J. Albert Gamboa l February 16, 2024 l The Manila Times
A HOMEGROWN chain of hotels aims to showcase the distinct culture, arts and flavors of the Philippines by locating its properties strategically in key travel destinations throughout the country.
Established in 2019 by businessman Jean Henri Lhuillier, the ARAW Hospitality Group has committed to redefine the travel experience through the integration of social and environmental responsibility into its brand of hospitality management.
ARAW’s experience-centric approach is combined with its multi-brand portfolio, offering unique travel experiences across various locales ranging from mid-scale to luxury. It focuses on the country’s top beaches and tourist destinations, with each address providing a distinctive experience and unique encounter with Filipino hospitality.
Its flagship, UNWND Boutique Hotel, has branches in the following strategic locations: Poblacion, Makati City; Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental; Calatagan, Batangas; Caticlan, Aklan; and Mambajao, Camiguin.
UNWND Camiguin opened last week in time for the Lunar New Year celebration. Located in Barangay Yumbing in Camiguin’s provincial capital Mambajao, the resort hotel has stunning views of White Island — a powdery sandbar just two kilometers off Mambajao’s northern coast.
This new hotel is only nine minutes away from the Camiguin Airport and a three-minute walk to the White Island Ferry Terminal for a quick boat ride to the heavenly sandbar. With a wide range of suite options, including a PWD room, UNWND Camiguin is ARAW’s first foray into Mindanao, the country’s second-biggest island — where another branch will rise in the renowned surfing capital of Siargao.
Known as the “Island Born of Fire” due to Mt. Hibok-Hibok’s volcanic eruptions that shaped it, Camiguin is the second-smallest island-province in the Philippines, next to Batanes. It is rich in cultural heritage, with tourist attractions such as the Old Bonbon Church Ruins and the Sunken Cemetery of Catarman.
Other famous spots are the Katibawasan Falls, Ardent Hot Spring, Tuasan Falls, Sto. Niño Cold Spring and Mantigue Island. Camiguin is also popular for diving and snorkeling in the biodiverse waters of the Bohol Sea that surround it.
To get there from Manila, take a flight first to Cebu on either Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, or Air Asia. At the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, there are daily flights to Camiguin via Cebu Pacific that take less than an hour.
If one prefers a mix of land, sea and air, the country’s three major airlines have flights to Cagayan de Oro’s Laguindingan Airport. The land trip from Laguindingan to Balingoan Port in Misamis Oriental takes three hours, while travel time from Balingoan to Benoni Port in Camiguin through a RoRo ferry is approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
Aside from the UNWND-branded hotels, ARAW has other hospitality venues in El Nido, Palawan; Boracay, Aklan; Silang, Cavite; and Alfonso, Cavite. For instance, its luxury Lihim Resorts is considered El Nido’s “best-kept secret.”
The design and architecture of these venues were inspired by local life, creating an authentic sense of place. ARAW believes that in the realm of hospitality, luxury is defined by experiences ― and this philosophy is being applied in its existing and upcoming properties.
As a sustainability advocate, this Lhuillier-led group champions ethical practices in hospitality management while actively participating in ecological preservation and community engagement. ARAW integrates with local communities, fostering mutual benefit with emphasis on responsible practices, thus contributing to social and environmental well-being.
*** The author is the chief finance officer of the Asian Center for Legal Excellence and vice chairman of the Finex Ethics Committee. The opinion expressed herein does not necessarily reflect the views of these institutions and The Manila Times. #FinexPhils www.finex.org.ph