MANILA, Philippines - A good part of planning an out-of-town trip is making sure you have plenty to do at the place you’re headed. Most people go out of their way to visit a particular tourist site or spend time soaking up the local culture. Some visit a place because of what’s new. As a perfect destination crafted with the modern tourist in mind, the Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu offers everything you want out of a great holiday vacation.
Richard King, president and CEO of Crown Regency Hotels and Resorts, makes it abundantly clear that the Crown Regency is more than just a place where one stays during his vacation. “The way we build our new developments is to always make it a ‘destination of the destination,’†he says. King adds that for Cebu, the hotel is notable for being the tallest hotel tower in the country and, “to make it a destination itself, we introduced the sky adventure concept. Now, it is one of the destinations in Cebu.â€
At 45 storeys tall, the Crown Regency sticks out like a majestic thumb in the Cebu cityscape. That height gives it the advantage of being home for the country’s one and only Sky Experience Adventure, an impressive collection of rides, activities and attractions located at the top floors of the building.
Here you will find the world’s first and only amusement ride of its kind, the Edge Coaster. Two people are securely seated on a platform that slowly travels along a rail that goes around the exterior of the building. However, it’s not the speed that provides the thrill — it’s the sight. Right from when the ride begins the platform tilts a full 55 degrees forward, enabling riders to hang on to their seats as they look down a 45-storey plunge to the city street below. If and when vertigo sets in, riders can flick a switch that tilts the platform back to a more comfortable level and a panoramic view of the landscape.
The extreme attractions don’t end there. At the 37th floor mezzanine another feature lets you go around the building exterior. This time, you walk. The Skywalk Extreme lets you walk around and outside the building on a transparent walkway over 400 feet high with only a safety harness to ensure your safety. Another first in the country, the safety harness system is the one used by stuntmen in James Bond movies. If you want a sense of walking on air and seeing the city below your feet, a daytime walk is advised. The attraction is also open in the evening.
Speaking of James Bond, the Crown Regency scores another first with the only urban zipline in the country. The Tower Zip and Sky Lift have you traveling from the top of the hotel to another building across a wire over 150 meters long. Of course, you need to go back to where you started — with the Sky Lift, those who went on the zipline can go back via a motorized line as they slowly take in breathtaking views of the city.
That’s not even the highest you can go at the Crown Regency. For that, you will need to experience its three levels of wall climbing. At the very top of the hotel are the Paramount Wall Climb, Cliffhanger, and Vertex. Paramount is pretty basic, but lets you get a feel for wall climbing. Ramp up the experience with Cliffhanger, a wall climb higher and more extreme — positioned seven feet high from the edge of the building and 473 feet above the ground. At the starting point the wall angles after about three feet, giving you a sense of hanging off a steep cliff. And for the ultimate, the Vertex lets you climb the 30-foot pole at the top of the building. That’s 600 feet from ground level and a perfect 360-degree view of the entire city.
For a much tamer experience, the 4D theater at the 18th floor offers thrills with interactive seats and 3D cinema presentations for everyone.
The Crown Regency Hotel and Towers offers world-class accommodations to complement its attractions. Numerous value-for-money packages are offered from two to three nights in conjunction with the attractions and various dining options. Many restaurants offering international and local cuisine are located on-site, from the nostalgic 50’s Café Bar and Restaurant to the always popular Wang Shan Lo Chinese restaurant. Function rooms are also available for meetings, corporate events or programs and can accommodate anywhere from 50 to 500 people.
If you plan on taking a trip to Cebu, staying at the Crown Regency is your best bet in taking full advantage of your vacation time. It helps that the hotel is centrally located and provides a great hub to all that the city has to offer. And with all the attractions right in the building itself, you may find yourself spending more time inside than out.
***
The Crown Regency Hotel & Towers is located along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City. For more information on packages and other details, call (+6332) 418-7777 or 418-8888. Visit its website at www.crownregency.com. Photos by Fernan Nebres