Activities for the Holy Week

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2016/03/17/activities-holy-week-462966
• Sunday, March 20, 2016

By Katlene O. Cacho

RESORTS in Mactan Island are starting to get fully-booked as the Holy Week nears.

Resort players have mounted various activities to make their visitors’ long weekend in Mactan worthwhile.

The 244-room Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu is already fully-booked for Holy Week, according to Meghann Hernandez, the resort’s marketing and communications manager.

She said the resort has prepared various activities for families to enjoy with games and activities, like the egg hunt and entertainment for its special Easter family affair.

“This weekend is the perfect opportunity for you to relish in traditional local Easter customs within a modern Mediterranean ambience, surrounded by the beautiful lush greenery and crystal blue waters,” the resort said in its press release.

“For next week, we are averaging about 90 percent in occupancy, but we are filling up,” said Fiona Escandor, communications executive at Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa. The resort guests, she said, are a good mix of locals and holiday makers from regional markets.

The five-star resort has also mounted activities for children like the egg hunt and set menus for guests at Cowrie Cove and Acqua, and Sparkling Fun-ch Buffet at Tides.

The Cebuano-owned Bluewater resort chain in Maribago, Sumilon and Panglao islands, likewise, projected high occupancy during the Holy Week.

Maribago and Sumilon resorts are fully-booked on Good Friday and Black Saturday while the Panglao resort is running high during the entire week, according to the press statement provided by Bluewater’s marketing communications officer Eric Monsanto.

This Holy Week, the resorts said they will have tours and a series of “fun-filled activities” for the whole family. Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort will bring back their special Bisita Iglesia Tour.

Resort guests will be able to pay homage and get a unique and animated look at the Filipino’s culture and tradition as they visit Cebu’s historical churches and pilgrimage spots.

On Easter Sunday, the resort prepared family-themed activities like Dolpo’s Amazing Adventure Race in Bluewater Panglao, pirate-themed egg hunt event in Bluewater Sumilon and Bluewater Maribago.

Holy Week is usually considered a low season for city hotels but a peak season for resort hotels. While most locals go on pilgrimage tours like visiting churches, others troop to resorts and beaches to spend quality time with their families and loved-ones. For many Filipinos, Holy Week isn’t only a time of reflection and prayers but also a chance to catch up with friends and engage in recreational activities.

Based on tentative bookings as of yesterday, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa is averaging at 70 percent occupancy next week, said Andi Lim, PR officer of Plantation Bay yesterday.

The resort prepared various activities for Easter Sunday like the Easter parade, bonnet contest, egg hunt, bubble show, dance with fairies and children’s party.

On the other hand, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan is also averaging 80 percent in occupancy for the long weekend.

Mia Sy, Crimson’s public relations and marketing and communications manager, said they have also prepared activities at the beach for families, adults and children such as seafood beach dinner buffet, wine pairing dinner, Easter egg hunt and Sunday brunch.

Cebuano-owned Be Resorts Mactan and Panglao also expect high guest occupancy next week.

According to Erin Garcia-Rivera, head of sales of Be Resorts, average occupancy of their resorts in Mactan and Bohol is at 70 percent and 65 percent, respectively.

An Easter Sunday brunch, egg hunting, face painting and cookie-making demo are among the activities the resort lined-up during the long vacation.