On October 14, the fifth annual Virtus Awards and the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) 40th founding anniversary will take place at the Forbes Ballroom of Conrad Manila.
The announcement of Virtus nominees and winners for Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate, Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager, Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader and Marketing Campaign of the Year, is the culmination of an extensive six-month nomination and vetting process spearheaded by a committee comprised of Virtus Awards Chairman Rose H. Libongco and the sitting HSMA board comprised of HSMA Chairman Margie Munsayac of Bluewater Resorts, President Christine Ann Ibarreta of Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila, Vice President Benjie Martinez of Bayleaf Hotels, Treasurer Carmela Bocanegra of Chroma Hospitality, Memberships Director Tet Romualdo of Linden Suites, Programs Director Amie Villena of Bellevue Resorts Bohol and PR Director Pearl Maclang of Marco Polo Davao.
This year’s immensely competitive group of nominees came from Bayleaf Intramuros, Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, City of Dreams Manila, Conrad Hotel Manila, Crimson Hotel Filinvest, Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay, Diamond Hotel Philippines, Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila, Hotel 101 Manila, Hotel Jen Manila by Shangri-La, Joy Nostalg Hotels and Suites Manila, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Lima Park Hotel, Midas Hotel and Casino, Oxford Suites Manila, Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu, SEDA Hotel Abreeza, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Solaire Resorts Manila and Taal Vista Hotel.
Forward at 40
Inspired by HSMA’s 40th anniversary, the award ceremony’s color theme is ruby. It has been 40 years since Rose Libongco, then with the InterContinental Manila, and contemporaries Melvin Cruz of Hyatt Hotels, Aurora Patricio Paredes of Manila Hilton, Michael Cuisia of Manila Hotel and Peter Litgeib of Mandarin Oriental Manila, formed an informal association of hospitality sales and marketing practitioners in Manila. “The need then was to put system and order in the fast-expanding hotel industry as a result of the Philippine hosting of the World Bank IMF Conference,” Libongco recalls.
Today, there are 110 members, with growing membership nationwide. “From a handful of members in the late ‘70s to a country-wide organization with a say in national tourism industry policies today, we have so much to be thankful for,” adds HSMA President Christine Ibarreta. “The HSMA today is still guided by the counsel and wisdom of our founding members. We are inspired by their example and we build on what they’ve achieved, particularly in the areas of government and private-sector initiatives to grow and enhance the tourism and hospitality industry of our country.”
The Virtus Awards 2019 is supported by Conrad Manila Hotel, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Golden Phoenix Manila, Philippine Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. Official spirits sponsors are Emperador Distillers and Destileria Limtuaco. Official media partners are BusinessMirror, Pilipino Mirror, Philippine Graphic, Cook, and Health & Fitness.