BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
The latest addition to the Henann Group’s growing portfolio of hotels ensures that revenge travel is a sweet, uncomplicated and memorable affair.
Like moths to a flame, tourists from various parts of the Philippines — and even some parts of Japan and South Korea, for that matter — have started to head to their favorite beaches after years of being shuttered. And where beaches and landscapes are mentioned, Bohol is definitely not far behind.
In fact, Henann Tawala Resort Bohol, the ninth and latest addition to the Henann Group’s ever-expanding resorts portfolio, has started to feel the surge of tourists in recent months. “Just a couple of weeks back, we were at full capacity and had to refer some of our guests to neighboring hotels,” disclosed the Henann Group’s vice president Karl Chusuey, during a media luncheon he hosted last March.
Well, guests who got to stay in one of Henann Tawala’s 210 premium rooms, especially those that come with direct access to the pools, were definitely in luck. For while smaller than its sister Henann Resort Alona Beach, Hennan Tawala, which opened in April 2022, is also armed with its own, unique charm.
This, we learned the fun way, as we welcomed summer in Bohol.
We checked into our premier room with a view of the pools at three in the afternoon. The walls are an elegant sand color, with accents of teal and light blue. Overall, it made for a relaxing retreat, especially after we got a whiff of that crisp, cool air from the air-conditioning unit. The plush beds, clean and perfectly set, succeeded in making us stay in a little longer.
One power nap later, just as the afternoon sun had begun to dim,
we started to make the most of our short respite in Bohol by taking a dip in one of Henann Tawala’s pools. We then went on a five minute walk — one pop song’s length, according to Karl — to the famed Alona beach of Panglao island, the longest stretch of which is in front of Henann Alona. And there, with the blue horizon changing hues, my friend and I drank up our negronis, margaritas and more from the Sea Breeze Beach Bar’s happy hour menu.
While on the beach, we noticed that the oppas and noonas are back, along with a handful of Caucasian tourists. Henann Group president Alfonso Chusuey, who himself could pass for a K-drama oppa, confirmed this over dinner. “Korean guests make up more than 50 percent of our properties’ occupancy. We also get a lot of foreign guests and our hotels in Boracay and Bohol have started to hit 90 percent capacity,” he said. It’s also worth noting that Henann, according to Alfonso, cornered at least a third of the island’s tourists, when travel restrictions started to ease up.
“When people came back after the lockdowns, they more or less looked for the same experiences that they enjoyed before the pandemic.
What we needed to do is to make sure that we deliver these to them, even if it meant offering these at lower price points for a while,” added Alfonso.
And what activities are these, exactly?
First off, there’s dining, which Henann Tawala serves up with gusto in its very own Orchard Café. Its hearty buffet breakfast, which comes complete with some Korean dishes, marks the perfect start of each morning. Items from the all-day dining menu, which consist of Asian, Filipino and Western dishes are also well-varied and delicious. Among our favorites was the six-cheese pizza, whose creamy, salty and slightly sweet flavors made it hard to share.
Again, just a pop song away, guests may also opt to visit renowned restaurants such as Sea Breeze Cafe, Christina’s, Coral Cafe and Sea Breeze Beach Bar over at Henann Resort Alona Beach.
Guests who choose to maintain their fitness routine and keep in shape may also do so by visiting the gym and fitness center. There’s also the Kai Spa at Henann Alona, where guests can enjoy a relaxing massage. For bigger groups with even more specific requirements —conferences, business meetings or celebrations — the resort also has its own function room on the second floor.
“We’re thrilled to welcome guests to Henann Tawala Resort. As is expected of the Henann brand, we once again offer nothing less than top-notch accommodations and exceptional service,” shares Karl.
With all the activities and choices packed for us within the Henann compound, three days passed by quite quickly. And save for a few strolls by the beach, we never really left the place until it was time to check-out. Indeed, revenge can be short, sweet and uncomplicated when you’re in the right place.
