Posh resort to open shopping arcade by Q2

CEBU, Philippines - Plantation Bay Resort and Spa is set to open its luxury shopping arcade by the second quarter this year.

The arcade, which will be the first-of-its-kind in Cebu to be situated inside a top-tier resort, is currently under construction and schedule of completion is on track," said the resort's general manager Efren Belarmino in an interview yesterday.

The establishment of the two-storey shopping facility is aimed at meeting the demand of tourists for a shopping station, apart from the traditional souvenir items available in every hotel or resort.

The over 100-square-meter shopping haven is planned to house several high end or signature brands from bags, to fashion accessories, among others.

At present, Belarmino bared that there signature brands have already expressed interest to get a slot in the shopping arcade, "but nothing is final yet."

The 20-year old resort, which is the only Cebuano-owned resort property in Mactan Island, had been doing soft facility upgrades in the last few years, but only in the last couple of years that it ventured into major renovation program, and expansion moves.

According to Belarmino, the property has seen the rising interest of guests to go out and splurge on shopping, not only for the conventional souvenir items, but buying branded and fancy bags, accessories and clothes.

Shopping is one of the top itineraries of tourists, specifically the growing Chinese visitors from Taiwan, Belarmino noted.

From the resort, guests usually go to the nearest shopping malls in Lapu-Lapu City. (FREEMAN)