(Manila, Philippines, March 26, 2008) — The city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan is now making a name as one of the country’s most exciting vacation and business destinations, and is attracting more refined travelers, says Francis Patrick Favoreal, Vice President of Legend Hotels International Corporation, a chain of 100% Filipino owned and managed value hotels.

One of LHIC’s most successful ventures, The Legend Palawan has spearheaded and developed a haven of tourism in Puerto Princesa. “When I first came to Puerto Princesa, the place was still struggling. There were few flights going in. But we rallied behind Puerto Princesa with all our resources,” said Favoreal. For over 10 years, LHIC has adopted a distinctive Filipino character for its hotel chains. It now operates eight hotels catering to a variety of local and international travelers.

With Palawan now a major tourist destination, flights to Puerto Princesa have increased and transportation in the city has vastly improved. “The Legend Palawan doesn’t exist solely as a hotel. Our overall mandate is destination management because Puerto Princesa is, in fact, the gateway to Palawan,” according to Favoreal. He adds that the “Palawan Experience” or PaX is among their ongoing efforts to encourage tourism in the city and its islands.

PaX offers three kinds of tour packages that are specially designed for couples, families, and friends — the Twosome Holiday, Family Island Vacations and the Extreme Expedition. Favoreal says that PaX is all about getting the best value, whether it’s good food, accommodations, trips to the Honda Bay islands or the World Heritage site, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

“PaX is the only vacation package that delivers all the needs of any business or leisure traveler,” Favoreal said. “We train hosts to accommodate the diverse requirements of our guests. All of them even undergo survival training and licensing to qualify for PaX.”

The success of The Legend Palawan has spurred major developments in the city and nearby areas. The company recently launched the dolphin watching and firefly tours as part of PaX. It is also partnering with non-governmental organizations and the local government to launch ecotourism initiatives.

“Palawan is a complete destination. And we are dedicated to create the best tours for everyone,” Favoreal explains. Currently, The Legend Palawan’s occupancy rate is 75%, and growing at a rate of 28 to 32% each year. Puerto Princesa attracts mostly business travelers and seasoned vacationers who crave for better value and an even more engaging set of experiences.

Aside from being a pioneer in Palawan, LHIC was also the first hotel corporation to put up a 24/7 Customer Care center exclusively for inquiries and reservations. “We have invested in technology to beef up our customer care center and ensure that our front and back end operations are well managed,” Favoreal said.

“Since we are already successful in Palawan, other players are seriously considering setting up there. The challenge now is to consistently place ourselves on top,” Favoreal said. “From the coffee that we’ll serve our guests tomorrow to the memories that they will bring back home, everyday we seek to make their visit as enriching as possible.”

A prestigious international magazine has listed two Palawan resorts among the 20 most eco-sensitive hotels in the world.

In its January 2008 issue, Travel + Leisure, published by the American Express Co., included El Nido’s hotels in Miniloc and Lagen Islands on its roster of “conservation-minded places on a mission to protect the local environment.”

Travel + Leisure’s 20 Favorite Green Hotels highlighted El Nido Resort’s active participation in protecting Palawan’s giant-clam gardens and supporting the re-introduction of endangered Philippine cockatoos.

“Surrounded by 123,000 acres of protected forests, jagged limestone cliffs, and hidden lagoons, travelers to sister resorts El Nido Lagen Island and El Nido Miniloc Island can take their pick of daily activities: bird-watching, kayaking, rock climbing, or simply watching fish swim below one of the guest cottages-on-stilts, which are set above the crystalline ocean,” the magazine said.

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The country took center stage as Destination of the Year during the 10th Salon de la Plongee, an international diving trade show in Paris, France, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

Quoting a dispatch from Philippine Ambassador to France Jose Abeto Zaide, the DFA said the Philippines, taking its first plunge at the Salon de la Plongee sous-Marine (SCUBA Exhibition) at the Exhibition Park in Porte de Versailles, was named the event’s Destination of the Year.

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