Hot Wheels Designer Brendon Vetuskey Rolls in Nostalgia to Kingsford Hotel Manila

Many people associate Hot Wheels with childhood memories of a favorite car, their first collection, or a race across the living room floor. For others, their childhood fascination never faded. It simply grew into a lifelong obsession with collecting, trading, and learning the stories behind each diecast.

That shared nostalgia was on full display at Kingsford Hotel Manila, where Hot Wheels diecast designer and Red Line Club design lead Brendon Vetuskey met with local and international collectors and enthusiasts for an exclusive private dinner hosted in collaboration with Metrics Ph, the organizer of the Philippines Hot Wheels Collectors Convention.

Attendees, including the CEO of Metrics PH, enjoy an intimate dinner presentation with Hot Wheels lead designer Brendon Vetuskey.

More than just a gathering of diecast enthusiasts, the evening brought together collectors, families, business leaders, tourism stakeholders, and hospitality representatives, demonstrating how a shared passion can foster meaningful connections across generations and communities.

For Kingsford Hotel Manila, the event provided an opportunity to create an experience that went beyond the typical hotel stay. As a family-friendly hotel, the hotel provided an appropriate setting for an experience that brought together collectors of various generations who have been involved in the hobby for years, enthusiasts discovering new pieces, and kids and kids at heart who continue to enjoy Hot Wheels.

“Hotels can be more than places where people stay. We can become part of the destination experience and create spaces where communities, businesses and visitors connect. Partnering with Metrics Ph allows us to support the collector community while exploring new opportunities for events, partnerships and experiences that can bring people to Manila.” ~Jorold Montelibano, General Manager of Kingsford Hotel Manila

From childhood memories to a collector community

Vetuskey's participation added an international creative perspective to the event. He joined Mattel in 2007 and has worked on numerous Hot Wheels designs, currently serving as the diecast design lead for Red Line Club vehicles.

During the exclusive dinner, Vetuskey discussed Hot Wheels design and the creative process behind diecast vehicles, which was followed by an exclusive presentation and interaction with collectors and invited guests.

For Vetuskey, however, the appeal of collecting goes beyond the cars themselves.

“You might meet someone and start talking about your favorite Hot Wheels from childhood or the first car you ever collected. Those stories and shared memories are what makes collecting special.” ~Brendon Vetuskey, Hot Wheels Diecast Designer and Red Line Club Design Lead

Collectors take home a personal memento as Brendon Vetuskey signs Hot Wheels memorabilia

Collectors take home a personal memento as Brendon Vetuskey signs Hot Wheels memorabilia

Brendon Vetuskey connects with the Philippine collecting community, sharing stories from his journey as a Hot Wheels designer.

That sense of connection has continued to shape the Philippines' growing collector culture. Metrics Ph allows collectors and enthusiasts to gather, exchange stories, share collections, and celebrate a hobby that spans generations.

Shared passion becomes a hotel experience

The event also provided insight into how specialized communities can generate new opportunities for tourism and hospitality.

For collectors, a destination can be more than just a backdrop for an event. It can be a place where people form friendships, share stories, and come together over shared interests. Kingsford sees it as another opportunity to create experiences that give guests and communities more reasons to come together.

For Hot Wheels fans, the appeal is still very familiar. Whether they are longtime collectors or simply recall the thrill of opening a brand-new diecast car as a child, the excitement remains.

At the Kingsford Hotel Manila, nostalgia brought together kids and kids at heart, demonstrating that some childhood passions never really grow up. They simply discover new ways to bring people together.