MORE GUESTS CHECK IN FOR WELLNESS
Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa resident manager Joost Folkers notes more guests spending time for wellness treatments
Besides attracting leisure and corporate guests, a five-star resort in Mactan Island is also eyeing to capture a good slice of the wellness tourism market.
While most tourists visit Cebu to explore the province’s natural attractions, Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa resident manager Joost Folkers said they’re seeing a rising number of guests who come to Cebu for wellness treatments.
“They spend time at the beach but they also spend more time in spas,” said Folkers.
The Japanese remain the leading market for wellness activities at Shangri-La Mactan. During their stay at the resort, they spend at least an hour for spa treatments after a long day of excursions, with some avail themselves of upgraded spa treatments.
“They are willing to spend more, especially for wellness activities,” said Folkers.
The 25-year-old resort said it is working on offering an overnight package for guests to stay in the grand villa of Chi, The Spa, which is a 10,000-square-meter treatment and massage facility that houses 15 private villas.
Shangri-La Mactan celebrated last weekend the Global Wellness Day aimed to encourage guests to pursue a healthier and more environment-friendly lifestyle.
Cassandra Cuevas, the resort’s director of communications, said they are embarking on a holistic approach to promoting wellness at the resort through various activities.
“It will not just be on food and self-care but also about keeping the environment healthy. We’ve recently conducted an underwater cleanup where some guests participated in the activity,” said Cuevas.
Some employees and guests also participated in plogging, a new activity that combines jogging with picking up litter. The activity started in Sweden in 2016 and eventually spread to other countries to increase the concern about plastic pollution.
Moreover, the resort is slowly getting rid of plastic straws and bags in their dining and room services as an initial step toward curbing plastic pollution.
“We are phasing out the plastics as our way to help in the rescue and rehabilitation of our environment,” said Cuevas.
Added programs like these that are geared toward a healthy environment have shifted from a corporate social responsibility (CSR) stance into a strategy that invites guests to stay in their property.
“Initiatives like these are now demanded by the market. They are now environment-conscious,” she said.
Since 2012, Global Wellness Day began in Turkey and has since been celebrated in 73 countries, as of 2015.
This year marks the third in which Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts joined the movement, with each property showcasing complimentary offers unique to the destination and incorporating homegrown attractions and ingredients. /