Chroma Hospitality brings back the joy of travel as global tourism is expected to grow 30% in 2023.
If you’re wondering if 2023 is the right time to take those long-postponed trips or to go to new destinations, the answer is a resounding yes! Count yourself among the hundreds of millions around the world expected to make at least two trips this year.
In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism is forecasting 2023 to be a banner year in both international and domestic travel. Its target for international arrivals is 4.8 million which translates to at least $5.8 billion in revenue.
According to Economist Intelligence, which provides comprehensive views of trends, global tourism will rise by 30% this year. But the new normal in travel is the “no normal,” according to studies by booking sites such as Expedia and Hotels. “People are doing whatever it is they truly feel like doing, whether that’s digital nomading, off-the-grid travel, wellness breaks, a focus on culture or taking that bucket list dream trip,” says Forbes.
In line with this no-trends trend is Chroma Hospitality’s campaign revolving around making the year all about the joy of travel. “Our new campaign ‘The Time is Now’ focuses on the joy of travel and the importance of cherishing moments with your loved ones,” said Carmela Bocanegra, Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Chroma Hospitality. “We know that travel is back, and we want to encourage people to step out of their comfort zones, plan meaningful events, get back to business, get married, or even start a family. The time is now to create unforgettable experiences that will last a lifetime.”
Chroma Hospitality kicked off its new campaign last month to inspire people to plan their next adventure, explore new destinations, and support local communities. Chroma is the management company of Crimson Hotels and Resorts in Mactan, Boracay and Filinvest City Manila; Quest Hotels in Tagaytay, Clark, and Cebu; and Timberland Highlands Resort.
It unveiled what’s it’ been working on quietly during the pandemic at its Travel Revelations event in Crimson Alabang. The dinner featured 5 chefs from its properties—chefs Daniel Johnston, Danilo Gonzales, Tetsuhiro Ogata, Nicolas Pasdeloup and Ranuka Hettiarachchi—highlighting the specialty cuisines of each hotel.
Chroma announced packages such as Crimson Boracay’s P9,000 worth of resort credits for those booking 30 days in advance.
Crimson Mactan, which has been undergoing renovation since it sustained damages from Typhoon Odette in December 2021, will soon be ready to welcome guests with new concepts and sustainability efforts, including the establishment of new coral nurseries and continued partnership with local government units to increase livelihood opportunities for the local community.
It will also introduce the first Kaiseki concept in Cebu, Aka, with chef Ogata’s delectable cooking. Crimson Mactan will re-launch Azure and Saffron, with the latter featuring stations for freshly cooked dishes, and the former defining cool, sexy, fun dining.
“We are excited to reintroduce Crimson Mactan to our guests with our new and renewed concepts,” said James Montenegro, Chroma Hospitality Country Manager. “We want to offer our guests a unique and memorable experience, and at the same time, we want to do our part in promoting sustainability and supporting the local community.”
Montenegro also shared updates on Mimosa Plus Golf in Clark, Pampanga. It recently opened its renovated clubhouse and golf course, now boasting a modern, sustainable design. The bunkers have been refinished and rebuilt to be more visually striking, while the grass has been changed to Zoysia, which requires less maintenance and can handle the tropical weather. These changes are in line with Mimosa Plus’ shift to greener and more sustainable practices, and the course is applying for the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf certification. As a result, Mimosa was awarded the Best Golf Course in the Philippines by the World Golf Awards. The next phase of the Mimosa Plus Golf development includes the reconstruction of the Driving Range and the launch of the Mimosa Plus Golf Academy, which aims to support the future of golf in the Philippines.
The Hilltop at Mimosa, known for its scenic backdrop of Mimosa Plus Golf, will launch an elevated Hilltop experience by Q3 of this year, featuring modern interiors perfectly blended with the landscape of Mimosa Plus.
Other soon-to-open developments inside the Filinvest Mimosa estate include The Retail Strip, a lifestyle and recreational strip, and The Crib, a hip co-living residential space perfect for the contemporary worker.
“We are committed to sustainable developments and we have commenced foundation activity for our Grafik Baguio and Quest Sheridan projects, both scheduled to be completed by the 4th quarter of 2024,” Montenegro said.
Of all the developments Chroma has in the pipeline, it’s Baguio that excites Francis Gotianun the most. The vice president for Filinvest Hospitality says Baguio holds wonderful memories of his childhood when his family would drive up north for vacations.
Chroma’s Grafik Baguio will feature 256 rooms, meeting facilities, a spa, and three outlets. Designed with green building strategies, Grafik Baguio aims to reduce its environmental impact, protect and restore water resources, enhance biodiversity by integrating green building strategies.
Chroma Hospitality’s homegrown food and beverage brands, Firehouse and Baker J, are also expanding beyond Filinvest City to BGC, Makati, and Cebu this year. With three full-service Baker J Café’s located in Entrata Filinvest City, Mimosa+ Clark, and Tagaytay, along with two boutique kiosks situated in Festival Mall and Molito Lifestyle Center, Chroma Hospitality’s food division is looking to grow in the coming years.
Now that’s a no-normal trend in hospitality.
