The Manila Hotel Receives Tourism Pillar Excellence Award at the 1st Philippine Tourism Awards

The Manila Hotel has been honored with the Tourism Pillar Excellence Award at the first-ever Philippine Tourism Awards, organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) under the leadership of Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. The recognition highlights outstanding contributions to the tourism industry, with a focus on excellence, sustainability, and innovation.

A landmark in Philippine history, The Manila Hotel was cited for its enduring legacy and its pivotal role in shaping the country’s tourism landscape. The accolade underscores the hotel’s commitment to preserving its storied heritage while evolving to meet the needs of the modern traveler.

“It is with immense pride and gratitude that we accept this award from the Department of Tourism,” said Marvin Kim Tan, vice president for sales and marketing of The Manila Hotel. “This recognition reaffirms our belief that true hospitality lies in creating unforgettable experiences, from a warm welcome at the door, to impeccable service at every touchpoint, to the genuine attention extended to every guest. This award belongs not only to The Manila Hotel, but to the legacy of Filipino hospitality we strive to share with the world.”

The Philippine Tourism Awards—the first of its kind—aim to honor institutions and individuals that elevate Philippine tourism on the global stage. This platform paid tribute to enterprises that laid the foundations of Philippine tourism—pioneers and establishments that have significantly contributed to the industry’s growth over the years.

For The Manila Hotel, the Tourism Pillar Excellence Award stands as both a celebration of its rich heritage and a testament to its unwavering commitment to service excellence. For over a century, The Manila Hotel has stood as a symbol of Filipino pride, service, and hospitality. Today, it continues to uphold its legacy as the true heart of the Philippines. 

The Manila Hotel Partners with TESDA to Strengthen Hospitality Training

The Manila Hotel has entered into a landmark partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The partnership designates the historic hotel as an official training ground for aspiring hoteliers and hospitality professionals, marking a significant step in advancing enterprise-based education in the country.

The agreement was formalized during Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on August 13, 2025, with TESDA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Benitez as guest of honor. During the forum, TESDA awarded The Manila Hotel Certificates of TVET Program Registration—its first in partnership with the hotel—recognizing its comprehensive training programs under the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) scheme.

“The Manila Hotel is proud to open its doors to the next generation of Filipino hoteliers,” said Atty. Jose D. Lina, Jr., president of The Manila Hotel. “This partnership reflects our commitment to developing skilled professionals who will uphold and elevate Philippine hospitality on the global stage. Providing real-world training is an investment in the future of the hospitality industry.”

Secretary Benitez commended the initiative as a vital bridge between academic learning and industry needs. “The EBET program aligns training with employer requirements, and The Manila Hotel, renowned for its heritage and service excellence, is the ideal setting for this partnership,” he said.

Under the program, trainees will gain hands-on experience across hotel operations, from guest services to culinary arts. The EBET curriculum is tailored to meet industry standards, equipping graduates with the skills and competitive edge needed to succeed in the hospitality sector. 

Tourism: Sustainability is the Trend of 2023

Rome, 09 May 2023 - Sustainability is a more topical issue than ever and people are increasingly adopting habits and lifestyles aimed at limiting their impact on the environment. The tourism industry also fits into this context: in fact, an increasingly growing number of travellers choose to spend their holidays according to principles of sustainability and respect for the territories.

This trend is reflected in the numbers: according to the latest data of the Swg observatory released in March of this year, four Italians out of five would be willing to experience sustainable tourism, thus preferring to stay in a certified environmentally-friendly structure at the same cost. As far as the environmental protection initiatives are concerned, almost 70% of the sample respondents are in favour of limited access and traffic restrictions and 73% would be ready to do without their cars and to use public transport or ecological vehicles.

The trend is also confirmed by the results of the study on the impact of sustainability on the Italian tourism supply chain conducted by Deloitte in partnership with AICEO. According to the data gathered from this research, 64% of respondents stated that the effects of climate change have led them to consider travelling in a more sustainable way: a percentage which reaches 71% among those under 25 years of age. The will to shift towards sustainable tourism is especially driven by the desire to protect the territory (60%) and reduce environmental impact through ecological means of transport (52%). The growing attention towards sustainability is also reflected in the strong recovery of train travel, which recorded over 1 million passengers a day in 2022. As clearly emerged at the BIT 2023, the International Tourism Exchange, Italy is a particularly popular destination for foreign tourists, whose purchases of Trenitalia products have increased by 25% in 2022 compared to the pre-Covid period.

