In Iloilo, history does not just sit in museums it simmers in kitchens and SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. is happily stirring the pot.
Through programs at Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo the hospitality group is turning local cuisine into a stage where culture, community, and curiosity share the spotlight. Not bad for something that starts with lunch and ends with legacy.
At the heart of the initiative is the city’s rising reputation as the Philippines’ first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. For SM Hotels the recognition is not just bragging rights it is a cue to double down on heritage and help locals tell their own delicious stories to the world through thoughtful programs lively kitchens, and curious storytellers alike.
At Ani Restaurant inside Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo the campaign “Kusina de Ilonggo Mga Panubli Nga Sabor” turns heirloom recipes into edible time capsules.
Menus draw inspiration from well loved family dishes simmered for generations, each plate served with a side of memory and pride. It is less about fancy plating and more about preserving flavors that once lived only in grandma’s notebooks and Sunday tables across Iloilo today.
Complementing the feasts is “Beyond the Plate,” a training program created with the Iloilo MICE Center. It coaches journalists, bloggers, and digital creators in food writing, wine appreciation, and sharp mobile photography skills.
UNESCO has even recognized the initiative as a best practice in sustainable tourism storytelling proving good taste can travel far beyond the dining table today too.
For Leah Magallanes, vice president for Quality and Sustainability at SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation, the idea is simple. When communities thrive hospitality follows.
By championing Ilonggo heritage SM Hotels positions Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo as more than a hotel. It becomes a gateway where recipes, stories, and opportunities rise together like perfectly steamed rice in every Ilonggo home.
