Hotel Centro: Great things come from a grand vision

MANILA, Philippines - In business and OTHER FIELDS, great things spring from a grand vision.  Such is the story behind Palawan’s newest chain of hotel developments — Hotel Centro in Puerto Princesa City, Sophia’s Garden Resort in Coron, and Kamia Bay Resort in Luzviminda, Puerto Princesa — all springing from the grand vision of Green Mountain Phils. Corp., the company behind them.

With the booming tourism industry in Palawan, owing to its unique attractions such as the Puerto Princesa Underground River, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, plus improved infrastructure and increased flights, the Green Mountain properties help take care of the influx of foreign and domestic tourists with amenities, facilities and other offerings that cover the varying needs of discriminating guests who wish to make the most of their stay in the island-province.

Engineer Tederico Tiotangco, Green Mountain Phils. Corp. president and CEO, said he “wanted to build a hotel that will cater to the needs of the visitors, provide jobs for the local residents, empower the local hotel professionals, and bring pride to the city.”

Such “pride of place” went into building Hotel Centro, the biggest in Puerto Princesa with 111 guestrooms, a separate building for a conference facility, three restaurant and beverage outlets, a gym and a pool, all forming part of its design as an architectural gem situated amid green environs, giving that resort feel even though you’re in the heart of the city. In 2011, Hotel Centro was named as the cleanest and greenest hotel with its environment-friendly and energy-saving practices in support of the city’s notable eco-campaign.

Shortly thereafter, Sophia’s Garden Resort in Coron and Kamia Bay Resort in Luzviminda, Puerto Princesa City came into the foray, offering more choices for quality accommodations.

Tiotangco, who hails from Bulacan, came to work for a construction company in Palawan in 1983. He met his wife and started to raise a family. Even as his work eventually required him to transfer to another place, he agreed to his wife’s request to make Palawan their home base. It wasn’t hard to arrive at that decision as Palawan, after all, is a place easy to fall in love with. What particularly drew him to Palawan are its clean air, fresh food, and peaceful environment.

“It’s like living in a paradise,” Tiotangco said. Such piece of paradise is what Green Mountain Phils. Corp. would like to share with tourists through its varied hotel developments all over Palawan.

“After long years of hard work, finally, my dream is now a reality,” Tiotangco said. Nevertheless, the company’s main vision is to become a profitable and growing chain of themed hotels and resorts in Palawan.

From the start, Green Mountain has been eyeing five properties to rise in areas not confined to the city proper and to bring the spotlight to both favorite and best-kept spots around Palawan. Aside from a city hotel, it has dreamt of a beach resort, a mountain resort, an island resort, and a river resort. To date, it has realized three — Hotel Centro, Sophia’s Resort, and Kamia Bay Resort — and more developments are in the offing.

To celebrate the company’s growing love affair with Palawan, Hotel Centro is whipping up Valentine treats. Enjoy an overnight stay for two in a superior room with buffet breakfast and dinner for P4,000 for the whole month of February.

This is on top of the hotel’s year-round packages: UR Holidays, the all-inclusive package that comes with three-day, two-night stay, meals, tours, professional tour guide services, entrance fees, and transportation to the Underground River and Honda Bay. Rate starts at P12,888 per person on twin-sharing basis.

The Weekend Special, on the other hand, offers 50 percent discount on published rates for all weekends of 2013, while the Airline Promo Special offers 40 percent discount on published rates if you have an airline ticket bought at a promo price.

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Visit Hotel Centro at the Travel Tour Expo 2013 at SMX Convention Center on Feb. 15-17. Hotel Centro is located along the San Pedro National Highway in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. For inquiries or reservations, call Manila (02) 556-5656, Palawan at (048) 434-1110 or (0917) 5991912, e-mail at customercare@hotelcentro.ph or log on to www.hotelcentro.ph.