A ‘Secret Garden’ is Only the Beginning of This Luxury Boracay Resort’s Sustainability Efforts

Guests of the Crimson Boracay Resort and Spa might not know it, but there’s a secret garden hidden inside the luxurious island getaway. Behind one of the premium villas, the resort has repurposed a small plot of idle land and turned it into a literal garden where it regularly harvests things like arugula, parsley, and butterfly pea. 

The 'secret garden,' officially called GM's garden, is behind one of the luxury villas of Crimson Boracay Resort and Spa

Photo by PJ Cana.

It might not be immediately consequential, particularly for guests whose only thought for the day is whether to take a dip in the resort’s stunning infinity pool or in the azure waters of the Visayas Sea, but an actual organic herb garden isn’t something you hear about every day in an upscale resort. For one thing, the produce grown in the garden goes directly to the kitchen and into the dishes the resort serves its guests. For another, the garden itself is cared for and maintained by resort staff blessed with green thumbs, who treat it as their own.

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It's a small but excellent example of what the resort is doing on the sustainability front, and one that demonstrates a conscious and sincere effort to contribute to the greater good. In fact, sustainability is a pillar in Crimson’s advocacy campaign for the year, along with human capital and its guests.

A Crimson Boracay staff shows how romaine lettuce is grown in the GM's garden

Photo by PJ Cana.

“The second pillar, Sustainability, is at the core of Today and Beyond,” says Carmela Bocanegra, VP for sales and marketing of Chroma Hospitality, the management company of Crimson resorts, which is under the Filinvest Hospitality Group. “We recognize the urgent need to minimize our environmental footprint and are committed to implementing innovative practices across our hotels and resorts. From energy-efficient technologies to waste reduction strategies, each property will play a vital role in our collective efforts towards a greener, more sustainable future.”

In addition to its in-property organic garden, Crimson has also “adopted” a community in Aklan, in the mainland of Panay, which tends to a much larger garden growing even more herbs and vegetables. The resort then purchases the produce for its own needs, helping provide a source of livelihood for the community. 

Crimson Boracay is located in Station Zero

Photo by PJ Cana.

It’s a commendable effort from the resort, but the gardens are only a small part in its wholistic sustainability efforts. To show how serious it is about the subject, the Filinvest Hospitality Group came out with a Sustainability Report in 2021 that documents its environmental, economic, social, and governance efforts. While the report only covers its sustainability performance of that year, it provides an exhaustive and detailed look into what exactly the group is doing to ensure that its operations and activities adhere and sometimes even surpass global standards. 

For example, for both Crimson Boracay and Crimson Mactan in Cebu, water is sourced through desalination, which helps relieve the pressure of extracting groundwater in both island destinations. Energy efficient equipment and fixtures are used whenever possible, leading to an average energy use efficiency of 95.83kwh per occupied room night, which is better than the industry standard. The group has also adopted at least two hectares of coral reefs; it replaced its golf course tufts with low-water demand grass and installed a more efficient irrigation system; and it promotes locally made handicrafts and products in its successful Live Love Local campaign to help benefit local entrepreneurs.

Crimson Boracay offers packages where you can go on a guided bike tour of the island 

Photo by PJ Cana.

All of this has not diminished—and has in fact perhaps even enhanced—Crimson Boracay’s status as one of the top-tier luxury resorts in the island.

Perhaps the best part about Crimson’s Today and Beyond sustainability campaign is that it invites its guests to become involved themselves and contribute to its goals. Its latest promotional campaign for instance, packages a three-day, two-night stay in Crimson Boracay with things like a four-course healthy menu dinner on the beach (where the produce like romaine lettuce, parsley, eggplant, and arugula sourced from its secret garden might make an appearance), a four-hour guided bike tour of the island for two, and, if you’re lucky, perhaps even a chance to glimpse the art pieces of its artists-in-residence.

All of this while you’re staying in undoubtedly one of the most beautiful resorts in Boracay.

Chroma Hospitality's VP for Sales and Marketing Carmela Bocanegra, Susan Cardenas and Mark Mulingbayan

Photo by PJ Cana.

“At Crimson Hotels and Resorts, luxury becomes a conscious experience that goes beyond the lavish amenities,” Bocanegra says. “We redefine luxury by seamlessly integrating sustainability into every aspect, creating a harmonious haven where indulgence meets environmental responsibility.”

Virtue signaling—or making public your words or actions that communicate your character and social conscience—is a trick many companies and individuals use but often isn’t grounded in reality or ultimately end up being empty and fake. But there are those who can back up their claims with concrete efforts to do good by actually being good. Crimson Boracay, and indeed, all of the resorts under Chroma Hospitality, fall squarely in the latter category. It has successfully integrated its sustainability efforts into its regular operations as to make it look almost effortless and organic. Just like the produce in its secret garden.