A luxurious stay with a down-home feel at Berlin Hotel and Suites
By Victoria Frank
Pedro Guzman describes Berlin Hotel and Suites as a “destination.”
“This is not a typical hotel,” the general manager explained. “It’s a ‘wow.’”
And Berlin Hotel and Suites certainly is. Recently remodeled, the expansive hotel boasts 49 rooms and 20 suites. Most rooms have a very contemporary look, with soft lighting and luxurious beds, while the suites, such as the presidential suite, are beautifully decorated with chandeliers, fireplaces, finished wood, and custom, locally made furniture. Deluxe rooms, located on the back of the building, have private patios or balconies, and all standard rooms come with either one king-size bed or two queens. One thing is for sure, no matter which room a guest stays in, they will feel comfortably pampered during their stay in Amish Country.
In addition to the superb accommodations, Berlin Hotel and Suites offers a 17,000-square-foot fitness facility, complete with cycling and racquetball room. The gym is open 24 hours a day and access to the swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room is also available for guests.
Bringing a business, a retreat group, or a wedding party to Berlin Hotel and Suites is also ideal, as they have four meeting rooms, the largest holding up to 250 people. Outside, a large gazebo sits among more than 50 trees planted during the remodel and beside a new heart-shaped pond. Sidewalks wind around the property as well, perfectly positioned for a walk on a sunny day. Guzman admitted that this area of business is ever expanding and believes that the hotel will soon be the premier place for weddings.
Most impressively, however, Berlin Hotel and Suites is the home of a 26-seat private movie theater. Designed to function like a larger movie theater in the city, the seats and ceiling are official – coming from a supplier that actually works with theaters all around the country. Three movies are shown daily, including a locally produced documentary on the Amish community, an early family movie, and a later showing of one of the hotel’s 300 available choices.
“When you look at all of the hotels in the country,” Guzman said, “there’s only a handful with something like this.”
But what sets Berlin Hotel and Suites apart is not their accommodations, amenities, and conference centers, albeit impressive, but their service. Guzman even admitted to finding guests other hotels when Berlin Hotel and Suites had no vacancy.
“We are servants,” he explained, “and we want to do more than most businesses.”
He added that his team of employees strives to go beyond expectations, providing great customer service with an unmatched flexibility found in the hotel industry. The hotel staff is very familiar with the surrounding Amish community and will provide knowledge and a list of events ahead of time, via e-mail, so guests can plan their trips around Holmes County before they even arrive. They also provide a vast amount of literature about the area at the front desk.
And Berlin Hotel and Suites is certainly interested in catering to a wealth of individuals, all the while still getting to know them personally.
“When you get to talk to the people that stay at the hotel, you’re amazed by their stories,” Guzman said. “Some people come here because of funerals, some people come to pick up furniture, and we’ve even had people that have been on the road for over a month and just want to see everything that they can.” He explained that those individuals often sit and share their memories and photos from their journey with the staff.
Guzman believes that because of the combination of incredible customer service and outstanding accommodations, individuals make commitments to stay with Berlin Hotel and Suites year after year.
In the business book, Purple Cow, by Seth Godin, the author tells a story of a man traveling through the Italian countryside, seeing herds of cattle throughout. The man knows that he will never remember any of them again, unless he happened to come across a purple cow.
“This is a purple property,” Guzman smiled. “It’s not a typical property. I believe we have succeeded at making ourselves different.”
Berlin Hotel and Suites is located at 5330 CR 201 in Millersburg. Visit www.berlinhotelandsuites.com for specific information regarding rooms and rates.