The possibility to move quickly from one major city to another thanks to High-Speed transport and the vast offer of regional and Intercity trains precisely responds to the demand for a more sustainable tourism that is attentive to the environment, territories and communities.

Such attention is also shared by True Italian Experience, a digital hub whose goal is to promote, diffuse and develop the Italian tourism market: a tourism consisting of unique experiences built around the passions and interests of travellers, always in full respect of sustainability and social responsibility principles. Maurizio Rota, CEO of True Italian Experience, confirms such commitment:

“More and more tourists are attentive to the sustainability issue. As a result, True Italian Experience offers travel packages designed to interconnect the various Italian locations using the railway system. True Italian Experience provides packages aimed at discovering the territory and which can be combined with sectors such as cycle tourism and electric mobility to ensure intermodal solutions in line with the principles of sustainability and social respect.

In fact, True Italian Experience believes sustainability concerns both the environment and social responsibility. As a result, our travel packages favour the young start-ups scattered over small towns nationwide and which foster and develop tourism from a digital perspective that would not otherwise have a preferential access to the market. In particular, we value the tourism businesses, cooperatives and start-ups present throughout remote areas of our Country and which thus focus on the development of a sustainable and gentle type of tourism.”

Bring your 2023 Summer Travel Goals to Life with these 6 Fascinating PH Vacation Spots

Samal Island Tourism Information Center, Facebook

MANILA, PHILIPPINES– The long, hot days of summer are finally here and if you’re one of the many who’s up for travel and adventure this season, there are many fascinating tourist and vacation spots around the country you can add to your bucket list.

A recent study by travel and experience platform Klook noted that 87% of Filipinos are raring to travel with many of their destinations of choice within the Philippines as booking for domestic destinations have exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2022.

 

Domestic travel, according to the Department of Tourism, is expected to make a full recovery this year with the country’s hotel and resorts association reporting that occupancy has breached 2019 numbers and is largely driven by domestic tourism.

 

With 2023 being dubbed as the year of Revenge Travel, there’s no better time to plan your trip, pack your bags and head-off for an unforgettable adventure. But before you do, ensure your travels are hassle-free by getting Travel Master Insurance with COVID-19.

 

“It’s summer and we’re sure that many Filipinos are already picking out the destinations they want to travel to, especially since the Philippines has so many beautiful sites to see–from beautiful beaches to beautiful towns and cities–there’s something for every kind of traveler. Traveling should be fun, stress-free, and hassle-free, this is why we created Travel Master insurance–to provide our travelers the peace of mind and protection from any kind of eventuality so they can make the most out of their trips,” said Mario Berta, Igloo’s Country Manager for the Philippines.

 

Created in partnership with GCash and Malayan Insurance, Travel Master with COVID-19 provides travelers coverage including for personal accidents, flight delays, lost luggage, emergency medical treatment, hospital cash allowance, travel inconvenience benefits, and COVID-19 protection.

 

To get the Travel Master coverage, simply access the GInsure page available on your GCash app and select Travel and Travel Master with COVID-19. Fill in the form with your travel details and it will immediately provide you with coverage benefits and the premium contribution and you’re set to go.

 

Travel Master with COVID-19 is available whether you’re planning to travel locally or internationally–making it a flexible and much-needed travel companion anywhere you go.

 

So if you’re looking for destinations to add to your vacation bucket list, here are six spots around the Philippines to get you started:

 

 

Island Garden City of Samal

Davao del Norte

Located at the heart of the Davao Gulf, the Island Garden City of Samal is known as the largest resort island in the country– home to more than 30 resorts across a 118-kilometer stretch of coastline.

