Thunderbird Resorts to expand hotels in Rizal, La Union

MANILA, Philippines - Thunderbird Resorts Inc., a Panamanian hotel and resort company, will be spending some P3.5 billion for the next three years to expand its facilities in San Fernando City, La Union and Binangonan, Rizal. Bulk of the funds will be allotted for its 36-room Poro Point property, Alain Richard, the company’s hospitality manager said. These funds will be used to construct 164 additional rooms, hotel villas, a beach club, an event center, and a health and wellness facility. The facility’s golf course will also be enlarged to 18 holes, from the original nine. The golf course expansion is expected to attract more foreign visitors from Japan, China, and Korea, Richard said. To this end, the company is establishing a sales office at the Narita Airport in Japan to further promote the Poro Point facility. Early this year, the company donated P5.5 million to the La Union local government as part of its contribution to expand its airport. Meanwhile, the company will also add an additional 157 rooms to the existing 43 rooms in its Binangonan property. The company—which has resorts in five other countries besides the Philippines—may surpass its original commitment to spend P5.5 billion for its local operations, Richard said. - GMANews.TV