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Panglao Island, Bohol—High-end resort Amorita is starting the second phase of its expansion project next year following high demand for more rooms and facilities from local and foreign tourists.
“Bohol has been an up and coming favorite destination of tourists primarily because it has a lot to offer. Tagbilaran will soon have an international airport in 2010 so we are expecting more tourists to come,” said director of operations Annie Convocar.
The expansion will add 40 more rooms to the resort and will bring the resort’s number of rooms to 80. A spa village will also be constructed to address the health and wellness needs of its guests.
Amorita, which soft opened in March 2007, is owned by the Hernandez-Del Pilar Group of Companies. It sits in a cliff side locations which gives 180-degree view of Panglao Island.
Convocar said the resort has an average monthly occupancy rate of 70 to 80 percent. Around 70 percent of its tourists are foreigners, which include Europeans, Russians and Americans. Thirty percent are local tourists.
Aside from individual tourists, Amorita is also enjoying bookings from corporate accounts from both local and foreign companies.
Convocar said one of the biggest challenges in operating the resort is the type of service the local staff can provide its guests.
“Boholanos are naturally shy so it took a while us to train them on the hospitality side of the tourism. When we closed in September 2008, we did full focus on training our staff,” she told .
The resort currently has 60 employees.
As part of their corporate social responsibility, she said, they have tied up with local schools to conduct extensive training among hotel and restaurant students.
“We are also working closely with the Department of Tourism and has introduced a number of eco-tourism activities, spelunking, diving and reaching Chocolate Hills riding ATVs (all terrain vehicles),” she said.
ATV is a three or four-wheeler vehicle fitted with large tires, which is utilized for recreation purposes in Bohol.
Convocar said effects of the global economic crisis has not resulted to a negative impact on the resort.
She however noted that they continue to improve facilities and services to attract more tourists to visit the place.
