THE just reopened resort with a hotel in Bacolod City is seen to boost the tourism industry and economy of Negros Occidental amid the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Resorts Negrense owner Enrique Rojas, on the sidelines of the grand opening activity Wednesday, September 8, 2021, said they would like to help stir the economy following a slump brought about by the unprecedented global health crisis.

Rojas, a sugar planter, said tourism is coming back already as guests are slowly coming in.

“If we don’t open, nothing will happen,” he said, adding that the entire resort currently employs at least 80 workers and they plan to hire more as soon as other amenities will be opened to the public.

Resorts Negrense stopped its operation for quite some time mainly due to the pandemic.

As it reopened Wednesday, the resort also launched its 45-room hotel, offering a viewing deck ideal for rooftop events with the scenic sunset over the Guimaras Strait as backdrop.

The event also marked the partnership between Resorts Negrense and Casa Noble, a byword in the Ilonggo food and beverage industry with a long history of serving unique Negrense cuisine.

Through this partnership, Casa Noble will cater to the food and beverage needs of the hotel during major events.

The 14-hectare development at the coast side of Barangay Punta Taytay features a wide swimming pool and kiddie pool with slides, lounging decks for sunbathing, bridge topped by a viewing tower and statues of water animals.

It also has a jungle-inspired kiddie playground with slides, swings, merry-go-round, wall-climbing facility and life-size cartoon characters and animals which kids will surely enjoy.

Near the swimming pool are cottages of various designs and sizes, a beach volleyball court and barbeque pits.

For meetings and family celebrations, there are three function rooms located at the Comedor pavilion restaurant, near the swimming pool and fronting the kiddie playground which is ideal for children's parties.

The resort can also host conferences at the fully airconditioned Sala Grande convention hall, which can accommodate up to 1,000 persons and can be converted into four separate function rooms.

Also at Sala Grande, a landscaped garden area ideal for weddings, receptions and sunset parties is available for guests who prefer an outdoor setting.

Moreover, the resort has a five-hectare lagoon for kayaking, a walking and biking trail along the lagoon, a zipline, an aviary and a videoke room.

For the hotel, Negros Occidental Tourism Officer Jennylind Cordero, who spoke at the event, said its over 40 rooms can actually accommodate at least 30,000 tourists and guests annually.

Recalling that it had previously hosted the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice), Cordero said the development is really a big package for a large number of guests, and it is something Negrenses should be proud of.

“It’s really a tourism boost,” she said, adding that “we are thankful for this project as it also creates additional employment.”

The tourism official underscored that the industry is still facing many challenges, especially with the restrictions imposed in light of the Covid-19 threat.

But she urged other resort-hotels to come up with new programs as long as these are compliant with health protocols.

“As they start, they can then employ a lot of people,” Cordero added.

Meanwhile, also present at the activity were Rojas matriarch, Lourdes, and Ging Noble, president of Casa Noble.

They were joined by Bacolod City Councilors Israel Salangga, chair of the City Council committee on tourism, and Cindy Rojas, who is also the daughter-in-law of the owners.