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The Aldeguer Group launched at the weekend island-hopping services that seek to promote Islands as a major tourism brand and promote adventure tourism in Cebu.

With three company-owned motorized outrigger boats and seven other outsourced boats, the Islands Banca Cruises Corp. can bring tourists and diving enthusiasts to as far as Apo Island in the south and Bantayan Island in the north.

Jay P. Aldeguer, Islands president and chief executive officer, said two more boats that are being built would be completed next month. They hope to have at least 15 company-owned and outsourced Islands boats by summer next year. GMANews.tv

PROPERTY developer J. King and Sons Co. Inc. (JKSCI) will launch in November a mini amusement complex on top of a hotel tower on Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City.

The amusement facility—which will feature a roller coaster that will run around the edge of the building, an Insanity ride and a Sky Walk—will be situated on the top floors of the 40-story Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, one of the high-rise buildings at the Fuente Towers Complex.

The roller coaster, known as the Edge Coaster, is the first of its kind in the world to be mounted on top of a hotel tower, said Janos Lakatos, vice president for manufacturing of the US-based Interactive Rides Inc. More…

PLANNING on scuba diving? The San Remigio Beach Club recently opened the doors of their Marine Dive Center.

San Remigio boasts of Cebu’s longest shore line so one can expect large coral heads which form the habitat for thousands of beautiful fish. Its underwater terrain holds six caves, a four-kilometer reef that has a wall with a 40 to 60 meter drop.

Larger organisms can also be found on these reefs, feeding on the smaller fish. More…

A CEBU-based Jetski enthusiast expanded the list of activities that locals and foreign tourists can do in Cebu by launching last Thursday a service that will allow customers to see different islands around Cebu on board a jetski or speedboat.

Jetscape Adventures Inc. will start offering the service, called jetski touring, on Monday.

Jetscape general manager Alex Roa said there are only two other countries in Asia-Thailand and Indonesia-that offer a similar service and theirs cater mostly to foreigners. SunStar.com

Condominium living in Cebu is expected to intensify before 2010 with the rise of different buildings in the area, which cater to upper-middle and high-end markets.

“With high cost of properties, we need to develop condo units. Subdivisions are more expensive,” said Jeffrey Badilles, Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) Visayas Area sales head.

“With high cost of properties, we need to develop condo units. Subdivisions are more expensive,” said Jeffrey Badilles, Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) Visayas Area sales head. Inquirer.net

Tourism officers from some 30 cities and municipalities in Cebu Province have organized themselves into a group called Cebu Tourism Officers Association (CTOA), which will represent Cebu in the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP).

The creation of the group can help boost tourism in the province in terms of visitor arrivals and sales generated from tourist-related activities, said Daanbantayan tourism officer Gregg Rubio who is also president of CTOA. More…

Cebu will soon have an additional of 160,000 square meters of office spaces to accommodate the growing number Offshoring and Outsourcing (O&O) companies that are now eyeing Cebu as a preferred location.

In the latest study conducted by Colliers International, a property management and consultancy firm, it showed that Cebu will supply 160-square-meter more of office spaces, especially those new buildings that are designed for O&O sector.

In an interview with Colliers investment sales director Ieyo de Guzman, she said that big Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) or O&O companies now are looking at Cebu, as the primary choice of location, aside from Manila, owing to the conducive business environment of Cebu, as well as the thick pool of manpower supply. More…

Building developer Robinland Inc. will open the first “green-building” in Cebu early next month to accommodate the growing office demand from the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registered eight-story building purposely re-designed its original building plan layout to fit to the unique requirement of BPO companies that include, environmentally-friendly facilities, mid-rise size, among others.

Robinland vice president for operations and business development Wilfredo Sa-a Jr. said that the company has decided to build the first “green building” in Cebu to address the growing demand especially from the multinational companies’ for environmentally-friendly-built building. The Freeman

abaca restaurant in cebu.

Abaca, the Philippines newest and most exclusive boutique resort is located in the beautiful central Philippines on Mactan Island, Cebu. Abaca is a tropical hideaway that offers the tranquility of very private deluxe suites set in a lush tropical beachfront retreat. in addition to the spacious suites, guests enjoy full luxury spa and restaurant experiences.More

Located just a few minutes’ drive away from Shangri-la Mactan, Abaca restaurant is bringing fine dining in Cebu to new heights. Quite apart from the spectacular architecture and setting, Abaca is noted for its cuisine, which is truly world-class since chef-owner Jason Hyatt has clocked in extensive experience as a chef in top restaurants in the United States and in Hong Kong.INQ7

The resort is open to the public for dinner.

Share your Abaca stories here…

Another exciting and anticipating event will be the opening of 3D Cinema in SM City Cebu in 2009. This is a great news to all neighboring town of Cebu. You may not need to go to Manila or MOA (Mall of Asia) just to watch your blockbuster movie in 3D. SM Prime Holdings Inc. is planning mid-next year of putting up the cinema on its new wing. It’s a good news indeed!

SMPHI will also introduce Imax (Image Maximum) cinema technology in Cebu. The company will convert the existing Cinema 4 at SM City into an Imax theater that shows three-dimensional movies and hopes to open the facility in the middle of 2009.

“The Imax is very complimentary with the hotel and the convention center. (It) will also cater to regional travelers,” Fernan said in an interview last Monday.

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This resort is a romantic resort paradise with warm and hospitable staff. The Spa with open-air pavilions offers a breathtaking view to the sea and Badian Mountains. The Dive Centre is conveniently located at the beachfront of the Resort. It operates all year round and is equipped with the highest standard of dive equipment. Experienced diving instructors will guide beginners as well as experienced divers into the rainbow world of coral reefs and vivid tropical fish. The Dive School offers … Read the rest of this entry.

Amenities: Babysitting/Child Services, Barber/Beauty Shop, Porters, Boutiques, Car Rental Desk, Laundry Service, Outdoor Pool, Parking, RV or Truck Parking, 24 Hour Room Service, Shops/Commercial Services, Tennis

Another hotel will be opened next year here in Cebu -Radisson Hotel Cebu. This is just an indication that Cebu is a booming industry and a great tourist destination.

The investment arm of the Philippines’ biggest mall companies partnered with a foreign hotel operator to manage its 400-room Cebu City hotel, its third such arrangement.

Meanwhile, the Cebu hotel—called the Radisson Hotel Cebu—will open in the first quarter next year. The hotel will feature a 1,000 square meter ballroom, a spa, a fitness center, a lobby lounge, and an all-day dining restaurant. The hotel is strategically located at the heart of Cebu City, only two kilometers from the central business district and less than 20 kilometers from the airport, the company said. Read the rest of this entry.