Diverse sites, one business: Be Resorts underscores locale's unique beauty

CEBU, Philippines - That there is beauty in diversity—this is what a Filipino resorts and hotels chain wishes to impart to end users in every development plan it intends to embark on.

Be Resorts envisions a collection of individual resorts that emphasize the beauty of each locality, thus veering away from the traditional expansion strategy by other players.

Be Resorts managing director Enrilen Joy Benedicto shared to The FREEMAN how they aim to invest on a chain of resorts and hotels in the country that are set to be independent and unique with each other.

She said that such concept is intended to reflect what every locality takes pride of.

Be Resorts Mactan, for instance, features modern architectural style and specific interior design to showcase the younger vibe in Cebu.

Since Cebu boasts of its world-class furniture exporters, it also highlights the craftsmanship and versatility of Cebu using the furniture made by local manufacturers.

While a variety of tropical resorts could be found mostly in Mactan Island, Benedicto said that the local players are more geared towards competing internationally with regional destinations in Asia rather than against themselves.

"Everybody here is helping to promote Cebu and Mactan in particular," she added.

Be Resorts Mactan is nestled on an expansive beach front in Punta Engaño and houses a total of 159 rooms. Among its amenities include the infinity pool, jacuzzi, kiddie pool and game room.

The resort in Punta Engaño is currently being managed by Be Resorts. It was developed by Enrison Land Inc. and was formerly managed by Microtel Group.

By July, Be Resorts shall start operating in Bohol. The three-hectare property developed in Panglao, Bohol will house 208 rooms and villas. It will have 150 employees to serve its guests.

Since they aim to support the thrust of the local government towards promoting eco-tourism, Be Resorts Panglao shall be designed to enhance the marine activities in the province and to reflect the laidback environmental vibe of Bohol.

"For Bohol, we want it to be more natural and a bit more tropical. It will have wooden hues, raffia, and also local craftsmanship," Benedicto said.

Be Resorts Panglao shall feature amenities such as marine sanctuary, dedicated diving pool, lagoon and swimming pool, several food and beverage outlets, spa area, conference and facilities.

Describing Bohol as the next major tourist destination to Cebu, Benedicto noted that there is still room for professionally-managed resorts in Panglao Island despite more resorts in the vicinity are sprouting like mushrooms in the alternative beach destination to Boracay.

"After Cebu, it is logical to expand in Bohol. We have it tied up in Mactan since it only takes one to two hours to travel via fast craft," she said.

Once fully operational, a package that will link the facilities in Mactan and Panglao of Be Resorts will be conceptualized and offered to tourists.

Benedicto clarified that they have 24-hour generation infrastructure equipped to handle power supply in Bohol following the rotational brownouts brought about by the earthquake last October.

She further revealed that they are eyeing to expand their presence within the region after Bohol.

Be Resorts is now attracting a huge chunk of the local market that is mostly comprised of the middle market particularly the yuppies and young families. Its foreign market, on the other hand, is mostly composed of Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese.

Meanwhile, Be Resorts Mactan recently introduced the Boodle on the Beach dining concept to its guests wherein food is served on top of banana leaves over native woven flat baskets and is eaten with bare hands while enjoying the meal with the relaxing view of the sea.

Boodle dining is normally done by the military to share a meal or a feast among other soldiers.

Benedicto said that they believe they are the first to offer this local dining style in a resort setting. Since they started to offer it last September, they have received positive market reception, making the boodle fight the bestseller in the menu.

"We wanted to go back to experiential dining, hence the Boodle on the Beach. It is not just the food and ambience but also the gastronomical experience that we want our guests to savor," she said.

Boodle on the Beach comes in two varieties like Big Beach Boodle and Sunny Seaside Boodle. Its price starts at P1800 that is good for four persons with two pitchers of iced tea. Plastic gloves and lemon water rinse are also available. /JMD (FREEMAN)