Echoes From

BY JOHNNY DAYANG

Henry Chusuey, 'Mr. Tourism' of Visayas

From the recent 5th Asian Publishing Convention in Bangkok where I was a participant, I got an immediate connection flight bound for Caticlan-Boracay for the induction of the Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) officers that day.

I was one of those inducted as member of BFI board, the driving force behind the scintillating success of the world-famous island resort.

It's but a fitting honor that Senator Franklin Drilon, the man I truly recognize as a genuine contemporary leader of Western Visayas, was our guest speaker and inducting officer.

Senator Drilon hailed the BFI's main stockholders, citing the vision and inspiring leadership of Mr. Henry O. Chusuey, BFI's energetic chair.

Ms. Loubelle B. Cann, BFI outgoing president, was also lauded by Mr. Drilon, as an indefatigable stakeholder fighting for the preservation and protection of Boracay environment and its future.

Senator Drilon praised Mr. Chusuey, dubbed as "Mr. Tourism" of Western Visayas. Mr. Chusuey built the Boracay Regency, a world-class tourist facility. He now owns the largest hotel chain on the island, the Boracay Regency Resort Group, which employs about 900 people.

When he first set foot in Boracay in 1983, he fell in love with it right away! After 10 years of frequenting the island, he felt then that basic accommodations on the island could be improved.

So he looked around for properties all over the island and found the best location site on the middle of the long beach.

Henry, as Senator Drilon affectionately call Mr. Chusuey, started with 43 rooms in 1998. Recently, he acquired Hotel Seraph, a big Korean-owned hotel next door. He has also acquired the Regency lagoon.

From an original 3,500 square meters, Mr. Chusuey has now about five hectares of prime Boracay hotel property. He also acquired a huge property in Panglao, Bohol, where a new hotel and resort will rise.

The Bohol Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center will be opened in 2012 with 350 rooms. He has also an 18-hectare property in Coron, Palawan which will be stream next year.

Mr. Chusuey shares the secrets of success - good service, excellent food and ideal location. Plus, of course, leadership, humility and abiding faith in oneself to succeed worthy of emulation by other stakeholders in the tourism industry.