EL Nido Resorts’s Pangulasian Island once again put the Philippines on the radar of the world’s most influential travel audiences when it was ranked 29th of the Top 50 Best Resorts in the World by Condé Nast Traveler’s in-house survey, the Readers’ Choice Award.
It was the only Philippine property on the list of resorts all distinguished by their stunning natural attractions and excellent service. The luxurious island destination by Ayala Hotels and Resorts Corp. was also named one of Asia’s Best Resorts by Condé Nast readers in the same survey.
More than 429,000 participated in the 2018 Readers Choice digital survey that identified the best hotels, resorts, islands, cruise lines, and more from all over the globe. Results were unveiled in early October and are expected to further boost Pangulasian as a destination for the high-end global travel market seeking marine biodiversity and warm personal service matched with sustainable practices. Condé Nast is a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine that has won 25 US National Magazine Awards.
Pangulasian, the most luxurious among El Nido Resort’s four island resorts in northern Palawan, has made it to the Readers Choice awards for the past three years. It was also part of Condé Nast’s Gold List defined as the hotels its editors “keep coming back to time and again. It’s our love letter to the hotels that make us feel sexier, smarter, flirtier….”
According to Joey Bernardino, marketing director of El Nido Resorts, “Getting an endorsement from Condé Nast Traveler’s readers and editors has meant greater global interest not only in Pangulasian but also for the entire Philippines.”
In Pangulasian’s review accessible on www.contraveler.com/gallery/best-resorts-in-the-world, the publication observed that the resort is “a launchpad to the island biosphere gloriously featured in The Bourne Legacy. With scuba courses and access to more than 20 dive sites….mangrove and secret lagoons, you could spend all your time exploring, but the resort makes it equally tempting to stay put.”
The top 11 picks on the Top Resorts in Asia list all had scores of 99 indicating a very close fight. The highest scorer (Viceroy Bali) garnered 99.87; and the second highest, COMO Uma Ubod in Bali, 99.52. Pangulasian was rated 99.23.
In the two resort categories that mentioned Pangulasian, readers took a great interest in establishments that highlighted natural attractions—from emerald bays like Bacuit (where three of the four El Nido Resorts are located) to dude ranches in Montana, private islands in the Indian Ocean and safari lodges in East Africa. Some resorts had only eight rooms with most, no more than 50.
“Size and ostentation do not matter to elite Condé Nast readers and influencers who set world trends,” explained Bernardino. “They pick nature-focused resorts perhaps because many of these settings are now threatened by climate change, pollution and other environmental risks. They also favor resorts that adopt sustainable practices and seek authentic experiences. Both have been trademarks of El Nido Resorts since its founding in the 80s.”
Since Lio Tourism Estate (LTE) by Ayala Land improved its airstrip to accommodate bigger airplanes and more flights from key Philippine cities, access to Pangulasian and the three other El Nido Resorts has improved for global tourists. The 325-hectare Lio Estate, also within Bacuit Bay, is the jump-off point to the El Nido island resorts.
Ayala Land is developing a second tourism estate in the 1,100-hectare island of Sicogon in Northern Iloilo, which is also envisioned to be a hub for global tourists seeking to explore Western Visayas’s beach destinations.
Image credits: el nido resort.com