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Bohol La Roca Hotel History
THE ROCK UPON WHICH BOHOL’S FIRST HOTEL WAS BUILT
La Roca. The Rock. After 35 years of existence, this hotel has the right to claim to be the cornerstone of the hotel industry in the province.The story of Bohol La Roca Hotel. Bohol is a story about one family’s great dream.
THE ROCK UPON WHICH BOHOL’S FIRST HOTEL WAS BUILT
La Roca. The Rock. After 35 years of existence, this hotel has the right to claim to be the cornerstone of the hotel industry in the province.
The story of Bohol La Roca Hotel. Bohol is a story about one family’s great dream.
 La Roca Founders, Nanong and Esther Lim, with their brood of three girls and one boy
In July of that year, after a trip to Japan where Mr. Lim saw the extensive tourist facilities of that country, Mr. Lim made the decision to build the first hotel in Bohol. It was not an easy decision. He had only the support and affection of his family. His friends advised him against it. His business colleagues said it was a business doomed from the start.
Amidst mixed reaction and speculations, La Roca was in augurated on December 8, 1973. There were 20 rooms, fully air-conditioned, with toilet and bath; hot and cold running water.
During its first few months of existence, Bohol La Roca Hotel proved itself a real pioneer. It was the first hotel in Bohol to be licensed by the Department of Tourism. It was the first establishment, outside of the commercial banks to be given a foreign exchange, something which never happened before.
Barely two years after, Bohol La Roca Hotel was inaugurated, Severiano Lim died in 1975 leaving behind his 45-year-old widow, three college educated girls and 1 an 11 year old son.  Bohol La Roca Hotel and Resort in the '70s
Ester Azcona Lim proved herself more than equal to the ask of running the hotel. Between 1975 and 1985, she constructed a swimming pool, extended the function area from its previous capacity of 500 pax to 700 pax and added 10 luxurious suites which this day remain a favorite among its discriminating European guests. It was also during this time that Bohol La Roa Hotel earned its reputation of being the top caterer for weddings and other banquets.
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