TAIWAN. Ever Rich Duty Free’s latest retail project, Discovery Hotel and Profond Pier No. 3 Duty Free Complex, soft opened in Penghu on 14 February. As reported, the shopping and leisure complex serves travellers to the Penghu archipelago, off Taiwan’s west coast, which is popular as a weekend destination.
The complex, which houses the largest shopping mall in Penghu, is well located facing the South Sea Visitor Center, with excellent harbour views.
The shopping and entertainment plaza spans four floors, with over 100 brands in the retail zones. On the first, prestige luxury brands include Coach, Tumi, All Saints, Furla, Montblanc, Kate Spade, Samsonite and others, with Polo Ralph Lauren coming soon.
The second floor is dedicated to fragrances & cosmetics and liquor & tobacco brands as well as accessories including sunglasses and jewellery. Coming soon is a Victoria’s Secret store, among other new additions.
Among several Taiwanese firsts in the complex is a whiskey museum, Whiskey 101, also located on the second floor. It offers an engaging experience of the spirit’s history and production methods, including malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and the maturation process, while visitors can also experience the aromas of various cask types. Ever Rich is working with Taiwanese brand Kavalan to create experiences and to display some rare whiskies at the location.
The third floor houses sports, lifestyle and consumer electronics goods, with brands including Nike, Adidas, Puma, Sony and GoPro. A food court is also located on this floor.
Ever Rich Duty Free has also introduced entertainment elements such as personal karaoke boxes and a lucky bag vending machine in its duty free spaces.
The fourth floor includes a cinema with several innovative features and Taiwan’s largest indoor X-sports challenge space (see below).
The soft opening – three years and three months on from the signing of contracts – was timed to maximise visitors during Chinese New Year, Ever Rich Duty Free added. Ever Rich has been highly committed to promoting and developing tourism in Penghu for many years. The latest project is designed to enrich Penghu’s tourism experience and attract more foreign travellers, not just to the archipelago but also to Taiwan, especially in traditionally quiet periods.
The company noted: “Although Penghu has the title of ‘the most beautiful bay in the world,’ the strong Northeast occasional monsoons prevailing in winter often deter tourists from travelling [there]. Therefore the shops, entertainment, leisure facilities in the hotel and shopping complex are planned to create distinctness, extend tourist periods and enhance Penghu’s tourism development.”
Ever Rich hailed the opening of Whiskey 101 and the indoor X-sports space as among several “firsts in Penghu and even in Taiwan”.
The X-sports space, Go Star Challenge, targets younger people, including families. It covers 1,679sq m and is a combined initiative from Ever Rich and a Bulgarian partner. It houses four distinct zones – Skywalk, Augmented Reality (AR) climbing, fun climbing plus an obstacle course under the ‘Competition-Ninja Warrior’ name.
Ever Rich said: “The AR integrated into the climbing activity is the very first one in Taiwan. The entire space is not only the biggest indoor X-Sport court in Taiwan, but also the most diversified facility, which makes it the perfect venue for group competitions and corporation team-building activity as well.”
Among the other entertainment elements is the introduction of the ‘in89 deluxe cinema’ brand (also on the fourth floor). It features firsts for Penghu that include specially designed, UK-made FERCO auditorium seating, children’s activities that include the chance to drive a mini sports car to the cinema itself, plus artificial turf where children can sit and watch films. A VIP hall is equipped with lounge sofas with USB charging while other special seating includes ‘lazyboy’ sofas and double chairs for couples.
The Discovery Hotel houses 236 rooms that feature “beautiful views and modern amenities,” according to Ever Rich. The company noted: “The overall design concept integrates with local culture and the geological landscape of Penghu.”
Facilities include a basketball court, outdoor terrace and swimming pool, spa and more. On the hotel’s second floor, the Cheng Cheng all-day restaurant integrates the Penghu island menu style with Taiwanese and Cantonese cuisine. The Chenchen Lounge on the same level serves light meals and snack, coffee and other drinks.
An outdoor park close to the hotel spans around 9,000sq m; this will be open to the public by March. In future, outdoor music festivals, a sky cinema, fun fairs and other events will take place there.
Ever Rich said it placed a strong emphasis on “environmental protection and contribution to the community” and that it was cooperating with government policies to enhance tourism development. It also estimated that 400 to 500 job vacancies will be created in the new facility in Penghu, encouraging young local people who have left to return home for work.
Ever Rich noted: “Discovery Hotel and Profond Pier 3 Duty Free Complex play an innovative and industry-leading role in upgrading local tourism development and creating a diversified recreational space for every traveller and customer.”
