The suite life at Baguio Burnham Suites

As a student living in Baguio City over a decade ago I’ve always found that the best time to go there, contrary to popular belief, was in October. This was semestral break for most of the student population, when Session Road was, on a typical afternoon, uncharacteristically empty — devoid of cars and tourists. This was when you found the real Baguio City. The air gave the right kind of chill, like the kind you’d enjoy under the shade of a tree on a hillside. Most importantly, the city settled back to its slow, casual pace, not having to mind the call of quick commerce that lowlanders would bring during the summer and holiday seasons.

“Actually, any time is a good time to visit Baguio,” says Al Ferrer, general manager of the newest hotel property in the city, Baguio Burnham Suites. And he’s right. This city has become many things to many people. As relaxing as those quiet weeks in October, Baguio is absolutely alive for most of the year. It’s an exciting and vibrant place, well deserving of its title as the country’s premier vacation capital.

Opened nearly a year ago, Baguio Burnham Suites is situated along Kisad Road, right next to Burnham Park. The name of the hotel is no accident, giving broad emphasis to its proximity to the park as well as nearby tourist hot spots, which are literally just minutes away on foot. And if you want to visit some of the malls and commercial districts, hailing a cab is easy and most destinations take less than five minutes.

Burnham Suites makes for a very good starting point for many tourists for the great Baguio experience. Guests can already be treated to a little bit of history when they learn that on the hotel site itself is the former vacation house of President Manuel Quezon, with parts of the original structure still intact behind the building. Right beside the hotel is the historic Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Of course, there’s that great view of Burnham Park and the city from the rooms on the hotel’s front.

Guests can expect facilities and amenities comparable to any Manila or Makati-based hotel. Aside from the classy and well-appointed interiors, Baguio Burnham Suites boasts of 24-hour wireless broadband Internet access and cable television service, a DVD player and LCD TV in all 38 rooms, hot and cold baths, a mini bar — and full air-conditioning. As Al explains, “We found that very important for several reasons. One, during summer it’s important to have an air-conditioning system not only because of the temperature but also to prevent outside factors from coming in such as noise.”

Some of the rooms are located up front, right where the busy Kisad Road is. At the back is Legarda Road, where most of the pubs, bars and restaurants are located. So, expect bands blaring out their music on weekends. It’s all a matter of opening or closing a window to bear the difference and how effectively the rooms can shut out noise from the street below. Not every day is a cold day in Baguio, and having an effective climate control system is most welcome.

The hotel also has a ballroom that can accommodate up to 150 people for social functions and conferences. “We have equipment for seminars, making it easy for clients to deal with us with regards to their requirements,” Al says. “We have a complete kitchen that can service both our coffee shop here at the lobby and at the ballroom for functions. You won’t need to look for a caterer.”

Baguio Burnham Suites is in a unique position to bring the kind of business that one expects from other hotels based in Metro Manila. Al explains: “Since we are a professionally managed hotel, we stuck to the standards of the hotel industry ­— that our rooms are what you would also see in Manila or Makati-based hotels — the standard twin-bed rooms, suites with separate parlor, to differentiate us from the common or usual hotels you find in Baguio that were formerly pension houses.”

Al adds: “Having said that, we find that the big players, the corporate accounts, find it very conducive to book with us because it’s like dealing with a Manila-based hotel. It also goes with the way we manage it. The professional management system we apply is the same that they will find in Manila.” Suffice it to say, most clients may find it easier to deal with Baguio Burnham Suites because of its familiarity with most professionally managed hotel properties.

The establishment of this hotel couldn’t have come at a better time, what with Baguio’s centennial celebration just two years around the corner. “By the centennial, we would be well-established as one of the big players in the hotel industry of Baguio,” Al concludes. “We look forward to doing very good business.”

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Baguio Burnham Suites is located at No. 6, Kisad Road, Baguio City. For inquiries or reservations, call (074) 424-2211 to 15, fax at (074) 424-2216, e-mail at info@burnhamsuitesbaguio.-com or log on to www.burnham-suitesbaguio.com or www.-theburnhamsuites.com. Its Manila sales office is at the 11th floor, Raffles Corporate Center, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Call (632) 915-0055 local 118 or (632) 706-1093 or fax at (632) 915-0905. Baguio Burnham Suites is managed by the Genesis Hotels and Resorts Group.