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By Johanna M. Sampan, Reporter
NESTLED majestically on the
beachfront, The Boracay Regency Beach Resort is among the most
splendid places in the island paradise of Boracay.
Now celebrating its 10th year
anniversary, the now bustling resort started as a humble 43-room
facility in 1998. Owner and chairman Henry Chusuey recollects how
he got into the business and how Boracay looks years ago, “It all
started when I want a place in Boracay for me and my family to enjoy
our vacation,” he narrates, continuing that “back in 1983,
there was nothing here. No electricity, no telephone and no
restaurants.”
An active player in the financing
business, Chusuey, after contemplating the risks, plunged himself
into the construction of the resort in 1998. A decision he did not
have to regret for in the years 2001 up to 2006, his venture had
grown leaps and bounds. From its original 43-room capacity, Boracay
Regency now boasts 285 furnished rooms. Café Zhu and Khai Regency
Spa have been added to the establishment for the enjoyment of its
patrons.
The hotel interiors warrant
another story. The fusion of Zen aesthetics and contemporary style
reflects Chusuey’s preference of visual elements inspired by his
travels to such places as Phuket, Thailand, Bali, Indonesia and of
course the Philippines.
The new Garden Wing of the resort
has a newly constructed 90 rooms that showcase Filipino artistry in
their interior design plus a big crystal-clear swimming pool. Inside
each bedroom is a pleasant juxtaposition of wooden chairs, frames,
cabinets surrounding a cozy bed with a fluffy comforter.
For chilling out on balmy
afternoons, the hotel’s wide lanai offers a relaxing refuge. Laze
around in its tropical ambiance accented with bamboo sticks and
capiz lamps.
Another proud achievement of
Boracay Regency in addition to its first class amenities is the fact
that it gives jobs to a lot of people from Aklan and nearby
provinces. To date, it has in its employ around 400 workers.
Chusuey has another ambitious
project, which he dubbed as The Regency Lagoon. Located at Station
2, the new resort will feature 120 rooms, an outdoor man-made beach
and a 1,200 square meters swimming pool. Chusuey made further
announcement during the groundbreaking ceremony, “We will permit
the use of Regency beach front and allocate golf cars to the
costumers of the Regency Lagoon for them to fully enjoy Boracay.”
After years of toil, Chusuey
describes his business as a blessing for it gives him a sense of
mission and fulfillment. “I want my resorts to be a haven for
people to rest and not just to become ‘another resort,’” he
intones.
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