Baguio hotels pushed to make wedding package

BAGUIO CITY – Aside from its many attractions, this Summer Capital is being pushed as “honeymooners” wedding destination of the north.

The city council approved on first reading an ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr., which stated all hotels will be required to prepare a honeymooner’s wedding package to those who decide to be wed in the city and avail of their hotel facilities or services.

Under the proposed ordinance, hotel owners and operators, who are supportive of the program, shall receive a 10-percent exemption from payment of business taxes of the gross sales or receipts for each honeymoon package hosted.

The ordinance tasked the City Treasury Office, in coordination with the Baguio Tourism Council, to monitor and implement the guidelines necessary for the successful implementation of the measure.

Yangot said Baguio City was famous not only as a premier tourist destination, but also a honeymooners’ haven located north of the country.

He said the city was the ideal place for newly-weds because of its natural cool climate where air conditioning is round the clock and the air is filled with the fresh scent of pine.

He added the city’s declaration as a honeymooner’s haven could also be enhanced by the beautiful hotels and gardens perfect for a dream wedding at reasonable and minimum cost.

According to him, it will be appropriate and fitting for the City Council to formally declare Baguio City as Honeymooner’s Haven, as well as support its establishment as the wedding destination of the north with the adoption of the measure that is seen as one of the major drivers of the local economy.

The ordinance stipulated many couples from different parts of the world opt to hold important events in their lives in Baguio City because of its cool and unique climate that is why there is always a significant number of visitors who flock to the city during weekends and holidays because its good weather is a natural pull for people to frequent the city.

For the past several years, a good number of beautiful hotels have started to be built in strategic areas around the city with venues for gatherings and special occasions of groups who prefer holding their important occasions in the city.

In the early 1900s, the American colonizers discovered Kafagway as a suitable rest and recreation area for top government and military officials during summer and renamed it Baguio City in 1903, and transferring colonial government functions to the new city, earning its name Summer Capital.