Despite its seemingly countless accommodations (from five-star hotels to budget inns), Cebu City, surprisingly, still faces a dearth of rooms, especially during important events such as the Sinulog Festival which will formally start tomorrow and conclude on Sunday. About a million or so tourists are expected to descend on Cebu’s foremost city for a spell of riotous fun and a stunning display of music and colors, with celebrations going well into the night.

Adding another 102 rooms (85 standard; 17 deluxe) to the city’s number of rooms is the recently opened Diamond Suites and Residences (www.diamondsuitescebu.com) located near the corner of Escario Street which is fast-becoming an important hub in terms of accommodation. The street is seeing the rise of other hotels—from another mid-tier project just like Diamond Suites to a 400-plus-room development. Centrally located, the street is walking distance to the Ayala Center; the Terraces easily provides top-notch dining options for hotel guests who want to venture out of their rooms.

Featuring a no-fuss, contemporary architecture, Diamond Suites primarily caters to the local corporate market. “We are positioned as a local business hotel because we are in the business district,” begins Ann Olalo, the hotel’s general manager. “We aren’t focused so much on the frills. We have positioned Diamond Suites as a functional hotel, especially for the business travelers.”

The lobby provides a bit of drama to the hotel’s straightforward structure, with the glass tiles cladding the front desk, table-and-chair tableaus made from modern Cebuano pieces, and the chandelier composed of luminescent circles. Those who have purchased condo units, which can  be optioned as additional rooms for the hotel, need not follow a set of design guidelines, having given the free rein to decorate their spaces. The units are cut as a loft and are afforded a view of the surrounding cityscape.

The rooms also carry the no-frills identity of the hotel, save for the paintings that feature abstract swirls. The deluxe rooms are particularly spacious, with two queen-size beds, lounge area, desk, and LCD TV. The bathroom is glorious with a tub. As a nod to the growing trend of 24/7 connectivity, the hotel provides free Wi-Fi access; an Internet cable is on hand if Wi-Fi signal becomes erratic. “We have not scrimped on the basic amenities of the room,” Ann proudly states.

For a mid-tier hotel, it’s surprising that Diamond Suites has a swimming pool and a mini-gym. Three mid-size function rooms are at a ready for seminars, conventions and workshops. The Grain Restaurant is nothing to sneeze at, with its selection of fine ala carte meals. An al fresco area and a business area near the lobby are expected to be finished within the year. Ann adds that they are also looking into how to make their system and operations greener. They have started by outfitting the rooms with energy-saving lamps. “We are also looking into recyclable supplies,” she says. “We are looking for local suppliers, local growers, we don’t go for imported.”

Good accommodation and amenities  notwithstanding, Ann says that “at the end of the day, it’s all about service. Our staff being 95 percent Cebuano, you can really count on the unique brand of Cebuano hospitality. Even if we are small, we really make it up for it in terms of service.”