Cebu Ocular - Shangri-La Mactan

SHANGRI-LA MACTAN
August 8, 2009

After a late Friday night, we attempt to get up early for our Saturday ocular meetings. Thankfully, Barce was nice enough to offer to take us around with their driver which on retrospect saved us a lot of headache! You see cabs and tricycles don’t seem as easy to find around Mactan Island. So it would have been horrible jumping from resort to resort without a ride.

Our first meeting was at Shangri-La Mactan – and we were impressed the moment we set foot on the lobby. The entrance was very open and the overlooking landscaped garden and sea was refreshing. We proceeded with the ocular of 4 venues: the Marquee, Ocean Pavilion, Beach Front and mini-Ballroom / Mactan Ballroom. The Mactan ballroom was under renovation to be completed by September 2009. Below is a summary of the pros and cons of each venue.

Marquee:

1. SIZE (-) - Very large venue, it can probably accommodate 1000 guests and we are only planning on 300. They say they can decorate the venue so it doesn’t look too empty. But then Ive heard of someone who’s had it there and even with the decorations, 300 guests will make the venue look to sparse.
2. LOCATION (-) – Vary far from the Ocean Pavilion, which is where we plan to have our ceremony. Guests cannot possibly walk from the Pavilion to the Marquee, and since most of our guests will not have cars then I can just imagine the logistical nightmare of having it here.
3. TIME (-) – Since it is a tent and not sound proof, we still have the 10:30PM curfew. Not an option.

Ocean Pavilion:

1. VIEW (+) – It’s a perfect cross between and indoor and outdoor venue. The venue is surrounded by glass so you still get an amazing view of the garden and sea.
2. WEATHER (+) - But the place is enclosed to protect us from the heat and the possibility of rain (God forbid…).
3. COCKTAILS (+) – Its got an open garden right beside which makes a perfect place for guests to spill out to and have cocktails after the ceremony
4. SIZE (-) – It can only accommodate 100 guests. This isn’t so bad since we’re not expecting everyone to attend the ceremony
5. SHORT AISLE (-) – I would love for a longer aisle to have our entourage and myself walk on. Wouldn’t that be grander?

Beach Front

1. VIEW (+) - Its got white sands and blue waters, really beautiful. This is Eyebrows’ ideal venue.
2. LOCATION (+) – Its really near the Pavilion, so guests that attended the ceremony can easily get to the reception
3. FOOD (-) – Food will be served BBQ buffet style but costs double the price of food served in the ballroom. That just doesn’t make sense? What will the BBQ – eat all you cal foie gras?
4. TIME (-) – They’ve got a 10:30PM noise curfew, by 10:30 we still haven’t finished eating! The whole point of a beach wedding is the dancing afterwards, and if we cant have the dancing there then… that’s just disappointing
5. WEATHER (-) – Obviously, it’ll be a huge problem if it gets too hot or too wet.

Mini-Ballroom / Mactan Ballroom

1. LOCATION (+) – Its not as near to the pavilion as the Beach Front, but not as far as the Marquee. Guests should still be able to walk from the ceremony to the reception.
2. FOOD (+/-) – According to our contact, Shang is not able to provide a sit down menu for over 100 guests – really? I imagine it should be possible for the ballroom. Im not convinced that they cant do it. For the price, they ought to be able to.
3. TIME (+) – Since the ballroom is completely indoors, we should be able to party till the sun rises as long as were willing to pay the extra fees
4. WEATHER (+) – Well, it is indoors so rain or super shine it shouldn’t be a problem.
5. VIEW (-) – Although we were not able to see the actual Mactan ballroom (since it was being renovated), we imagine it to be the way all ballrooms look like, elegant and formal. It would just seem like a shame come all the way to Mactan but waste the awesome view. Plus thing is that its newly renovated!


Given all these, we’re thinking of having the ceremony at the OCEAN PAVILION, the cocktails at the GARDEN beside, and the reception at the MACTAN BALLROOM.
In terms of facilities, I am quite impressed… but so far, my experience of their service has been HORRIBLE!!!
1. Our ocular was set on a Saturday, but we arrived of a Friday and thought to have our ocular earlier. I called Shangri-La to see whether this was possible, they informed me that they would call back a few hours later to confirm. I waited the whole day and they never called back.
2. I called 3 days before to set an appointment for the ocular. Upon arriving, I was informed that no one from events was available to tour us. WHAT??? They had someone else entertain us instead.
3. The ocular went well, we were quite satisfied with the venue and requested for additional proposals so we could begin a rough costing. 1 week later – still no proposal! So I called to follow-up. 3 weeks later, still no proposal!!! You call this 5-star service???
Despite the crazy costs, I love the venue and we’re quite set on Shang Mactan. But with this kind of service… Im definitely having second thoughts…