By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez
Greece has always held an esteemed position in the eyes of the world: the renown of Athens and Sparta in classic literature, the legacy of Olympic sports, the allure of Mykonos. This time, however, the glory that is Greece becomes accessible via few hours’ drive from the Metro.
Billed as the “Santorini of Asia”, the 65-hectare Thunderbird Resorts & Casino Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union, aims to be the premiere five-star luxury venue by giving guests the ultimate Mediterranean experience.
“Our main focus is in customer service in both hospitality and entertainment,” Thunderbird Poro Point General Manager Marvin Lanuza says. “Here at Thunderbird, we only have one mission: to deliver an exceptional experience to guests and exceed their expectations.”
Mediterranean of the North
THE 65-hectare entertainment nexus in Poro Point is the second of all existing Thunderbird Resort & Casinos, the other one being a smaller property situated in Binangonan, Rizal. This northern brother banks on this pocket’s balmy weather with a hint of salt in the air—just like the Cyclades island this place takes inspiration from. True enough, each of its 62 detached villas exude the same feel through the architecture and the bright blue-and-white motif, which follows closely the famed villages of Oia and Fira. Even the 63-roomed hotel borrows heavily from Santorini’s design playbook.
But the inspiration extends far beyond the façade of Thunderbird’s accommodations. Up from 400 square meters, the now 1,000-sq-m infinity pool at the Fira Beach Club overlooks the West Philippine Sea and gives a similar “balcony to the Aegean” feel, albeit much better with the view of the La Union sunset.
Then there’s also a 3,450-yard nine-hole all-weather golf course by the cliff, with a distinct variety of terrain, character and contours—all sand-copped and designed according to strict US standards and specifications by the world-renowned International Management Group (IMG).
The long day of leisurely activity may be complemented with a wide array of sumptuous meals: no-frills Mediterranean choices from Olives Restaurant, Asian fare at Mian Bar Asian, or the best of both worlds at Ouzo; ensaymada and fudge cookies for pairing with wine or coffee at the newly opened Pianosa Deli Shop; snacks by the sunset at the Patio Santorini; and liquor or other beverage fixes at either the Helios Pool Bar or the Ivy Lounge. This can be accompanied by yet another relaxing activity: a full-body massage at Zaphira Spa.
For events and other large conferences, Thunderbird offers not just one but eight function areas (all named in Greek) that may be set up in different modes to accommodate a variety of 40 to 400 guests: Crete, Santorini Lounge, Santorini Veranda, the Beach Club Garden, the upper level of the Olives Garden, Amphitheater, Agora, the Ocean Wing Deck View and a dedicated area in the Fira Beach Club. In fact, the three 480-sq-m Agora hubs—called Agora 1, 2 and 3, respectively—may be combined to hold up to 1,200 people.
The sweet cherry on top of the already lavish cake that is Thunderbird is, however, its 3,414.90-sq-m grand casino. Banking on its motto “Where luck finds you”, the casino’s recent relaunch showcases a bigger and better venue for the ultimate Las Vegas experience in the country.
All in all, the Thunderbird grand casino houses 304 standalone slot machines and multiple tables all ready for 28 round-the-clock games, such as baccarat, roulette, or poker.
The casino also holds exciting raffle draws, special events and nightly entertainment featuring local bands and artists.
These staged performances are shown in the 280.86-sq-m- Ivy Lounge equipped with high-quality surround-sound and an HD LED panel mounted on the wall. Alternatively, there’s a 238.7-sq-m- private gaming area for more serious business.
Fueling both entertainment and tourism
While the primary goal of Thunderbird Resorts & Casino Poro Point is to become No. 1 in luxury entertainment in this part of the country, Lanuza believes this will also help the province pull in a strong number of visitors, and thus, boost both the province’s tourism industry.
Guests from within the country flock to Thunderbird for events and to satiate their craving for world-class entertainment, notes Thunderbird Resorts & Casinos COO Angel Sueiro. “The country has a huge population that’s not well-served in terms of entertainment offerings; they find themselves not having too much to do.”
On the other hand, he also notes Thunderbird is “quite attractive to foreign markets,” serving guests as compact as 10 or 12 to as large as 2,000 to 3,000. The local governments of Poro Point and La Union back this goal by providing support and approval to the endeavors of this entertainment hub. After all, “we can add to the beauty of the place itself and add something to make it world-class,” Sueiro explains.
Soaring high
Thunderbird Resort & Casino Poro Point, which opened about a decade ago and is two years younger than the Rizal venue, now celebrates a massive expansion that includes the addition of 43 new Santorini-style villas and the renovation of the casino to provide a more full-house experience.
Thunderbird also adds to its portfolio stellar artists from all over the country to serve as its ambassadors: picture Dingdong Dantes driving in a luxury motorcycle for the red-carpet relaunch.
The entertainment destination gives no indication of slowing down, especially with its long list of ongoing projects, such as the 3-hectare modern driving range. The Poro Point escape is also looking forward to a 2,333 square-meter clubhouse dedicated to wellness and relaxation, and presidential suites and villas on the beachfront.
But while these future additions may take another month or two before completion, Thunderbird Resort & Casino Poro Point is already a must-visit: the weather and the existing amenities come together for good memories waiting to be made and remembered.
Here’s a Greek experience and a lot more right on local shores.