 

A mere 15-minute boat ride from Davao City, the resort island is a great stop for those who want to soak in the beautiful landscapes and seascapes of the Philippines. Go snorkeling and bask in the beauty of the 150-hectare Coral Garden and Marine Park that includes the Audanao Fish Sanctuary and the Giant Clam Sanctuary. On land, travelers can enjoy exploring the 11.5-hectare government-owned botanical garden and nature park where they can see diverse flora and fauna.

 

The resort island is also home to the largest colony of fruit bats in the world and they can be seen in their natural habitat at the Monfort Bat cave.

 

Alona Beach Guide, Website

 

Alona Beach

Bohol

The Philippines is home to amazing beaches (it has more than 7,000 islands after all) and if you’re on the hunt for a new beach haunt that has white sand beaches like Boracay, Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol is a great spot to add to your travel bucket list.

 

The white sand beach stretches a good 1.5 kilometers and is in full view of the blue, blue waters of the sea of Bohol. Nature lovers and adventure seekers may also immerse themselves in the rich marine biodiversity of Balicasag Island–a few minutes boat ride from Panglao island. Here you can snorkel and view its 400-meter coral garden and marine sanctuary.

 

Meanwhile, those who want to get the most out of their vacation and explore more of Bohol can also visit the famous Chocolate Hills, the Mahogany Forest, or take a slow, leisurely ride and a beautiful lunch along the Loboc River with the Loboc River Cruise.

  

 

Lacson Ruins, Facebook

 

The Ruins

Bacolod

Often called the “Taj Mahal of the Philippines,” The Ruins or the Lacson Ruins was the ancestral home of local sugar baron Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson built in the early 1900s in Talisay, Bacolod City. Inspired by Italian architecture, the Ruins was built in the memory of Don Mariano’s wife Maria, who died giving birth to their 8th child.

 

During the Second World War, the mansion was burned by Philippine guerillas to prevent it from being used by the Japanese. The mansion burned for three days straight but left behind its beautiful foundation. The Ruins has now become a popular tourist and event spot, especially for weddings because of its romantic history.

 

For those who want to experience more of the old-age architecture of the Philippines, they can–after visiting the Ruins–take a day trip to the neighboring city of Silay and visit its large collection of perfectly-preserved heritage houses including the Golez Heritage House and the Balay Negrense heritage house and museum.

 

Museo Orlina, Facebook

 

Museo Orlina

Tagaytay City

For those who want a more leisurely adventure in cooler climes, Museo Orlina in Tagaytay City, is the perfect place for you.

 

Located at Hollywood St. Hollywood Subdivision in Tagaytay City, the museum houses the many glass sculptures of famed Filipino visual artist Ramon Orlina. Spend an hour or two exploring the four-floor exhibit area including the Reflections Gallery where Mr. Orlina exhibits videos, images, and documents charting his art journey; and the Naesa Gallery which features an ever-changing exhibition featuring up-and-coming Filipino artists.

 

If you fancy viewing his work alongside nature, take a walk at the Sculpture Garden and Amphitheater, and cap off the visit with a spectacular view of Taal Lake at the roof deck.

 

 

Tam-awan Village, Website

 

Bell Church, Website

 

Tam-awan Village and Bell Church

As the Summer Capital of the Philippines, many vacationers travel to Baguio in search for respite from the hot weather. The cooler climate alongside the beautiful nature makes it a must-go destination for anyone regardless of their preference for adventure.

 

Those who’ve been to Baguio several times would undoubtedly know of its most famous landmarks including Wright Park, Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, and more. But for those who want to discover more of the city and its culture, there’s no better place to visit than the Tam-awan Village and the Bell Church.

 

Tam-awan Village located in Pinsao Proper, Baguio City is perfect for those interested in art and history. The village features indigenous craftsmanship and Ifugao architecture alongside art pieces made by local artists set within a sprawling and beautiful mountainside forest.

 

Bell Church, meanwhile, is a 63-year-old Taoist temple located in La Trinidad, Benguet. Here visitors can enjoy the beautiful architecture and the quaint lotus pond and even have their fortunes read by the monks of the temple.

 

Whether your summer plans are for adventure or relaxation, domestic or international, make your travels all fun and worry-free withTravel Master Insurance with COVID-19 available at the GCash’s GInsure marketplace.

