The Windward Cluster is a cluster of Poolside Rooms. It’s spacious and can comfortably accomodate two adults and two children. Built around a small quasi-private pool. These rooms have a friendly village feel suitable for families, singles, and large groups of all kinds. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
THE Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan will open a shopping strip within their property this year.
Resort manager Efren Belarmino said they noticed a lot of their guests really look for a place to buy things they can bring back home and they only have a small shop that sells the basic goods.
“They go out to do some shopping and we thought why not bring the shopping here,” he said. Belarmino said they will build a two-storey shopping strip in front of their lobby area.
It will rise within a 100-square meter area and can host four tenants that will offer high end shopping for their guests. Belarmino shared that they are also seeing the growth of the Japanese market since the start of the year.
“The Japanese has grown from only 26 percent to 28 percent share of our occupancy last year to now at 39 percent,” said Jid D. Velasco, director of sales.
Belarmino said the Japanese are known as big spenders and they also love to shop aside from enjoying the spa services. He said the Japanese stay for an average of four days and three nights in the property.
Aside from the Japanese, the Koreans also remain a huge market for the resort which has General Sales Agents (GSA) in Korea and Japan.
The newly renovated rooms of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa’s Winward cluster. General Manager Efren Belarmino said they will continue renovating and upgrading their other rooms to keep up to date with the current standards. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Belarmino said the growth of their Japanese market is a result of their aggressive campaign in the country.
“We want to bring them back to Cebu because Cebu really has a lot to offer to them and with the renewed confidence now as a result of the government’s thrust in improving the country’s peace and order situation, we expect more tourists to come,” he said.
In Cebu, Belarmino said they are hoping that the traffic situation will improve and government educates motorists to follow traffic rules.
He said more direct flights and better infrastructure should also be in place for Cebu’s tourism to sustain its growth.
Belarmino said they are considering to grow the Taiwan market. He said they are starting to see tourists from the Middle East because of the direct flights from Dubai.
“We hope to see more of these tourists groups here as we continue to improve our services and facility to cater to the changing demands of our customers,” he said.
Aside from the shopping strip, Belarmino said that they have recently renovated 34 rooms in their Winward Cluster.
“We are upgrading our fixtures and furnitures. New chairs, tables lightings. We have to keep pace with the current demands. We will also renovate our restaurants,” he said.
