Tucked within a protected marine reserve in the Sulu Sea off Palawan, Banwa Private Island offers something increasingly rare in luxury travel: an entire island, entirely private. Spanning six hectares of untouched tropical wilderness, the resort comprises just six contemporary beachfront villas, each with its own infinity pool and ocean views, alongside additional garden accommodation, capping capacity at 48 guests with a full-island buyout available for those wanting the whole reserve to themselves.
Dining is entirely bespoke, drawn from the island’s own organic farm and the day’s fresh catch, while days unfold between PADI diving across 20 nearby sites, including the legendary Tubbataha Reef, sunrise yoga, beachside massages and guided nature walks highlighting the island’s marine conservation work through the Aquos Foundation.
Pio Sanchez is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Banwa Private Island. Pio told Travel Monitor, “I would love to see us leave a little more space in travel. We sometimes feel every holiday has to be packed with activities and every hour has to become content. Some of my best travel memories are much simpler than that – a long meal, a good conversation, being out on the water or just having nowhere else you need to be. I think time and freedom are becoming real luxuries, and the industry should not be afraid to let guests enjoy them.”
Find out what else they had to say in this week’s Talking Travel.
What does your job involve?
I look after the sales and marketing direction for Banwa Private Island. A big part of my day is working with our travel partners, understanding the markets we want to grow and making sure we are telling Banwa’s story in the right way. Because Banwa is such a personal experience, it is never really about selling a room. It is about understanding what a guest is looking for and seeing how we can make the island work for them.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
Definitely the people. I have spent many years in hospitality and some of the relationships I have today started through this industry. I enjoy meeting people from different places, working with great teams and seeing guests come away with memories they will hopefully keep for a long time.
Why do you think the travel industry is the best place to work?
No two days are quite the same. You meet people from all over the world, learn about different cultures and get to work in some remarkable places. I have spent a large part of my career in Palawan, so I have been very fortunate in that respect. Travel also keeps you curious, which I think is a good thing in any career.
What are the biggest challenges for you in your profession?
Keeping up with how quickly travellers and markets change. Guests today do a lot of research before they travel and they know what they want. In luxury hospitality especially, you cannot rely on a beautiful destination alone. You have to listen, keep improving and make sure the experience still feels genuine and personal.
What do you think are the biggest challenges the industry faces?
I think one of the biggest is how we grow tourism without losing what made people want to visit a destination in the first place. That is especially important for places like Palawan. There is always a commercial side to tourism, of course, but we also have a responsibility to the environment, to local communities and to the long-term future of the destination.
What do you think will be the biggest game changer in the travel industry in the next 12 months?
AI will continue to change how people research, plan and book travel. We are already seeing that. But I do not think technology will replace the human side of hospitality. If anything, it should make the practical side of travel easier and give us more time to focus on the guest. The hotels and travel companies that find the right balance will have an advantage.
What destination/travel trend do you think is the next big thing?
think people are becoming more selective about how they spend their time away. There is a growing appetite for privacy, nature and trips that allow families or friends to really spend time together. Multi-generational travel is part of that as well. Rather than trying to fit ten things into a day, more travellers seem comfortable slowing down and enjoying where they are. That suits Palawan very naturally.
What are your thoughts on responsible travel and how do you try to implement this in your workplace?
For me, responsible travel has to be something you practise, not just something you talk about. At Banwa, conservation has always been closely connected to the island through the Aquos Foundation, including work around our marine and terrestrial environment. On the operations side, we are also moving towards greater use of solar-generated energy. There is still more to do, but what matters is that we keep making practical improvements and protecting the place our guests have come to experience.
Who inspires you most and why?
I’ve always admired people who stay grounded and generous with what they know, regardless of how successful they become. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with some very good people in hospitality — colleagues, mentors and travel partners who have shared their experience along the way. I think you learn something from everyone if you take the time to listen.
What is your must-pack travel item(s)?
My phone, a power bank and comfortable shoes. I like to walk around when I travel, so the shoes are important. And like everyone else, I seem to use my phone for everything now – photos, maps, notes and, unfortunately, checking the occasional email.
Who would you invite on your next holiday if you could choose anyone and where would you go?
Family and close friends, definitely. I would choose somewhere with beautiful natural surroundings, very good food and no pressure to follow an itinerary. Somewhere we could wake up and decide what we feel like doing that day – or decide to do nothing at all.
