than 30 brands worldwide.

This integration is expected to help drive occupancy from both regional and long-haul markets, particularly among frequent business travelers who prioritize chain affiliation and points accrual when choosing city hotels.

The introduction of AC Hotels in the Philippines also broadens Marriott’s brand ladder in the country, which already includes full-service, luxury and select-service flags in and around Metro Manila.

By slotting into the lifestyle, design-led segment, AC Hotels provides a differentiated product aimed at guests who value contemporary aesthetics, focused amenities and a sense of place without the trappings of traditional luxury.

Industry observers see the debut as part of a broader trend in which international hotel groups roll out more specialized brands in secondary and emerging districts of established cities.

Rather than clustering solely around airport and entertainment complexes, new properties are increasingly appearing in business clusters like Ortigas, responding to demand from corporate offices, outsourcing firms, and a growing domestic meetings market.

What the Location Offers Travelers

Ortigas Center, where the hotel is based, sits at the junction of major routes connecting several Metro Manila cities, making it a strategic home base for visitors who have meetings across different parts of the capital.

The district is home to a concentration of corporate headquarters, banks, and business process outsourcing companies, which supply a steady stream of weekday demand for accommodation and meeting space.

Retail destinations such as SM Megamall, The Podium, and other nearby malls bring leisure and dining options within a short distance of the tower. Green pockets like Ortigas Park, as well as family-oriented attractions in Pasig, provide some relief from the urban density, broadening the area’s appeal beyond purely corporate stays.

For domestic travelers, the location offers convenient access to main roadways and public transport hubs that connect to other metropolitan districts including Makati, Bonifacio Global City and Quezon City. For international visitors, Ninoy Aquino International Airport is reachable by car, traffic conditions permitting, while Clark International Airport to the north provides an alternative gateway for certain routes.

FAQ

Q1. What is AC Hotel by Marriott Manila and why is it significant?
AC Hotel by Marriott Manila is the first AC Hotels by Marriott property in the Philippines, introducing the brand’s design-led, “elevated essentials” concept to the local market and expanding Marriott’s presence in Metro Manila.

Q2. Where is the hotel located in Manila?
The hotel is located in GLAS Tower at the corner of Ruby and Opal roads in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, placing it in one of Metro Manila’s main central business districts.

Q3. How many rooms and suites does the hotel offer?
The property offers 160 accommodations, including standard guest rooms, suites, and apartment-style units intended for longer stays.

Q4. What types of dining options are available at the hotel?
Guests can dine at AC Kitchen for a blend of European-inspired dishes and Filipino favorites, relax at AC Lounge for cocktails and tapas, and head to the rooftop AC Bar for open-air drinks and small plates with skyline views.

Q5. Does the hotel have facilities for meetings and events?
Yes, the hotel features more than 800 square meters of event space spread across several meeting rooms and a grand ballroom, suitable for conferences, corporate functions, weddings and social gatherings.

Q6. What wellness and recreational amenities are offered?
AC Hotel by Marriott Manila includes a 24-hour fitness center and an indoor swimming pool located on upper floors, providing guests with opportunities to exercise and unwind while overlooking the city.

Q7. Is the hotel part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program?
Yes, the hotel participates in Marriott Bonvoy, allowing guests to earn and redeem points and enjoy member benefits consistent with the program’s terms.

Q8. What makes the building itself noteworthy?
The hotel is housed in GLAS Tower, a LEED Platinum-certified office and hotel tower with energy-efficient design and extensive use of glass, reflecting current trends in sustainable and high-performance buildings.

Q9. What kind of traveler is AC Hotel by Marriott Manila designed for?
The property primarily targets business travelers, urban explorers, and design-conscious guests who prefer contemporary aesthetics, practical amenities and a central location in a major business district.

Q10. How does the hotel reflect both European heritage and Filipino hospitality?
The hotel’s design and service combine AC Hotels’ European-influenced minimalism and rituals, such as signature bar culture and curated dining, with Filipino warmth expressed through personalized service, local flavors in the menus, and a guest experience tailored to the preferences of travelers in Manila.