Going above and beyond offering guests with a luxurious vacation experience, Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay also envisions a greener and more sustainable future for the planet. Through its sustainability practices, the resort entices its patrons not only with its exclusive and premium amenities, but also with its commitment to eco-conscious practices amidst a pristine and picture-perfect environment.
Text and photos by Ma. Angelica Demegillo
Located at Boracay’s Station Zero in Punta Bunga Cove, Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay is a sanctuary of unparalleled luxury, where azure waters, magical golden sunsets and lush tropical landscapes meet. Where colors are vivid and surreal like a scene out of a postcard.
PeopleAsia recently had the opportunity to visit the luxurious 2.9-hectare Chroma Hospitality group property and immerse in a lavish yet mindful stay for three days and two nights.
After a mere hour-and-a-half flight from Manila followed by a quick van ride from the airport via Crimson’s exclusive shuttle, our group immediately received the VIP treatment at Crimson Boracay’s welcome pavilion. Here, we had the chance to relax for a bit and enjoy some coffee and pastries before we were whisked away on a thrilling 20-minute speedboat ride to reach the sprawling property.
This writer was fortunate enough to stay in a suite with sea view, that, as its name suggests, offers a pristine view of the beach and the endless stretch of the serene waters. The suite comes with a spacious living room, a comfortable king-sized bed and a private balcony ideal for late-night contemplation or early-morning meditation.
When the sun goes down, the beach is lit in a beautiful shade of gold, a view seldom seen anywhere else.
Championing sustainability
Chroma Hospitality, the company behind the Crimson chain of hotels and resorts, has been a strong advocate for sustainability. Since 2021, the group has championed sustainability through several activities, including the use of electric vehicles for guest transfers, reducing the use of single-use plastics and empowering differently abled individuals.
Its “Today and Beyond” campaign, officially launched in February this year, is part of the hospitality group’s effort to promote and implement various sustainable practices at its properties throughout the country.
As part of its ongoing efforts to promote sustainability, Crimson Boracay is now offering a package created to support the campaign, inviting guests to experience the island paradise with “mindfulness.” Dubbed as “Escape to Conscious Luxury,” the program offers guests an engaging and luxurious but mindful stay. It also highlights the steps taken by the hospitality group toward a more sustainable future for the environment.
Unlike conventional room packages, the campaign highlights the Crimson brand’s ethos for caring for the community and the environment. The package includes accommodations for three days and two nights at one of the resort’s well-appointed rooms, suites or villas, along with a complimentary breakfast in the morning, which will be served at Saffron Café, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant. It also includes standard features such as land and sea transfers to and from Caticlan Airport or the jetty and access to Crimson’s exclusive welcome lounge.
The hotel organized various eco-centered activities to help maximize guest experience. For one, there is a special tour of the hotel’s very own secret garden. Situated behind one of the premium villas, in a repurposed space, is J’s Garden where hotel staff maintain and tend to several types of edible plants, including alugbati, arugula, basil, eggplant, parsley and romaine, among others.
As part of its sustainability practices, the hotel has adopted a community of the Ati tribe living in Caticlan. These indigenous people cultivate and grow the plants, which they sell to Crimson Boracay. In turn, the produce end up in the staff cafeteria or are incorporated in some of the hotel’s main dishes.
In 2023, the Crimson Boracay team resorted to the use of hydroponics for its garden. Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. This effort is one of the hotel’s sustainability initiatives, wherein key people tapped a supplier in Australia who taught them how to tend and manage the produce via the technique. Once they were fully able to manage the garden via hydroponics, it was the employees’ responsibility to keep it going.
Sustainability is, indeed, seriously practiced among members of the Crimson team, and is certainly not just for show. Staff, especially those blessed with green thumbs, dedicate a considerable amount of their time tending to the vegetable garden.
As part of the exposure package, we also got the chance to go on a guided bike tour to explore local gems and well-loved destinations like the Bulabog Beach, where we enjoyed watching people kiteboarding and parasailing against the picturesque Boracay sun. Foreigners and locals alike flock to the beach to enjoy the summer sun and, of course, capture the stunning seaside vistas to share on social media.
No trip is complete without the food! One of the highlights of this trip was getting to try the hotel’s special five-course dinner. Most of the ingredients used in the dishes, we were told, were locally sourced and harvested in the resort’s very own garden!
During our first evening, we enjoyed a filling al fresco feast by the beach. Our group dined under the stars while feeling the gentle breeze and salt in our hair as we savored the flavorful mackerel tiradito, hearty pumpkin soup, sweet potato gnocchi and roasted red grouper. The dinner ended on a high note with a delectable serving of chia pudding.
On our second and last night, we were treated to a delightful dinner at Mosaic. I must say, the beef short ribs cooked for 48 hours, which was tender and flavorful with every bite, stood out the most. While we were enjoying a candle-lit dinner, we were serenaded by a pair of singers. We were also fortunate to witness the “art on a plate” presentation, wherein Crimson Boracay’s artist-in-residence Christine Sioco painted one of her masterpieces while we dined. Truly, it was a memorable evening, thanks to the good food, wine and great company.
Heart for art
During our stay, we had the honor of witnessing Sioco’s first-ever exhibit at the hotel. Dubbed “Inamorata,” the collection, which was mounted on International Women’s Day, explored the different facets of womanhood.
Crimson Boracay’s general manager Patrick Manthe, an art enthusiast himself, strongly advocates supporting art and the youth. He passionately believes in investing in the arts and nurturing young talent. In fact, he often holds art programs for hotel guests. Proceeds from such endeavors help sponsor young and up-and-coming artists from the local community with free workshops and art materials.
At the end of the workshops, participants are asked to showcase their works in an exhibition where they would also have the opportunity to sell them. It is also important to highlight that the funding for such programs comes from a portion of the hotel’s profit. These avenues give the artists opportunities to get much-needed exposure.
Part of the proceeds from the “Escape to Conscious Luxury” campaign will also be allotted to the arts and youth initiative to help fund the endeavors of future artists.
The booking period for “Escape to Conscious Luxury” campaign runs until December 15, 2024. Meanwhile, the stay period runs until December 31, 2024.
For bookings and additional information, visit the hotel’s promo page at www.crimsonhotel.com/boracay/offers/escape-to-conscious-luxury.
