Wright Park Hotel Formally Opened in Thanksgiving Fashion

The Wright Park Hotel was formally opened last Saturday in a thanksgiving like celebration that honored the owners’ family including the late Justice Cecilia Munoz-Palma, the employees and the community as well as the pony boys who were the inspiration for the hotel’s motif. Rudolfo Palma II celebrated with family members, guests and barangay officials as well as pony boys the grand opening of the city’s newest premium hotel with a thanksgiving like dinner last Saturday. One of the most important holidays in the United States, thanksgiving was celebrated last November 27. With long time Baguio resident and former Speaker Sonny Belomonte as one of the honored guests, the third generation Palma and general manager paid tribute to his grandmother, the first female SC justice who also drafted the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The young Palma recalled the days his family spent vacations and ride horses as kid. The horses became the motif of the hotel, with a pair of such sculpture at the frontage of the hotel and another two near the front desk. He said that pictures of horses also adorn the walls of each room. As he narrated their love for Baguio and the Wright Park started with his grand mother who bought a house here. Palma, who left for the United States and only returned to the Philippines to lead the family in the hotel venture said that it was mix of apprehension and excitement when they came back to Baguio to put up the hotel.

They were apprehensive because it was the biggest investment yet made by his family, and excited because they can come back to Baguio after years in the US. He said that they wanted a luxury hotel that is something that will last and iconic, he told guests and media when he came back during Easter Sunday in 2024 ”to help in the venture.” He said that it is also a “homage to the park across the street and what we enjoyed as kids.” He also thanked the artists and artisans who helped them realize their dream of putting up the luxury hotel, thus the artisan shop Made Here that occupy much of the first floor. The hotel, which employs 70 personnel of which 60 percent are from Baguio and ages 21 to 63 years old, also gave donations to the pony boys as well as the village, Lualhati barangay, the hotel is located. The hotel had its soft opening last October 11.