By Cris Evert Lato
Cebu Daily News
Posted date: May 25, 2009
http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20090525-206991
- Sky Adventure in Fuente
For years, white sand beaches and rich cultural heritage are two main reasons why tourists come to Cebu.
But today, there is another reason why tourists are in Cebu: the edge coaster ride on top of Cebu’s tallest tower.
“People now come to Cebu to experience how it is to be on top of Cebu’s tallest tower riding a coaster or watching the scenery from above,” said Richard King, chairman of J. King and Sons Company Inc., which is the prime mover of the activities under the brand Sky Experience Adventure.
King, who graduated summa cum laude in Chemical Engineering from the University of San Carlos in 1979, said the Sky Experience Adventure series was launched in December 2008.
The adventure experience includes the edge coaster ride, sky walk extreme and sky observatory among others. The activities are all located in Tower 1 of Crown Regency Hotels and Towers in Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City.
The adventure series attracted Pinoy boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, who was in Cebu last Sinulog.
King said putting up the extreme adventure experience “in the heart of Cebu’s tallest tower” had been planned since he decided to put up the hotel-tower property.
“We want to make this a landmark of Cebu. In two to three years, this may not be the tallest tower here anymore. Having this whole range of sky adventure activities will place us in a strategic position,” said King who has a master’s degree in business management from the Asian Institute of Management in 1983.
SKY EXPERIENCE
About $5 million was invested for the sky experience adventure series, said King.
This investment is growing as they aim to improve the services to suit the adventurous needs of the public.
King said an American company, which put up the different rides in Las Vegas, was commissioned to install the edge coaster ride located on the 38th floor and the sky walk, 127 meters above the street.
King said the company takes pride on the edge coaster ride as the world’s first and the only amusement ride of its kind.
The coaster ride literally goes around the edge of the building. The riders are locked into the rail seats, which can be tilted at 55 degrees.
“We are elevating the level of the hospitality industry to entertainment. It is no longer just rooms or banquets and the concept of sky adventure fits in this entire concept,” he said.
Entrance to the sky observatory costs P380 for non-peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and P480 for peak hours (4 p.m. onwards). The fee is good for two people and inclusive of a sky meal — bottomless drinks and a sandwich.
Online bloggers have posted positive reactions on the edge coaster ride, which is at P500 during non-peak hours and P600 for peak hours. The fee is also good for two people.
For the faint-hearted, the sky observatory, also on the 38th floor, offers an alternative. Coin-operated binoculars and telescopes are available or tourists and visitors can enjoy the view at the tower’s Sky Bar.
About 40 people, including the operators and maintenance personnel, were trained by employees of the American company, who installed the edge coaster ride.
“Safety is secured for all rides and activities. The system is monitored in the US and through the Internet, they know what’s going on–how many took the ride and in what time,” he said.
INNOVATION
An additional feature, which is gaining attention, is the 4D Theatre on the 18th floor where viewers can see, feel, hear and move with the movie.
The audience can watch three movies which last for close to 30 minutes. The fee is from P450 to P600 depending on the viewing time.
“This is innovation and all these put us up ahead of the competition. Innovation is a characteristic of the different ventures of the company,” said King.
King said another ride, called an “insanity orbit,” will also be in place two years from now.
As the company develops more properties nationwide, King hopes to bring the concept of the sky experience.
Taking inspiration from his father, Don Jesus Amado King, he said making people aware and appreciate these innovations would be the primary challenge.
He said he also should not wait for tomorrow to do things that can be done today.
But before making any decision, King said it pays to anticipate for any eventuality by gathering the right information — the same learning concepts he applied in making the breathtaking sky experience adventure activities a reality for Cebu.
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