VIP Hotel catches fire, leaves P900K damage

MindanaoToday.com | VIP Hotel catches fire, leaves P900K damage

By: Uriel Quilinguing

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Fire broke out at the groundfloor of a six-storey VIP Hotel at Don Apolinar Velez Street here shortly past 5 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, leaving structural damage of about P900 thousand, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Two persons were brought to hospital for medical care; an elderly hotel guest for minor injury, and a security personnel for smoke inhalation while assisting the evacuation of 21 hotel guests, the hotel statement said.  Only nine of the hotel’s 78 rooms were occupied at that time.

Except for those who opted to check out after the incident, all hotel guests were safely transferred to the Maxandria Hotel which is just three blocks away, the hotel’s statement said.

A couple who stayed at the VIP Hotel for a week and was set to check out noon that day confirmed they were offered hotel transfer, free of charge.

They said they were suprised why their phones rang too early that day, only to be told that a fire had broke out and they have to move out fast for safety.

“The front desk called three times to make sure we’re no longer in our room. In fairness to the management, the evacuation was orderly and we were guided towards the emergency exit and stair,” the female hotel guest said. “They gave us bottled water, got our names and phone numbers when we were already safe downstairs.”

The hotel’s public advisory assured their regular guests the closure will be temporary and that all discount cards and gift certificates granted to them would still be honored once they reopen “very soon.”  It has also made transfer arrangements with New Dawn Hotel and Chali Resort and Convention Center for those who have earlier booked for special events.

Although the blaze was at the hotel’s lobby, thick black smoke spread was all over the building, coming out from windows even at the fourth level of the structure.  But probers from the BFP have yet to determine to cause of fire.

The VIP Hotel statement took note of the timely response of BFP firefighters and 911 Rescue Team volunteers,  preventing the flame from spreading to the upper floors of the building and ensuring safety of their room occupants.

Owned and managed by the Canoy Group of Companies, VIP is undisputably Cagayan de Oro’s oldest hotel that was constructed in 1969 and was renovated 35 years ago. It is classified as three-star hotel by the Department of Tourism. (MT)

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