THE recent hosting by the Philippines of the 21st Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council really showed how the country is so ready to warmly welcome travelers from all over the world again, with continued strict enforcement of health and safety protocols to prevent Covid-19 infections.
According to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, during the three-day conference which attracted 1,000 participants, including over 600 international delegates, “There were no complaints from the delegates. We had a group handling health issues, so we were prepared just in case there were any medical emergencies. There were some cases like hypertension and thrombosis, but nothing Covid-related. So it’s just reassuring—of course we were all prepared for Covid-related emergencies, (but) at least it goes to show that we’re slowly going to normal.”
Coming on the heels of that international event, the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) sees only great things coming for the tourism and travel industry as members recently attended their general membership meeting, face to face for the first time in over two years. Of course, the member-hotels, many of which served as quarantine facilities for arriving overseas Filipinos, balikbayans, and returning Filipino contract workers, initially mourned the loss of this business, as pandemic restrictions for inbound travelers were lifted.
But with the downgrading from Alert Level 3 to 1 in many destinations, things are finally looking up especially in the business travel segment. HSMA chair Margie Munsayac said, “It gave us hope and it gave us direction that the business market would slowly pick up and this can be a small window of opportunity.”
The resorts in particular, she said, are also benefiting as people just want to travel, so “[they] are getting filled up especially on weekends and special holidays. And we see especially for the summer months, we are getting our occupancy. Weekends are normally full for resorts and I believe for some of the city hotels because staycations are also likewise on the rise.”
With summer bringing domestic visitors, international travelers arriving starting June, and the rebound of the MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions] market, “we remain hopeful, we remain positive that we will break through in 2022…and 2023 will be bright year for us,” said Munsayac, who is also vice president for Bluewater Resorts.
For his part, HSMA president Benjamin Martinez (Bayleaf Hotels) said other exciting projects for the group this year include the September Online Sale. “This year, we will not only offer rooms and F&B [food and beverage] products and ancillary services, [but] also include tours being offered by your concierge and front desks,” he said.
The group will also mount the First Philippine Tourism and Hospitality Summit in November. “Designed to be an industry flagship project, the summit aims to be a catalyst in driving and stimulating changes in the industry,” he added.
The one-day program will be a mix of keynotes, plenary sessions, panel discussions, and fireside chats. An exhibition section will also be set up that will showcase a wide array of industry suppliers.
Against a backdrop of optimism in the tourism sector, HSMA also launched the 8th Virtus Awards, which will highlight the efforts of sales and marketing professionals in the accommodations sector, now unshackled from the stringent pandemic rules implemented to prevent the spread of Covid in the country.
“It’s time to snap out of the confines that have prevented our guests from fully enjoying the essence of hotels and resorts and receiving the exciting, energizing experiences that are distinctive and customer-centered,” said hotel industry veteran and Virtus Awards chairman Rose Libongco. “HSMA will release the tension and tedious controls to serve new schemes, and it delights in pursuing fun, fantasy and new hopes to allow us to dream again,” she added.
Up for grabs are individual awards for the best Sales and Marketing Associate, Sales and Marketing Manager, and Sales and Marketing Leader. Hotels will also be vying for an institutional award for the best marketing campaign. HSMA established the Virtus Awards in 2015. The deadline for the submission of entries to the awards is on August 31. The winners will be announced during a live ceremony on October 25.
The Virtus Awards is organized by HSMA with the support of the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, and Atlantis; with the special participation of Bambunet and Kingsford Hotel Manila.
For more information on the Virtus Awards entry eligibility and requirements, visit www.hsma.org.ph.
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AS we go to the polls on Monday, May 9, it would be good to reflect on the past six years under the Duterte administration, and think of its accomplishments and failures, if any. We compare that to the campaign promises made, either fulfilled or broken.
With these in mind, we should be able to decide what issues are most important to us when voting for our next president. Truth or lies, moral values or promised rewards, a proven track record in leadership or imagined successful governance?
Do we vote for the convenience of connections, or the straight and narrow efficient administration of rules? Should we support honesty and transparency, or shadowy government machinations? Your vote represents your character and your highest ambitions for yourself, or your noblest aspirations and dreams for your children and your country. Vote wisely.