Valley hotel lacks operations manual

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A lack of standard operating procedure is marring improvements to the lone hotel in the valley.

A Commission on Audit has reported the Strawberry Valley Hotel has no operations manual being followed by the management making efficient and effective operations not sustainable.

“In order for the Strawberry Valley Hotel to attain a sustained and profitable growth in the coming years, the Municipality of La Trinidad needs to craft an operations manual containing policies and procedures to be followed in the sound operations of the hotel,” Amalia Valentin of COA said.

In 2011, the hotel formerly known as Garden City was acquired by the local government through a deed of absolute sale for P26.5 million.

It is envisioned to become a hub for activity with the support of line agencies and the municipality.

Valentin said the ho- tel has been operating since 2011 without operations manual that includes rules and regulations as well as provide the guidelines on the proper management, flow of transactions and delineation of the functions of its personnel for efficient and effective operations.

Valentin said the operations manual will further give the management an effective way of communicating policies and procedures.

The hotel was acquired by the local government during the term of former Mayor Greg Abalos and is the first hotel owned by the Valley and has served as a venue for conferences and meetings and a transient home for guests.

Valentin also said in her report the local council has failed to pass an appropriate tax ordinance covering the rates and fees collected from the guests of the Strawberry Valley Hotel and Restaurant making the collections from the hotel acquired without legal basis.

Meanwhile, Mayor Edna Tabanda said the private sector has been

tapped to help refurbish and improve services of the hotel to be able to cater to local, national and international visitors.

“We need to renovate it and we need assistance from all sectors,” Tabanda said.

Technical assistance from the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) as well as the Hotel and Restaurant Management Department of the University of Baguio has been requested by Tabanda. “Initial talks have been good, and they are willing to help,” added the mayor.

Tabanda said HRAB president Anthony De Leon has signified his willingness to help the Valley Hotel get into shape as well as the talks with Gil Bautista of UB who is likewise pitching in for improvement of the local hotel.

Tabanda said an improvement of amenities of the hotel is underway as well as training for staff and personnel working there to be at par with standards of the hotel industry.

The technical support from the HRAB and UB is also eyed to level up service and upgrade existing amenities in the area like bathrooms, guest rooms, restaurant facilities, and kitchen as well as function areas.

“We want this to become an economic enterprise in the long run,” Tabanda said.

Tabanda said the renovation is important in order for the municipality to continue to bring guests in the hotel and become a tourism destination as well.

The chief executive added the renovation and upgrade of the hotel will have its budget coming from the local government until it becomes self-sustaining.

“We will provide a fund for it and eventually it will become income generating,” added Tabanda.