Trifter

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Nothing calms the mind and body better than a sojourn to a quietbeach, enjoying a drink or two while watching the golden sun sets, orwaking up to the gentle humming of the birds outside your window andthe sound of the waves kissing the immaculate white sand in a tropicalmorning. Walking barefoot in the sprawling white to ease your thoughtsof worries or trekking a nature reserve to experience the bucolicretreat is so necessary in this chaotic modern living to achieve totalwell-being.

It must be surprising to picture yourself in Boracay in a peacefulimage again after modernization has taken over the once quite andrustic setting of the revered tourist destination. But it is this veryimage of Boracay is what Shangri-la Hotels and Resorts will bebringing to clients in the first quarter of 2009 with the opening oftheir Boracay and Resort Spa, the latest addition to its chain ofluxurious hotel and resorts worldwide.

Strategically built on a hillside of a nature reserve at the northernpart of Boracay, Shangri-la’s Boracay Resort and Spa is the firstfive-star international resort to grace the soil of this world-classtourist destination. The 12-hectare resort has 219 rooms including 39villas and suites, leisure facilities, 350 meters of secluded beachfront and the CHI, The Spa at Shangri-la.

Around the hotel premises thrives 75 species of plants, 35 species ofbirds and six species of bats in their natural ecosystem. Hiking andnature walks are just two of the many activities inline for guests whowant to experience nature or witness as the sky turns black with theflight of hundreds of bats out for the evening hunt starting 5.30 inthe afternoon.

The resort was designed by Bangkok-based architecture Bill Bensley.Described as classic yet with contemporary architectural style, strongFilipino influence is very evident in the over-all ambiance of theresort with the use of indigenous local materials like Abaca rugs,capiz shells and the use of woods in their furniture.

Another unique feature of Shangri-la Boracay Resort and Spa is itstree-house villas, the first of its kind in Boracay and in thePhilippines as well. Out of the 36 villas, 11 would be tree-housevillas which will provide a marvellous elevated view of thesurrounding panorama.

To complete the Filipino-inspired theme, Shangri-la commissioned twolocal talents, Bogs Ardonado and Perry Argel, to immortalize Boracay’sbeauty. Their paintings of the island’s inhabitants, nocturnal scenes,flora and fauna depicted in the use of bold, vibrant colours and fluidmotion will soon grace the walls of the resorts. Several Filipinocomposers were also tap to come out with a beach album entitledNatural Instincts, a collection of beach melodies using a combinationof modern and traditional instruments with lyrics provided by TeddyKatigbak.

Following its corporate social responsibility, Shangri-la workedclosely with the local government and partnered with the localcommunity for effective waste management program and environmentalprotection to ease out worries on consequences of another structurerising in the island. Included in these efforts is the plan to usesolar-panels for generating electricity.

Benefiting from the investment is largely the local community whowill comprise 30% of the workforce, 40% from the nearby provinceswhile the remaining employees will be sourced from Manila.

A Luxurious Get-Away

The pre-launch celebration of Shangri-la Boracay Resort and Spa aptlydubbed Luxury as Nature Intended lived up to its expectations asmembers of the press who came donning their most stylish beach attirewere treated to a night of scrumptious buffet and overflowing winesand champagne.

The same kind of indulgence will be expected in Boracay Resort andSpa with its accommodations, facilities and dining destinations.Relatively smaller compared to the standard Shangri-la accommodation,the Boracay chain nonetheless maintains Shangri-la’s trademark ofluxury and comforts.

From airport to hotel, guests are assured of a hassle free travelexperience. Four powerful speedboats are on standby to pick up guestsfrom the airport and bring them to the northern part of Boracay inonly 6 minutes.

“It’s a different generation of resorts, much smaller room inventorythat we normally have, much cosier and more boutique style hotel,”explained general manager André Kretschmann.

The standard de luxe room measures 60 square meters each with theirown balconies and commanding view of the sea while the villas has 108square meters of space, private plunge pools, whirlpools or pergolafor al fresco dining.

For functions, the resort has a 400-square meter ballroom with anexpandable space of another 200 square meters. A dream wedding at thebeach will be more romantic if celebrated on their oceanfront-weddingpavilion, which can accommodate up to 50 persons.

The resort also has a health club, marine center, water sportspavillion and two outdoor tennis courts plus an entertainment zone forkids and adults to play videogames or a videoke night.

Seven restaurant and bars will cater to the distinctive pallate ofguests. There are two overlooking restaurants where guests can havetheir fill of Italian or seafood favorites. Rima is set on a hilltopoffering not just Italian cuisine in a fine dining setting but a viewof the ocean and the surrounding forest while Sirena as it nameimplies, is a seafood restaurant located on a cliff, providing anotherview of the spectacular Boracay. For cocktails and after dinnerleisure, guests can stay at the Solana Sunset Bar to be entertainedwith island beats of the resident DJ. In addition to that are Vintana;The Lobby Lounge; Cielo Poolside Restaurant; and Alon Bars.

Topping these amenities is the CHI, a 6,000-squaremeter spa villagelocated on a rocky peninsula, a private bay, eight villasaccommodation, couple suites and VIP suites. The services are based onancient Chinese and Himalayan healing philosophies and ingredientsinfused with local influences. A 12-mete lap pool set on a landscapedgarden is also an additional come-on for the spa.

“The market will be approximately 60 percent Filipinos, another 35percent [from] Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, [and] Taiwan aswell as the rest from Europe and the US,” ends Kretschmann.