WORLD TRIATHLON Corp.’s Ironman 70.3 event is returning to Davao City in March after a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the local government announced last week.
Davao City Sports Development Division head Michael P. Aportadera said they are expecting “tens of thousands” of visitors for the event, which would also mean increased activities in the tourism industry.
“There would be some revisions on how the new normal would be implemented since the atmosphere is really festive because of so many guests who will be arriving,” he said over the city-run DCDR radio.
Mr. Aportadera said accommodations and security logistics are the top priorities in the preparations.
This year’s Ironman 70.3, slated on March 26, will follow the route template in 2019, with a 1.9-kilometer swim at the Davao Gulf, 90-km bike ride from Bajada in Davao City to Tagum City and back, and a 21-km run from the NCCC Victoria Plaza to Azuela Cove and back.
NEW HOTELMeanwhile, a new boutique hotel that derives its name from the Indonesian word for chill, santai, recently opened in Davao City, with rooms and facilities designed to provide space for relaxation in an urban setting.
“In life, we get caught up with the hustle and bustle but here at Sans Hotel you can relax, chill, and have fun,” Nicole Hao Bian Ledesma, chief executive officer of Sans Hotel at Luxebridge said in an interview.
The hotel has 107 rooms, including suites and for families.
Ms. Ledesma said the lobby is envisioned to be an area where guests can socialize and enjoy.
“They can play with our foosball, they can have coffee all day long, and they can work from home and meet friends,” she said.
Sans Hotel is located within a complex that also houses a spa, cafe, and the Seasons Food Hall, which offers various dining options such as the Green Bounty, Indanganese Takoyaki, and Wild Wings.
Department of Tourism Davao Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan said the new hotel is another asset for the region as the tourism industry continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. — Maya M. Padillo
