I recently flew to Gensan to attend the first anniversary celebration of Grand Summit Hotel General Santos City so I got to stay there for two nights. The hotel, which opened in October 2021 when pandemic restrictions were not yet as relaxed as they are now, has been through a lot despite its very young age.
Grand Summit is the newest upscale brand of Robinsons Hotel and Resorts. It is the first four-star property in the Summit Hotels’ portfolio.
One of the main strengths of Grand Summit Hotel General Santos is its location. It is located behind Robinsons General Santos which is at the northern tip of the city’s mall highway (Aside from Robinsons, Jose Catolico Sr. Avenue hosts three other major malls: KCC, Gaisano and SM). Considering its “quieter” location, the city center is only 5-20 minutes away depending on prevailing traffic conditions. From the airport, guests may bypass the congestion downtown via diversion roads, and reach the hotel within 30 minutes.
First Impressions
Its black exterior is definitely a bold move to exude a modern vibe. The hotel has sufficient parking space for its guests.
The lobby was pretty straightforward with the front desk staff greeting us upon entry. It has a spacious lounge area to its left. On the right is Cafe Summit, its in-house restaurant. It was not that busy during our arrival so we were assisted right away and the check-in process was quick. There are also self check-in kiosks and a pet check-in counter.
Rooms
We were billeted at a Deluxe Twin room. Other room types available are Deluxe King, Suite, and One Bedroom Suite. When we entered the 32 sqm. room, Earth colors welcomed us, setting the tone for a refreshing stay.
To the right of the entryway were the mini-refrigerator, complimentary instant coffee and tea, electric kettle, complimentary water bottles, C2, in-room slippers, in-room safe, open closet with hangers, bath robes, emergency flashlight and a closet with an iron and ironing board. It was interesting to see a fire extinguisher by the closet. I was assuming it’s a requirement before an occupancy permit is issued but it’s the first time I encountered such in a hotel room.
The bathroom was very spacious with a separate vanity area. It came complete with dental, shaving, vanity kits and a comb. The lotion and soap dispensers and hair dryer were mounted on the wall. And yay, the toilet has a bidet. The ceiling-mounted rain shower head had good water pressure. It was also easy to control the shower temperature to how you exactly want it. The body soap and conditioning shampoo were mounted on the wall.
Also a key detail: You definitely won’t have to worry about an upset stomach and your roommate judging you since soundproofing is excellent. Almost nothing from the bathroom can be heard in the bed area so you can sing your heart out in the shower.
I loved the bed! It was so comfortable. The linens and duvet covers felt premium. The pillows were comfortable but could be improved. Nonetheless, my sleep here was good. On each side of the bed, there are sufficient desk-level power and USB outlets for all our gadgets, definitely a sign that this is a modern hotel. Across the beds is a 43-inch flat screen cable TV. By the window was a lounge chair on one side, and a chair and table, which could double as a work desk as it also had power outlets beside it, on the other. On the table was a slice of cake, the hotel’s sweet gesture of welcoming us.
Since our room was on the second floor and not facing the street, there wasn’t anything to see from the window but the roof of the swimming pool area.
Amenities
Grand Summit Hotel General Santos has a swimming pool with its own pool bar, a spa, gym, kids’ room, three function rooms, and a Grand Ballroom (which could accommodate 500 persons), where their 1st Anniversary Celebration was held. Here are some photos from the Grand event:
Dining
Cafe Summit is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant which offers classic local and international dishes. We had a few meals here and there are seating options for every preference. There are regular dining tables, booths, and a private room which could fit up to 20 persons. There is also a very Instagrammable bar as you step into the restaurant.
In the photos below are all of their must-try dishes. I highly recommend the Pork Crackling Kare-Kare. We also had all the desserts available on their menu.
Buffet breakfasts are also served here.
Breakfast was a good spread, featuring Filipino staples, make your own congee, bread and pastries, Filipino delicacies, fresh fruits, cereals, a salad station, and more. I was sad though that there was no bacon. There’s also a live cooking station where guests can order omelet, among others.
Food was very good overall, but if I had to cite an area for improvement, they could improve on waiting times. Ala carte food could take around 20-30 minutes for it to be served, so might want to pre-order in case you’re dining here.
Verdict
Overall, I totally loved my stay at the newest and grandest hotel in General Santos City. The tuna capital definitely deserves to have such a top-notch accommodation. The hotel was so clean and fresh, since it’s just a year old, but I hope they maintain it that way. Wi-Fi was fast and stable. I would highly recommend Grand Summit Hotel General Santos to business and leisure travelers who are visiting Gensan and wish to stay in an upscale property, at a quieter location, but still close to the conveniences of the business district, and only 30 minutes away from the airport.
Grand Summit Hotel General Santos
Location: Honorio Arriola Street, Corner Arrazada Street, General Santos City
Contact Number: 0998 888 7788 or 0917 888 7788
Email: reservations@summithotels.ph
Website: https://www.grandsummithotels.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandSummitHotelsPH/
Pets: Yes