 

----

 

 

About Igloo:

 

Igloo is the first full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia,  Thailand,  The  Philippines,  Vietnam  and  Malaysia  and  tech  centers in China and India.  With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies  to  eliminate  their  exposure  to operational  risk,  create  new  revenue  streams,  and optimize  and  enhance  existing  products  and  services.  Igloo  has  partnered  with  over  55  well-known   brand   names   across   the   markets   in   various   verticals,   including   insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services.

 

For more information, please visit https://www.iglooinsure.com/.

DOT and BOI Finalized Incentives to Tourism Firms’ COVID-19-Proofing Investments

Responding to a request from Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, the Board of Investments (BOI) has approved investment incentives for tourism and tourism-related industries that are upgrading and modernizing their facilities aimed at ensuring the health, safety and wellness of their clients in view of the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We recognize that the tourism sector has been one of the worst affected of all the major sectors of the economy due to the current health crisis. By way of providing investment incentives, we hope the sector, which was a major driver of the economy’s growth pre-Covid-19, will stay afloat, continue their business operations, and recover the soonest they can,” said Trade Secretary and BOI Chairman Ramon Lopez.

Following discussions with the Department of Tourism (DOT) on the tourism stakeholders’ plea on the possible measures to ensure continuity of their business operations, the BOI crafted and approved the policy to help the tourism sector. The tax incentives to be granted by BOI are income tax holiday for a period of three years and duty-free importation of capital equipment (only VAT will be paid) for tourism projects that will renovate to enhance health and safety features and processes. The income tax holiday to be given will be pro-rated according to the amount of upgrade/renovation.

“Tourist accommodation facilities who would like to undertake improvements to make their facilities COVID-proof may consider registration of such with the BOI as modernization projects subject to qualification requirements,” Secretary Lopez said. “For existing tourism accommodation facilities in Boracay, which is currently covered by the locational restriction policy, the BOI will look into the possibility of likewise qualifying their COVID-proof improvements as modernization projects that may be entitled to a three-year income tax holiday (ITH) incentive.”

“While we currently have locational restrictions for new and expansion of tourism facilities in Boracay, we may qualify modernization of those in the area. All these, to help the tourism industry recover faster and provide comfort/safety in our tourism facilities,” he said.

Tourism enterprises that are eligible to apply for investment incentives include hotels and resorts, meetings, international conventions, and events (MICE) facilities, and tourist transport companies nationwide, including those in Boracay.

For tourist transport, these should be locally-assembled vehicles with sanitation features. The motor vehicles to be acquired or to be upgraded/modernized will have such sanitation and hygiene features including but not limited to barriers, payment portals, deionizers, seat organizers for sanitation kits, and other features that would promote physical distancing.

Examples of renovations/upgrade that can qualify for such tax incentives include renovation of guestrooms, food and beverage outlets, function/meeting rooms, recreation areas and/or other common areas; investment in new or upgrade of laundry, kitchen, housekeeping, employee facilities and other back of house facilities; building of full, partial or movable partitions; installation of built-in thermal scanners, hygiene gates, and/or booths; upgrade or improvement of ventilation, air conditioning, air filtration systems, water systems, water treatment facilities (STP); a mobile check-in system; non-touch or no contact door lock systems and non-touch control panels in elevators and other areas.

“The BOI will continue to work closely with the DOT in the review of our relevant policies to provide the necessary support to our tourism stakeholders and restore industry vigor and growth at the soonest possible time,” Secretary Lopez said.

The BOI has been supportive of the local tourism industry, implementing many initiatives to further improve the sector’s competitiveness. Just early this year, pre-COVID-19, it conducted capacity building activities on securing international certifications for particularly for the medical travel and wellness tourism sector with the aim of making the industry prepared not only for the growing needs of the Filipinos, but also for the growing opportunities in the medical tourism industry. The capacity-building initiatives support and help enable the healthcare facilities and services, especially those licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) and/or accredited by the DOT.

The capacity-building is part of the many initiatives the BOI is implementing to further develop globally competitive industries through its Industry Development Program (IDP). The Roadmap on Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism was completed in 2015 with the active participation of relevant stakeholders.

