Another world-class facility opens (There’s just no stopping Boracay)

Overexposure is certainly the price Boracay has had to pay for its world–renowed beauty. With all the press it has gotten over the years, from a mention in Alex Garland’s debut novel "The Beach" to its now oft-quoted reputation as the party place to be, one would think that there’s nothing more to see at Boracay, even if you haven’t set foot on the island yet.

Perhaps first-time visitors to the island expect a drunken mass of people staggering back to their respective hotels after a night of revelry. Maybe instead of finding an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, they may find themselves in the same frenetic race as before, only this time they’re walking on sand.

Or worse, everything they see on Boracay is something they’ve already seen before.

But every once in a while, Boracay still has the capacity to surprise you. Just recently, its residents and regulars alike feted the opening of the Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center’s new Garden wing, a lush Asian garden sprouting in the midst of the sand and sea.

Boracay Regency chairman and president Henry Chusuey led the formal opening ceremonies witnessed by guests of honor US Embassy’s Bruce Armstrong and wife Christiaane, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Senators Ed Angara and Dick Gordon, Italian Ambassador Rubens Fedele with wife Cosetta.

"Our mission here at the Regency has always been to ask ourselves again and again how we can be of service to our guests. Our goal has always been to continuously improve our facilities and services to make our guests happy, and so the Boracay Regency Garden Wing is born," Chusuey said.

The new wing is a pleasant surprise for the party-hardened regulars of Boracay with its Asian garden motif, providing a little bit of zen and a much more peaceful alternative to spending one’s time in Boracay. With an additional 90 rooms and 18 suites that have direct access to a swimming pool, it is a quiet haven for beachgoers just out to relax or seeking to recover from last night’s party.

The Garden wing certainly lacks for nothing when it comes to amenities to make every visitor’s stay a memorable one. The wing boasts five-star amenities that include 300 thread count beddings and goose down pillows.

"This comes after the Regency’s long and colourful history of providing travellers in the island paradise with superior accommodations and a better Boracay experience," Chusuey said.

Chusuey expects the new wing to add to the Regency’s already storied reputation. One of the first triple A rated resorts in the beachfront, the strategically located Mediterranean–themed resort at Boat Station 2 has continuously expanded through the years due to guests’ clamour for more rooms, food and leisure outlets.

Aside from the Garden wing, the Regency also boasts of 270 rooms, the Regency Food Plaza, Alfon’s Bar, the Gazebo, Prince Hendrik’s Café and newly renovated MO2Wave, Boracay’s first and only underground beach disco bar.

Another wing is being planned, the Boracay Regency Lagoon, a 120–room structure that will have water as its central theme. All rooms are envisioned by Chusuey to open up to a swimming pool and harness the calming qualities of water. The hotel is also opening up a spa with luxurious treatments and expert therapists for guests’ relaxation and rejuvenation.

"We want to ensure every guest that every time they come to Regency, new things are always brewing and they get the value and quality that we have consistently given them," Chusuey explains.

And that’s something that’s guaranteed to keep even the most jaded beach bum on their toes.