Baguio hotels slash rates up to 50%

As Baguio gears up for its annual celebration of the "Panagbenga" or "Flower Festival," Baguio hotels accredited by the Department of Tourism (DoT) are offering discounts from 25 to 50 percent on their published room rates to entice tourists to visit the country’s Summer Capital again.

DoT-CAR Director Purificacion Molintas said that this is part of "Bloom Baguio Bloom," the Integrated Recovery Program for Baguio," who affirmed the commitment of the DoT to the revival of tourist trade in Baguio.

The DoT, through its Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Office, encouraged members of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) and the Baguio Association of Hotels and Inns (BAHAI) to offer attractive promotional packages at reduced rates to persuade tourists, as well as their regular clients.

The DoT is expecting the special rates to draw more tourists at the Panagbenga 2005 on Sunday, and other major events and activities alongside it.

The Baguio local government had earlier formed a task force to lead the city’s recovery program after the Department of Health (DoH) lifted the meningococcemia alert.

Among the responsibilities of the task force is to plan and implement an information campaign aimed at strengthening the confidence of city residents and visitors in Baguio as a clean, safe, and peaceful city, as well as a favored tourist destination.

Molintas added that the DoT-CAR launched a promotional initiative to assist in the recovery program. A brainchild of the DoT-CAR is "Blooming Hearts’ Day," a mass civil wedding and renewal of vows on Feb. 14 at the Baguio Country Club. Through the event, the DoT-CAR hopes to promote Baguio not only as the "Wedding Capital of the Philippines" but also as a "Honeymooners’ Paradise." An interesting feature of the event is the challenge to all the participating couples to engage in the longest kiss, which is open to both residents and non-residents of Baguio.

The special discounted rate packages are available until Feb. 14. Participating hotels and inns include: Baden Powell; Baguio Country Club; Baguio Palace Hotel; Burnham Hotel; Camp John Hay Manor; Cooyesan Plaza Hotel; Concorde Hotel; Citylight Hotel; City Travel Hotel; El Cielito Inn; Elegant Hotel; Green Mile Condotel; Gracious Hotel Angeli; Hotel Constancia; Green Valley Hotel; High Country Inn; Hotel Reneca; Hotel Supreme; Hotel Villa Rosal; Inn Rocio; Lexber Vacation House; Microtel Inn & Suites; Mountain Lodge & Restaurant; Prime Hotel; Prince Plaza Hotel; Princess Apartelle; Skyrise Hotel; Summer Place Hotel; Veniz Hotel Inc.; Vistro Pension House; Woods Place Hotel; and Zion Hostel