Makati in Manila - a destination for business

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

Among the cities and municipalities that form Manila's metro, the city of Makati is the most popular. The commercial and business hub of the Philippines is located here and hence the reason for locals to call it the country's financial capital.

The name Makati is derived from the word Kati from the tagalong language and means 'tide'. The name was originally intended to refer to the Pasig River's tide. The river is located toward the northern border of the city. Makati stands out as one of Philippines' fastest evolving and modern economic hubs.

Although it is a competitor with other Asian countries in terms of trade, it does face a few obstacles since there is a lack of connection between the business district and the east where the old city is located. But with that said the city has still been able to support the country's economic progress.

This commercial district is also home to the Philippines Stock Exchange, while Ayala Avenue which goes right through the heart of this commercial district is referred to fondly by the locals as the 'Wall Street of the Philippines'.

Makati is not just about business but has also developed into an entertainment hub in Metro Manila. Many foreign companies have set up offices here and it is home to many sky scrapers that dot its landscape. Buildings such as the PBCOM Tower and even the famous GT International Tower could be found here.

Ayala Avenue is quite popular among seasoned business and leisure travelers alike, this road which was urbanized due to the support received from the Ayala Corporation, has two huge shopping malls. Of the two malls Glorietta is the larger one which hosts a group of other malls under its name.

Just across from the Glorietta shopping cluster is another mall called the Green belt. This one is perhaps the most sophisticated of them all and caters to the upmarket buyers. The mall features many restaurants and shops, some of which overlook a green stretch of land where a chapel could be seen in the background. The scenery of the mall adds to the whole shopping experience as well as relieving the stresses associated with it.

The city is a good mix of business and pleasure with each one in close proximity to one another and finding a Manila hotel in the city could be done with ease. The Heritage Hotel Manila is just minutes away from the airport, and for the business traveler it provides all the required amenities to suite their specific needs.

About the author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Source:  http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2400613