Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa
BY REGINA BENGCO

With the weather bureau’s official declaration that summer has started, everyone heads out to the beaches.

One of the beach resorts whose opening is being anticipated is Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa, located at the northwestern tip of Boracay Island, dubbed as one of the best beaches in the world.

The first international deluxe resort on the island and the 61st of the Shangri-La hotels and resorts had its soft opening on March 2, the date picked out by feng shui experts. The much-awaited full opening is in April.

Guests can stretch out on any of the handicraft lounging chairs arrayed on the 350-meter secluded white sand beach front, shielded by yellow umbrellas brightened by the summer sun. Sip a tropical drink from the nearby bar while looking at the passing sailboats and ferry boats floating on the deep blue sea.If the sun is too hot for you, there are hammocks tied under coconut trees a few meters away and more lounging chairs around pools that mirror the sea’s bright blue waters.

The dripping sounds from the fountains at the edge of the pools and the soft breeze from the mountains can lull you to sleep until the sunset brings cooler air and another postcard view of the beach.Shangri-La Boracay also has an eco-center for tourists to acquaint themselves with the island’s flora and fauna. A nature trail is in the works.

Joy Wassmer, the hotel’s director for communications, said Shangri-La Boracay has 219 rooms, villas and deluxe rooms. There are also three top villas in the southwest.The hotel’s interiors could remind one of Bali, with more pools and fountains, and sculptures of wood and stone.

Wassmer said the resort has seven restaurants because it is far from the main area of Boracay island. Getting there through the winding road, one is gifted with a view of villas sculpted from the side of mountains and the white sand beach below.

Among the restaurants and bars, Solana, the sunset bar becomes the center of energy within the resort. Cielo, the poolside restaurant and Alon Beach Bar offers light snacks and refreshing drinks.The resort also offers a water sports center, dive shop, free-form swimming pool, entertainment center, adventure zone, a health club and outdoor tennis courts.

The 400-square meter ballroom and additional 370 square meters of meeting space makes it perfect for weddings, social events, meetings and conferences.

Steve Tajanlangit, owner of Boracay Terraces and Resort which is located in another side of the island, said the entry of an international deluxe facility like Shangri-La Boracay does not pose a threat to the smaller resorts.

"Shangri-La Boracay promotes the entire island internationally, so we also benefit from it. They also want their neighbors to be as big as themselves. And each resort has its own gimmick," he said.

Tajanlangit said his resort’s 57 rooms are full and booking will be difficult in the island during the summer.Despite Boracay’s international exposure, he said local tourists make up 70 percent of customers.He complained that the nearby Caticlan Airport in mainland Aklan province is too small to accommodate all the tourists, with 56 flights daily, the second busiest next to Manila’s international airports.

He said the air fare should also be lowered.Looking at the resorts along Boracay’s shoreline, Tajanlangit, whose resort has been around since 1985, said there is a need to expand Boracay somewhere else, like in virgin Palawan on the western side of the archipelago.

"We do not want Boracay to be congested," he said, thoughtfully.