Resort Articles Continued
Wyndham Vacation Ownership Begins Construction of the Great Smokies Lodge
WEBWIRE – Monday, June 23, 2008
Resort to Become Company’s Newest Smoky Mountains Retreat
ORLANDO, Fla.-Wyndham Vacation Ownership has commenced construction of its latest mountain resort, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Great Smokies Lodge. Located just outside of Smoky Mountains National Park next to the Little Pigeon River in Sevierville, Tenn., the 189-unit vacation ownership resort is anticipated to open in 2009. When complete, the resort will anchor a new residential and entertainment complex with an expansive indoor and outdoor water park project currently under development by Wilderness Resort, LLC, developers of America’s largest water park resort.
“In partnering with Wilderness Resort, the premier water park developer, we will bring a truly unique resort to the Smoky Mountains – a longtime favorite destination for our owners,” said Alan Litwack, executive vice president, Acquisitions & Pre-Development Services for Wyndham Vacation Ownership. “At Wyndham, our goal is not only to develop outstanding resorts in popular destinations, but to create resorts that are destinations in and of themselves. With a similar destination resort in Wisconsin Dells and a resort under development in the National Harbor (Md.) entertainment complex, we are continuing to deliver new and exciting vacation experiences for our owners.”
Featuring modern mountain architecture, the resort will include a mix of well-appointed one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as two-, three-and four-bedroom upscale Presidential units, several of which will overlook the beautiful Eagles Landing Golf Course. Each unit in the Wyndham property will feature such amenities as a full kitchen, dining room, in-unit washer and dryer, and entertainment center. Presidential units will include a ledgestone fireplace in each great room.
Scheduled to operate within the company’s FairShare Plus by Wyndham exchange portfolio, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Great Smokies Lodge will be Wyndham Vacation Ownership’s fourth property in Tennessee, joining the Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Glade in Fairfield Glade, Wyndham Smoky Mountains in Sevierville and Wyndham Nashville in Nashville.
Beyond the outstanding accommodations, owners will be able to enjoy a number of amenities throughout the complex including Wilderness Resort’s sizable indoor and outdoor water parks. Visitors can spend the day zooming down the parks’ tube and body slides, taking a dip in the indoor wave pool and having fun in a water playground. For a more relaxing pace, guests can float in the adventure river or sit poolside, soaking up the sun. In fact, Wilderness Resort’s large indoor wave pool will be enclosed in a Foil Tech roof that let’s visitors enjoy sun tanning year-round.
After a day of fun at the water parks or exploring the area’s shops, restaurants and the natural beauty of the nearby mountains, owners can relax by the cozy lobby fireplaces or on the resort’s patio overlooking the golf course. In addition, the resort will feature an exercise room and computer library for connecting with family and friends. A number of restaurants, snack bars, retail shops, arcades and bars will provide plenty of food and entertainment options within walking distance for everyone.
Tourism industry expands reach into Japan outbound market
The Tourism Department and its private sector partners has recently concluded business talks with over 1,127 Japanese tour operators and industry stakeholders at the Fourth Philippine Business Mission (PBM). Co-sponsored by Philippine Airlines, the week-long roadshow covered, for the first time, Fukuoka in addition to Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo.
According to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano “We have reached an unprecedented attendance in the four-year history of organizing the PBM. This mission has opened new opportunities for both our local industry players and their Japanese counterparts.”
Durano led a 65-member delegation representing local tour operators, dive centers, hotels, resorts, spas, airlines, transportation services and provincial tourism offices.
The PBM program involved a briefing session on the country’s tourism destinations, facilities, services, flight availability and other vital travel data.
Cebu and Manila currently stand as the most popular destinations for Japanese travelers. While these areas were presented at the PBM, they shared the spotlight with Davao, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Laguna, Batangas and Negros—places that the DoT anticipates would become the next holiday hotspots for this market.
Philippine Airlines, the biggest carrier flying between Japan and the country, was also present to highlight the latest business class and cabin upgrades, aircraft acquisitions and other developments that would benefit the Japanese traveler. The flag carrier flies more than 26 times weekly from Manila and Cebu to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.
Japanese nationals further gave testimonials about their visits to the Philippines. Freelance photographer Hironobu Mochizuki teased the audience with colorful images of Filipino fiestas, locations and other sights.
“Nature, history, shopping, relaxation—you can enjoy all of them. No matter where you go, you will be greeted with cordial Filipino hospitality and talking with local people will be one of the pleasures,” shared Sakoto Matsui, who works for Osaka-based non-government organization Japan Asian Association and Asian Friendship Society.
The travel mart section allowed the Philippine trade participants to conduct one-on-one discussions with Japanese industry stakeholders for possible joint promotional activities.
“Many of the Japanese tour operators know about us but this was a chance for them to update them on what we have to offer and make strong ties for future bookings,” said Efren Belarmino, general manager of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Cebu.
“The participants are very interested in new destinations. They’re also receptive to adding our facilities into their Philippine packages,” reported Rizza Sebastian, sales and marketing director for Dos Palmas Island Resort & Spa, which has properties in Palawan and Batangas.
Boracay’s Discovery Shores sales director Leeds Trompeta concurred, “The response was overwhelming. The Japanese are always looking for something extraordinary and they were happy to know that Boracay is ready to cater to premium preferences.”
Other Philippine establishments that presented their facilities in various islands included the Alegre Beach Resort, Alta Visa de Boracay, Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center, Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Club Paradise, Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel, Eden Island Resort, Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa, Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, Hyatt Casino and Hotel, Marco Polo, Oxford Suites, Pacific Cebu Resort, Shangri-La Mactan Resorts and Spa, Tambuli Resorts, The Farm at San Benito and Waterfront Hotels and Casino.
Travel wholesalers ATJ Travel and Tours, Attic Tours, Baron Travel, Cebu San-Pu Tours and Travel, Metropolitan Co. Ltd., Sanyo International Tokyo, Travel Experts Center and Travel Vision also participated in the table-top meeting sessions.
Supporting the presence of the Philippine delegation were consul general Maria Lourdes Ramiro-Lopez, vice consul for cultural and Filipino community affairs Anna de Vera, Osaka-based tourism attaché Araceli Soriano and Tokyo-based tourism attaché Valentino Cabansag.
While in Japan, Durano and DoT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr. further met with the officers of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (Jata) in Kyushu and Chubu, the Tourism Industry Association of Japan in Tokyo and the DoT’s Japan-based marketing and promotions partner JTB.
According to Jarque, “The department highly values its relations with Jata and other stakeholders as they are strategic in positioning our destinations.”
The sessions sought to align the marketing objectives of the DoT with the Japanese travel industry, identify challenges and explore new programs that will encourage visitor traffic between the Philippines and Japan.
“We see the Philippines as an important partner in Japan’s ‘Visit the World Campaign’ in which the government aims to achieve 20 million outbound tourists by 2010,” disclosed Jata Chubu chairman Nobuhisa Okada.
A cocktail reception closed the day with more opportunities for networking.
Japan is currently the third leading source of travelers to the Philippines. Arrivals from this country reached 157,362 from January to May 2008, providing 11.5 percent of overall tourist traffic.
The DoT attributes this strong presence to its marketing campaign which targets independent young women, divers and active seniors. These sectors are considered “quality travelers,” who opt for premium activities and accommodations.