MANILA, Philippines - As the whole world watches with great anticipation the opening of Beijing Olympics on Aug. 8, it will be business as usual for most hotels in Manila.

?Nothing spectacular will happen in our hotel on that day,? says the public relations officer of a Makati hotel.

For the Chinese communities around the world, the number 8 is considered to be most fortuitous, since in Chinese, it sounds similar to the word that signifies ?prosperity.? However, based on the Chinese calendar, August is a ?ghost? month so there?s very little activity the Chinese do this month, including planning a wedding. (See related story on page C1)

Here, the triple-8 date is like any ordinary day yet still remains to be a relatively good business day for hotels, with the usual hotel promotions.

?The rooms are not unusually bursting with guests unlike New Year?s eve,? says a hotel marketing executive.

Weddings

Most wedding bookings are by Filipino couples who consider Aug. 8 lucky day.

Makati Shangri-La, Manila?s function rooms are fully booked with corporate meetings, four weddings and a ball by the Belo Medical Group. Promos include: Mooncake Magic to mark the Mid-Autum Festival at Shang Palace, Aug 8-Sept. 4; Unago and Anago festival at Inagiku, ongoing until Aug. 31; and Middle Eastern Blend at Circles Event Café, Aug. 4 to 13.

The Peninsula Manila has about 88.8 percent occupancy rate with three big weddings?none Chinese. Promos include the Lucky 888 Package, which is a three-day/two-night stay at the Peninsula Suite with complimentary round-trip transfers in a Mercedes Benz S-Class limousine from home, a bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne, salon session for two at Emphasis, eight-course Old Manila wine dinner for two, eight-course breakfast for two with mimosas, eight-gemstone ring worth P88,000 for her from Jul B. Dizon Jewellery, eight-boutique shopping spree worth P88,000 for him at Greenbelt 4 and other hotel privileges worth P888,000.

No weddings on Aug. 8 for the Mandarin Oriental Manila, but it?s fully booked for corporate events and meetings.

InterContinental Manila is business as usual with two weddings.

Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila has three weddings. Promo includes Xin Tian Di, a Sichuan Food Festival ongoing until Aug. 31.

Dusit Thani Manila and Heritage Hotel Manila have each two weddings, including corporate events. Dusit?s Fiesta San Miguel has a live coverage of the Beijing Olympics from Aug. 8 to 24.

Richmonde Hotel is booked for corporate trainings and an intimate Filipino wedding.

Century Park Hotel has three weddings for brunch, dinner and corporate events. Promos include a live telecast of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at Atrium Lounge and a food special at Century Tsukiji until Aug. 31.

There are six Filipino weddings at Edsa Shangri-La, while three at Diamond Hotel. Both are booked for corporate programs.

Traders Hotel, Manila has one big ballroom for a wedding, and 90 percent room occupancy rate. Promo includes a raffle at Latitude, which marks its first anniversary on Aug. 8.