Almost a decade after partnering with the 5150 triathlon, Bellevue Resort in Bohol is broadening its focus beyond endurance sports, repositioning itself as a multi-activity, multi-experience resort supported by new developments in sports infrastructure, experiential stays, lifestyle retail and sustainability-led operations.
Dustin Chan, managing director of Bellevue, noted that sports tourism initially served as a catalyst to introduce the property to international markets.
Since then, Bellevue’s sports portfolio has expanded to include biking, swimming, beach volleyball and ultimate frisbee, supported by a beachfront layout that allows competitors and families to engage simultaneously.
“There’s a lot of options because we have a nice pristine private beach. If you really want both idyllic views and some privacy, it’s perfect for sporting combinations,” said Andrew Fernandes, resort manager of Bellevue Bohol.
Recognising the limitations of relying solely on high-intensity endurance events, the resort has invested in more inclusive formats.
“If you just focus on triathlon, for example, that’s a heavy, intensive sport, and they come to an age where they cannot do it anymore, and perhaps they’ll do something lighter,” he explained.
Bellevue is now the first resort on the island to introduce pickleball and has plans to expand its programming. Chan said the resort was also the first on the island to install a pickleball court two years ago and may host a pickleball series in its indoor pavilion next year.
Beyond sports, Bellevue is developing new experiential extensions designed to lengthen stays and diversify demand. These include farm-based stays and farm-to-table dining experiences located outside the main resort area.
“We have a few other areas in Bohol itself, more on the farms,” Chan shared. “We look at simpler, more organic farm stays.”
While currently offered on a limited basis, the concepts are being scaled up, with further developments planned for 2026.
Sustainability underpins much of this expansion. Chan said the resort’s solar projects were driven by practicality rather than trend-chasing, citing high electricity costs in the Philippines. Bellevue has significantly reduced its power costs in recent years and is continuing to expand its solar capacity, including plans to convert its car park into a solar-powered facility with EV charging. Water management initiatives, reef conservation efforts and community education programmes also form part of the resort’s long-term operating model.
Chan added that sustainability was approached as a business imperative rather than a marketing exercise, noting that it simply made business sense.
The group is also diversifying into lifestyle retail through the phased rollout of Bellemar, a Spanish-Filipino-inspired lifestyle mall in Alona, Panglao. Together, the developments signal Bellevue’s broader direction, with Chan describing the goal as positioning the resort as a hub of activities.
