Trinidad government runs hotel in middle of strawberry fields

By March Fianza

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Aside from strawberry-picking that is becoming a popular activity for tourists in this capital town, one latest come-on is a hotel right in the heart of the municipality’s strawberry fields, vegetable and flower gardens. Strawberry Valley Hotel and Restaurant that was previously owned by a businessman in the locality was bought for P26 million by the local government unit in September last year.

Still on its infant stage, Mayor Greg Abalos Jr. saw it fit that the hotel is placed under the supervision of the Transition Management Committee chaired by Romy Lopez of the Municipal Planning and Development Office.

The 33-room hotel is especially open to tourists and businessmen who wish to stay for days in La Trinidad, the town capital of Benguet Province, while visiting the neighboring towns of Tublay, Sablan, Atok, Buguias and the mining town of Mankayan.

It is barely six kilometers away from Baguio City and is very accessible as it sits beside the Valley Road that cuts through Puguis from the Halsema national highway.

Robert Lauro, the acting operations manager of SVHR said the municipal government started operating the hotel the following month after it was fully paid.
“It has been fully booked since January, this year,” Lauro said.

SVHR boasts of having been provided with Wi-Fi connection for internet-savvy clients. It has also been equipped with a physical fitness gym complete with weight lifting gadgets, treadmills, stationary bicycle, and other necessary sports equipment.

Rates for the dorm-type rooms that can accommodate 18 persons range from P180.00 to P200.00 per person.

These rooms have common comfort rooms with hot and cold shower bathrooms.

For the quadruple bedrooms that accommodate at least four persons each room, SVHR charges P1,350.00 for a room.

Rates for matrimonial bedrooms range from P450.00 to P800.00 per room while twin-bed rooms are available for P850.00 per room.

Lauro said, the hotel also offers other amenities such as function rooms that can accommodate as many as 250 persons. Rates for the function rooms range from P3,000 to P5,000 per day or from P500 to P800 per hour during the day; and from P1,200 to P1,500 per hour at night.

For more inquiries on room accommodations, the contact numbers are (074) 309-2921; mobile no. 0918-2777-417; or email: svhr2012@yahoo.com.
The hotel is located in a very strategic vantage point since it gives SVHR occupants a 360-degree view of the town’s valley floor that is carpeted by the strawberry fields, the vegetable and flower gardens, and the caldera that surrounds it.
Lopez described many sunrises blocked by early morning mists as “just the right moments for jogging around the strawberry fields.” –marchfianza777@yahoo.com