With 609 luxurious guest rooms and 44,850 square feet of meeting space, the Philippine capital's only resort hotel presides over 12 prime acres on Manila Bay, directly across the street from the Philippine International Convention Center and World Trade Center. Sofitel's yearlong, multimillion dollar facelift aims to incorporate a sense of French savoir-faire while enhancing, but not changing, the hotel's well-loved attractions and 30-year traditions. The Grand Plaza Ballroom's 14,796 square feet of pillarless space, for instance, hosts everything from prestigious exhibitions and international conventions to elegant banquets for up to 1,300 and theater-style presentations for up to 1,500. The total of 14 function spaces accommodates groups of every size and purpose, including a fully air-conditioned outdoor tent, the Harbor Garden, which entertains up to 2,000. The hotel's seasoned team of specialists regularly arranges for a wide variety of meeting setups and social affairs. With theme parties as a specialty, the staff sees to every detail. Attendees can count on room service 24 hours a day-or visit the recently opened Spiral, a bold new concept in global dining. The 480-seat restaurant takes its name from a grand spiral staircase rising from an indoor-outdoor tropical scene set with numerous water features and six interactive cooking theaters-Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Mediterranean, Grills, and Desserts. Meeting participants can also join the Poolside Barbecue-a nightly festival that overflows with fresh local seafood, marinated meats, and an array of salads and desserts-plus a colorful folkloric dance presentation. Nearby, the Sunset Bar dispenses light snacks and tropical cocktails till evening, while the Sports Bar entertains with billiards and slot machines. The leisure attractions continue with spa treatments and fitness activities at the Sports Club and Spa and golf at the ten-stall Aqua Golf Driving Range and 18-hole putting green. On-site car rental and secure parking, a travel agency, medical and dental clinics, a pharmacy, optical shop, beauty salon, barbershop, concierge, and business center ensure ample time for both a productive meeting and plenty of off-duty fun.