Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan: A New Shade of Crimson

When the sunny skies over the Cebu metropolis melts into the purple haze of night, Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan awakens from its quiet slumber and paints the town a different shade of fun with its newest beach club, Azure.

 The Queen City of the South is deemed royalty for no reason. Steeped in rich history and culture, the booming mega city, considered one of the creative capitals of the country, has inspired some of the most talented and most famous designers like renowned furniture designers Kenneth Cobonpue and Vito Selma, couturiers Monique Lhuillier, Mia Arcenas and Cary Santaigo. It is also a home where one will find prized cultural and architectural gems like Magellan’s Cross, the Cebu Taoist Temple and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, which protects the country’s oldest relic, the Santo Nino de Cebu. And how can one forget the highly-anticipatedcelebration of color and dance, a major local and international tourist draw- the Sinulog Festival, which is hosted yearly by the city.

Cebu burns with vibrance and a palpable energy, one that easily transfers into all those who come within reach. To many, with its exciting mix of scents and sights, Cebu is a home and a haven. And joining that list is Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan.

Here comes the sun

The heat of the noon day sun is no match forthe bright future of the metrocity. Sky reaching silver buildings crawl like vines across the horizon, and the familiar afternoon traffic, a practical gauge of the modernity and economic boom of the city, meets us on a busy afternoon. But once you cross the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to Mactanisland, past the bustling ports laden with container vans and heavy cranes, the true island vibe – soft, slow and inviting – creeps into the bones of every forlorn traveler.

And after a short turn at the bend, paradise awaits.

Crimson Tide

FromMactan-Cebu international airport, the 10 to 15 minute drive to Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan is not too long a drive, even for those itching to shed the “Manila madness” from their clothes.

Breathed into life with Balinese influences – at least aesthetically, Crimson welcomes you.Built in 2009, Crimson was thoughtfully designed by the talented team from Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG), a world-renowned interior and architectural firm based in California. While the responsibility of creating the form was left to WATG, the soft touches that would truly embody the Crimson brand as a five-star, world class resort were brought to life through the landscape architecture and interior designs of Belt Collins from Hong Kong and Manila-based Free & Associates.

One will immediately recognize the thoughtfulness and love poured into the resort.

Your first step into the open-air lobby, decorated in dark wood and complementing native accents, leads one to a romantic view of silver crested waves, the crisp, cold cobalt sea and fine white beach, framed on top by a clearer, blue sky and a fringe of tropical trees and blooms that embrace the lush property. One would think that the scene doesn’t get any better than this. But it does.

Well-tended gardens, tropical trees and quaint private cottages, with thatched roofs, reflecting the Balinese inspired tropical architecture, blend into the natural surroundings spread out on six hectares of sprawling green.  It’s a calming sight and even with an almost 100 percent occupancy, one doesn’t feel it as the generous grounds allow you the space and quiet to roam at will.

More magnificent than the first peek into the Crimson experience is the luxurious beach front villa (one of the 40 on the resort property and our abode for the next few nights) which comes with your own private plunge pool.

Bright and airy, the 115-sqm villa is fitted with a fully furnished living and entertainment area; a bedroom with afour poster canopy bed, romantically draped in white; a veranda andcharming garden and all elegantly interior designed with textured Filipino accents like a native woven carpet, capizlamps and other artfully done pieces from Filipino-based designers like Kenneth Coponbue. The bathroom is also a thing of beauty: a spacious spa-inspired layout, patterned after their award winning Aum Spa, comes with a full rain shower and sink in tub, all polished off with a granite finishing. But none could elicit more glee than the private plunge pool just outside your bedroom. Soak in the sun or a take quick dip into still waters,you can do both in the convenience of your backyard. A definite vacation plus for honeymooners.

To the hilt, Crimson has designed the perfect space, one aimed at pleasing all your desires and more. And it has not gone unnoticed. Last year, besting hundreds of other world-class resorts and hotels, Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan was recognized as the Continent Winner Luxury Beach Resort for the year, a title that affirms Crimson’s rightful place as one of the best, not only in the country but the entire globe.

Into the Blue

As mentioned, Crimson is no ordinary resort, one that is happy at just providing the posh accommodations for travelers. It wants to share the whole experience of Cebu and brings the island to your front door. And thus the Azure Beach Club was born. Just a few steps out to the beach, past the sleek public pools and bars, the party awaits.

Originally, a pool bar was already set in place when Crimson was first built. However, wanting to create an exceptional brand, one that would fittingly define the Crimson signature, a renovation of the beachfront and its amenities was needed. In six months’ time, an upgrade of P90 milion pesos installed the new beach concept- Azure.

The Azure Beach club was developed to embrace the beautiful, natural charm of the Cebu beachfront with its open concept design. By day, it’s a full-functioning lifestyle club that features a restaurant that serves an exceptionally delicious Asian- Mediterranean menu. And by night, it transforms into a magnetic beachlounge area, lit with strobe lights, that will become the rockstar of your evening. A rock bar on the cliff, a unique venue for the party goers, provides a fantastic view of the entire cove.

“The rock bar is an experience on its own. Imagine standing on a bar just off the cliff with nothing but the sky above, the sea below and a good selection of booze to keep you company,” shares resident manager KristoferQuadros excitedly.

Here, cocktails, of course, when on the beach, are available any time of the day. To add some playfulness and interactivity into your drinking, the spirits menu allows you to make some of your own poison.

 “(Azure Beach Club) is a timely development that will provide us yet another advantage to be able to compete with other destinations which we are tightly vying with. It is our way of providing a new and exciting destination to continue to please both international and local markets,” adds Quadros about the new beach concept.

Working in tandem with Quadros is the talentedFrench F&B director FlorentHumeau,whose impeccable palate ensures the consistent quality of all the cuisines and dishes that emanate from his busy kitchens.

“Food and beverage is one of the main highlights of Azure,that’s why we made sure to invest in the finest cookery to provide a variety of flavors for diners. Grilled and roasted specialties are among the menu highlights and for these we have invested in tandoors, open flame grill and brick oven,” Humeau says. At the launch of the beach club, we were able to sample the sumptuous offerings, and they were simply divine... especially with a cold brew at hand.

Fulfilling the standards of a world-class beach club, the Azure restaurant will offer modern Asian cuisine with a rainbow of flavors and influences from Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines. “Food will be light, fresh and flavorful, with sandwiches, pasta and pizza as the main thing for lunch, while during dinner,patrons can indulge in hearty roasts and grills from seafood to premium cuts,” promises Crimson.

Giving equal opportunity to all to experience the Azure Beach Club, Crimson is now offering their HedKandi Blue and White room package, which will bring the world-renowned Hed Kandi brand for a one-night-only event on December 19. Thundering music, the wild allure of the sea, and the heat of young hearts-this isquitean experience to remember. The room package would be inclusive of accommodations, a buffet breakfast for two, entrance to the Hed Kandi party on the 19^th for two, two hours open bar, a four course dinner at Azure with free flowing wine and convenient airport transfers.

Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan brings the party experience of the year - the pulse of the island in one supreme location; the taste of the Cebu lifestyle in one unique address.

 First published in PeopleAsia Magazine

Photos taken from the official website of Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan - http://www.crimsonhotel.com/mactan