LUXURY entertainment and tourism destination Winford Manila Resort & Casino (WMRC) was given the green light by the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday to reopen its doors to guests with leisure bookings.
The milestone development comes 20 months after WMRC temporarily halted its operations in March of last year, in compliance with the government’s implementation of ‘enhanced community quarantine’ (ECQ) to help curb the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
During this period, WMRC made the necessary upgrades throughout its property to ensure all safety guidelines and protocols set by local health authorities were met. After three months of closure, WMRC was allowed to resume operations on a restricted basis and granted more leniency later in the year.
“Our main goal at the time was to fulfill our obligation to the country and do our part to temper the devastating effects of this dire situation,” said Jeff Evora, President & Chief Operating Officer, WMRC. “More importantly, we wanted to take care of our employees and do everything in our power to ensure they would not catch the virus. After all, they are the heart and soul of Winford Manila that keep our loyal customers coming back.”
Last July, WMRC was recognized for its unwavering commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of its members, guests, and personnel remains a top priority. The distinction came in the form of the highly-coveted Safety Seal Certification (SSC), an exclusive accolade awarded to travel & tourism establishments that diligently observe safety protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to combat the spread of COVID-19. A joint initiative of the public and private sector, SSC is an endeavor undertaken by the DOT, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Health (DoH).
With WMRC now authorized to accept leisure bookings, its signature heated swimming pool located on the 11th-floor open-air deck is now open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Other amenities such as a fully-equipped fitness center and Urban Smiles Dental Clinic are also open to guests, while luxury facilities such as the 600-seater ballroom are also available for banquet events like weddings, parties, and conferences—with safety protocols firmly in place.
