HOTELS across the country generated some P14.1 million in bookings during the September Online Sale of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association Inc. (HSMA).
These sales represent “over a thousand vouchers sold” during the promo period from September 15 to 30, HSMA President Christine Ann U. Ibarreta told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message.
HSMA member hotels had offered flexible booking periods up to a year, with a few having no expiration at all.
A large chunk of the bookings, at 36.3 percent, were for hotels in Pasay and Manila, indicating the willingness of many Filipinos to leave the confines of their homes for short staycations in Metro Manila accommodation establishments. (See, “‘Work + Study + Play’ trending now,” in the BusinessMirror, September 10, 2020.)
Boracay Island was also a hot destination during the sales promo with 13.3 percent in bookings, followed by Makati/Bonifacio Global City at 12.2 percent, Visayas 11.8 percent, south of Metro Manila 8.3 percent, Palawan/Mindanao 8.2 percent, Ortigas/Quezon City 6.3 percent, and north of Metro Manila 3.5 percent.
Many of the buyers, said Ibarreta, were based in Metro Manila, but a number of them also were from Cebu City and Davao City. Outside of the Philippines, there were interested buyers from the United States, Singapore, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
HSMA, an organization of sales and marketing officers of 150 accommodation establishments across the country, on Thursday launched its annual Virtus Awards in an online presser.
With many hotels and resorts still reeling from the impact of Covid-19, the organization has added two new citations—the Champions of Resilience Awards. These awards will recognize individuals or teams whose extraordinary efforts to address the market difficulties made an impact, said HSMA Chairperson Margarita Munsayac.
“It is a timely reminder of the determination, innovation, and commitment of hotel sales and marketing professionals across the country who have been working extremely hard to reopen, to welcome guests back safely, and to continue to provide excellent service,” she explained.
As hoteliers deal with the Covid-19 crisis while still providing excellent service at work, the HSMA believes that Virtus Awards is one of the best ways they can show solidarity with their colleagues, according to Ibarreta.
“We still wanted to show the industry that whatever crisis we go through, we can weather it with grit and grace. We still have the strength, resolve, and courage to face difficulties head on,” she underscored.
Other awards up for grabs this year are for the Outstanding Association, Manager, and Leader Awards; Institutional Marketing Campaign; individual awards in the Sales and Marketing Department (Room Sales, Events Management, Catering, Reservations, Public Relations and Communications, Revenue Management); as well as Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate; Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager; and Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader.
One institutional award will be given to an HSMA member-property with the Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign of the Year. The campaign should be built on a single, unified theme, and should use at least two different types of media.
Winners will be announced during the live presentation of the 6th Virtus Awards on December 7. The 6th Virtus Awards is presented in partnership with the DOT and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board, as well as private sector partners Atlantis Systems Asia and Isentia.