Hotel Review: Seda Centrio Cagayan de Oro – Great Club Lounge

When it comes to hotels in Cagayan de Oro, there are only few upscale properties to choose from and one of them is the Seda Centrio which is adjacent to the Centrio mall by the Ayala Group.

A recent trip across the northern coast of Mindanao brought me once again to Cagayan de Oro. It had been almost 5 years since my last visit. The city has boomed since I was last here and I could now spot quite a number of tall buildings dotting the skyline. Seda Centrio is part of the growing hotel chain developed by Ayala Group with properties in Manila, Nuvali, Davao and Iloilo.

I arrived in Laguindingan International Airport on a breezy afternoon with the hotel van already waiting for me. If it’s your first time at Cagayan de Oro, do note that the airport is a good hour’s drive from the city so it may make sense to arrange for transport beforehand.

The hotel’s lobby is actually at the 4^th floor of the hotel while the ground floor has a counter for transport arrangements.

The lobby carries an inviting décor scheme with olive hues as well as botanic motifs. There’s a mac station from where guests can surf or print documents. I was quickly given my keys after checking in and shown to my room.

Premier Room

My abode for this particular stay was a Premier Room, the highest category accommodation in the hotel. The said rooms are located at the far end of each floor.

At 35 square meters, the Premier Room comes with a kitchenette which may suit long-stayers or those looking to bring back food to the room (there’s also a microwave).

For those looking for a caffeine fix, the room comes with a kettle from where you can prepare hot water for coffee or tea (teabags are from Dilmah). Bottled water was also provided.

The interiors were of the same olive tones permeating the rest of the hotel. The wide rectangular layout creates a nice sense of space. There’s an armchair beside the bed and a working desk right by the 40” LCD TV.

The bathroom does not come with a tub but you get a nice shower – a handy fixture for a nice refreshing wash after a long day out. Toiletries are from the in-house brand, Eco Bliss.

Executive Lounge

The hotel’s 11^th floor is reserved as a club floor and here one can find the Executive Lounge. When Seda Centrio was completed in 2013, it was the first hotel in Cagayan de Oro to offer a club lounge concept.

I particularly loved the vibe at the lounge. It is situated at the corner of the building so you get floor-to-ceiling windows cutting through both sides of the lounge. From there, one could appreciate the growing Cagayan de Oro skyline or witness the sunset.

You do get a host of benefits with the executive lounge access and I would totally recommend getting this add-on to your stay. Aside from breakfast, you also get afternoon tea and evening cocktails plus the service at the lounge is really topnotch. A quick check shows that the club rooms are on average around Php 700 to 800 more per night which is good value considering you get club access for two persons for this price.

I noticed guests coming into the lounge were addressed by name with offers for drinks immediately made. The spread for evening cocktails was quite extensive with a number of canapes – both sweet and savory as well as fruits. Apart from that, there’s a nice drinks selection consisting of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. If you are feeling tired and don’t wish to head out, the food here can make for a light dinner. Not bad for about Php 700 extra!

Breakfast at Misto

For breakfast, I had the option of having it either at the restaurant by the lobby, Misto, or at the club lounge. Experience dictates that breakfast should be had at the restaurant unless it’s full. Misto had plenty of seats available when I came down for my morning meal.

While the spread consists of the usual breakfast items (think: sausages, waffles, corned beef), I was pleasantly surprised to find heavier items such as pasta, curries and even fried spring rolls. Staff members were also quite attentive despite the buffet setup. I was asked for my preferred drink upon taking my seat. Eggs were also made to order – the fried eggs were delicious!

Verdict

Seda Centrio has been open for around 4 years now and the popularity of this hotel in Cagayan de Oro reflects the growing need for upscale lodging among domestic and international travelers visiting the city. What really made the property, in my view, was the wonderful service. Staff members were never stingy in greeting me warmly wherever I went but this was even more pronounced at the executive lounge. Personally, this was my first stay at a Seda hotel and I am now quite curious to see how the brand proposition has been executed in their other properties in the Philippines.

Seda Centrio
Claro M. Recto Ave
Cagayan de Oro, 9000
Misamis Oriental, Philippines

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