Charming tourists back to Subic
AS the country’s economy reopens due to the constant decline in Covid-19 cases not only in Metro Manila but in other parts of the country, tourism industry follows with travel-related businesses now back in operation as people begin to go out again and explore various destinations—a perfect respite from the stress and anxiety brought about by the pandemic over the last two years.
Leading the pack in the revitalized local hospitality industry is Le Charmé Suites located within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, which has already been on track to recovery even prior to the current easement of health restrictions.
“I did not expect it’s tourism that will bounce back first,” Le Charmé Suites Managing Director Josephine Floresca told reporters at the recent 1st FRIKE (Fun. Ride.bike) Enduro Challenge they organized in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Subic Enerzone, Lagoon Restaurant and local indigenous groups. “Actually, it’s better than before. It’s better than the prepandemic.”
The four-star hotel owned by realestate firm Grand Pillar International Development Inc. (GPIDI) has been a proof of the improving industry’s current performance with its roughly at least 70-percent occupancy rate since it’s reopening for the leisure market in September of last year, according to her.
“We’ve been under quarantine hotel operations from October of 2020 up to August of 2021,” she said of their sudden transition as a chosen accommodation initially for the employees of factories within the freeport zone and later on the returning overseas Filipino workers at the height of the ensuing health crisis. Pre-pandemic, we were at around 40 to 50 [percent only—occupancy-wise], and now the rate is really good.”
Floresca attributed Le Charmé’s strong business, not to mention that of both the travel and hotel sectors in general, to revenge tourism and the growing preference of local tourists, especially from Manila, to come to Subic since it’s merely two hours away from the country’s capital via the Skyway.
In keeping the momentum, she noted that they “keep on creating events” and “more active in collaborating with other establishments.”
Inaugural fun race
THE FRIKE was the first activity that the hotel has had since the relaxation of mobility and health protocols in most parts of the country—a welcome development and sort of relief not only to its guests but the bikers to revisit Subic anew after the lockdown periods.
As a headstart, the organizer intentionally had it small with a total of 50 participants coming mostly from the locality itself and other areas like Manila as well as the provinces of Bataan, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal.
Thirty of them joined in the full suspension category and 20 in the hard tail segment of the competition held at the 3-kilometer long Paco 55 Track of the Pamulaklakin Forest Trail inside the Aeta tribal reservation in SBMA.
Kimi Grande, an off-road mountain biker from Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, won in the former challenge with a time of 5 minutes and 39.9 seconds. On the other hand, Jeffrey Tendero, who hails from Porac, Pampanga, lorded over the latter race in 6 minutes and 15.8 seconds.
Both of them, likewise, bested their rivals in the jump competition of their respective categories. Together with other winners, they took home cash prizes, trophies, medals, certificates, vouchers and finisher shirts.
“One of the reasons why we organized this event is for us to reopen after the pandemic,” the managing director said. “So we aim to have a lighter race rather than enduro or something very hardcore game. That’s why this game is really for fun.”
More than just being a competition, the FRIKE was conducted also in an eco-friendly and image-enhancing manner.
“Since we opened our economy late last year, many have come out. They went here in the trail, but they left their wastes. There’s really an advocacy for this event. It’s really more on creating awareness to the public that there is such kind of a trail, but we really hope to encourage everyone to pick up and bring back home their wastes, or throw them in a proper disposal area,” she pointed out.
“For a long time, Subic and Olongapo have this image of a red light district. So we really tried our best to turn around the image that this is actually a family destination, an athlete destination, a more wholesome destination that could cater not only for fun but also for business. If you notice, our concept is ‘Bleisure’—business and leisure,” she added.
Proud of the event’s success, Floresca bared their plan to hold it on the 30th day of April annually. She said: “Maybe next year, we will do it more of like a corporate activity. So there are going to be companies sending their representatives more than individual [participants].”
accidental yet charming
LE Charmé is an “accidental project” of GPIDI, a group of Taiwanese investors in Subic engaged in residential and commercial developments.
This European-inspired boutique hotel, which originally was designed as a furniture mall, opened in March 2017 to complement the rising meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry in the former military base of the United States in the country during the time.
It boasts of its being the first steel structure building in Subic, housing 45 spacious, well-appointed and equipped rooms, plus topnotch facilities and amenities akin to high star-rated hotels, such as a spa, a gym, a pool, food and beverage outlets, as well as meeting and function rooms.
Supposedly intended as a showroom and storage for furnitures imported from China, Le Charmé is known for its high-ceiling lobby and accommodation spaces, complemented by a roomy elevator with a couch. What also separates itself from the competition is its provision of bike racks along the wall of every hotel room, thus making it fit not only for the Bleisure market, but also to athletes like the bikers.
“So that made us very, very popular,” Floresca stressed. “This is really an unplanned, accidental success.”