Text and photos by Niza G. Marinas
PANGLAO Island, Bohol’s ready answer to Boracay’s powder-like sand and stunning beach, is now home to its biggest resort to date—Henann Resort Alona Beach.
Named after its owners, Iloilo-based hotelier Dr. Henry O. Chusuey and his wife, Anna, Henann Resort occupies a 6.5-hectare property, with a total of 400 rooms with modern interiors that are “coastal-inspired.”
Executives of Henann Group of Resorts (from left): Alfonso Chusuey (Executive Director), Dr. Henry Chusuey (Chairman), and Karl Chusuey (VP for Marketing)
For those who love the water, they have two tempting options when staying at Henann.
For the pool person, there are three huge swimming pools, each with its own sunken bar, where one can cool off with his or her favorite drink. Or if one doesn’t want to go far, there are also pools right outside the premier rooms for easy access.
For the beach person, a short walk from the pools is Alona Beach, easily Panglao’s and Henann’s topmost attraction, one and a half hectares of fine sand and crystal clear waters.
Opening soon are Christina’s, a Western fine dining restaurant; Sea Breeze Cafe, an all-day buffet restaurant; and Kai Spa.
The view from the Deluxe Rooms
COMFORTABLE STAY
It’s a midsummer morning when we arrive in Henann, just a few days after the resort’s soft opening.
We are right away greeted by that distinct Boholano warmth and hospitality. At the Coral Cafe, the waitress promptly attends to our companion’s request for “water with a slice of lemon.” And when we return in the afternoon, she’s ready with our coffee.
At breakfast the following day, the same waitress approaches us and even before we could tell her, says with a smile: “Water with a slice of lemon.”
We are impressed.
Taking a stroll along Alona Beach in the afternoon, we observe that tourist activity has picked up in the island.
We came for a visit barely a year ago, and Panglao, though not directly affected by the October 2013 earthquake, was still reeling from the effects of the disaster. There were fewer tourists then but now they’re trickling in, mostly families and honeymooners.
Thus, there are more vendors peddling various wares and masseurs offering their services. They’re respectful and non-intrusive, leaving us in peace when we politely turn them down.
At dusk, Dr. Henry Chusuey, Chairman of the Henann Group of Resorts, sits with us at the dinner table and shares exciting news of his family’s newest property.
The Chusueys have been in the industry for 17 years and this is their first resort outside Boracay where they own Henann Lagoon Resort, Henann Garden Resort, the Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa (which will soon bear the name Henann Regency Beach Resort and Spa), Henann Crystal Sands Resort, Henann Palm Beach Resort, and Henann Prime Beach Resort, which is set to open by the end of the year.
Dr. Chusuey says they always have their clients in mind, making sure that they have a comfortable stay, may it be a short or long one.
“The goal is to make them happy the moment they check in until they leave,” he adds.
We see this in youngest son, Karl, and the company’s VP for Marketing, who was making sure that the guests lining up for the dinner buffet are taken care of.
QUALITY SERVICE
Eldest child, Alfonso Louis, who sits as Executive Director of the Henann Group of Resorts, tells our group: “We give our customers fair and quality service, efficient service. We study our rates to make our package worth it.”
He shares that some of the resort’s features, such as the huge pools, are inspired from some of their best experiences in other hotels that they want to share to their clients.
Not resting on their laurels just yet, they’re set to develop a property in Coron, Palawan, which is fast becoming a favorite travel destination among local and foreign tourists Alfonso says they’re also depending on the improvement of the airport so that more guests can come to Bohol.
Things are looking up, after it was announced last month that a P7 billion eco-friendly airport will be built in Panglao, replacing the one in Tagbilaran City.
Expected to be completed sometime in 2017 to early 2018, the new airport will have environment-friendly features, including an air-conditioning system in the pre-departure area which will run on solar power, as well as the installation of LED lights.
Things are definitely looking bright this side of Bohol.
And it’s fair to say that the presence of Henann Resort has made things more exciting.
At night, fire dancers who used to do sporadic performances in the bars for a fee, perform for hotel guests and curious onlookers who gather by the beachfront, their daring stunts leaving everyone breathless.
Much later, we hear a female singer’s soothing rendition of “Moon River” from a distance and we tell ourselves:
This is how summer nights should be spent. We can’t wait to be back.