Among the recommendations in the Roadmap are the implementation of a uniform system of data collection, analysis and dissemination and the development of a brand strategy for the country. The capacity building activities seeks to ensure that the sector, prior to the brand strategy launch, will have the right healthcare facilities that are internationally recognized and accredited that can multiply the people-value the country is known for.

TPB Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Re-Accreditation

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines once again proves its commitment towards the continuous improvement of its management systems by successfully maintaining its ISO 9001:2015 certification. The audit performed by the Certification International Philippines, Inc. showed that the quality management systems in place at TPB has seen remarkable improvements and discovered no non-conformities in the organization's existing processes on design, development and provision of Philippine tourism marketing and promotions versus the ISO standards. An attached agency of the Department of Tourism, TPB exists to market and promote the Philippines domestically and internationally as a world-class tourism and MICE destination.

La Filipina Gives Hope to Filipino Athletes with its First Power Up Run

The maker of the only corned pork in the Philippines, La Filipina, starts the year 2020 by doing its first-ever Fun Run aptly titled “Power Up Run” on February 23, 2020, at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila.

True to its brand name, the local brand of corned pork and luncheon meat products takes you to the historical landmarks of Fort Santiago and Intramuros not only to make it more interesting to the runners but also a unique way of promoting the Philippines’ history and culture. This run is made possible in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Intramuros Administration (IA).

Coming from the brand’s tagline, “Power Up with La Filipina”, Power Up Run encourages everyone to start your day right by eating protein-rich breakfast like La Filipina’s Corned Pork or Luncheon Meat. These meals bring power to your performance whether you do a sport or any regular activity that you have for the day.

La Filipina products are protein-rich and infused with milk. Unlike other canned meat products, La Filipina products do not use any extenders and trans fats, making them healthier meal alternatives.

La Filipina understands that other than choosing a healthy meal, engaging in physical activities is vital to keep everything in balance. “The company values its consumers; thus, we give them an opportunity to be healthy in a fun way,” tells Ms. Danika Co, La Filipina’s Brand Manager

Apart from promoting tourism, history, health, and fitness, the run’s utmost goal is to extend help to aspiring Filipino athletes and teams who possess enormous potential to represent the country in different sports; however, they could not do so due to insufficient financial support.

“We like to encourage both athletes and non-athletes to help support the cause of La Filipina in supporting Filipino sports teams,” says Ms. Co.

The proceeds from this worthwhile project will aid selected sports teams to continue training for their chosen sport.

At present, La Filipina is supporting teams in various sports such as volleyball, basketball, Sepak Takraw, Dragon Boat and dance. Aside from helping La Filipina’s existing Sports Teams, they will also support the GBM Squad, a group of young athletes that focuses on running, from public schools of Manila, Valenzuela, and Quezon City.

The La Filipina Power Up Run offers various distance runs to choose from – 1.5K, 3K, 5K, and 10K. Race fees are as follows: P500.00 for 1.5K, P550.00 for 3K, P650.00 for 5K, and P760.00 for 10K. Corporate promo such as 10+1 and student discounts are also available. All runners will get singlet, racebib, finisher’s medal, and La Filipina loot bag. There are also other fun activities during the run itself like inflatables, etc.

Registration is now open. Register at La Filipina’s official Facebook page. You may also visit the official on-site registration partner, Chris Sports at their selected branches – Robinsons Place Ermita, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North-Annex, and Glorietta.

For more information about La Filipina’s Power Up Run, you may contact Ms. Nikka Ramos of Aldenver Marketing, the official PR and Marketing Partner of La Filipina Power Up Run at 0927-8484533 or 0918-8133333. You can send your queries about this run at aldenver.veronicaramos@gmail.com. For other important announcements or updates, visit La Filipina’s Facebook page.

Growing Philippine Tourism

The Philippines is once again at the forefront of the global tourism industry with its participation in the World Travel Market (WTM) 2019 in Excel, London.Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Philippines’ participation was able to generate more than P62 millionbased on partial sales leads gathered or a 35.73% return of investment.

With Korea, China, the US and Japan topping the country’s tourist arrivals, the Philippines’ participation in WTM strengthens the country’s presence in the international tourism and travel arena, particularly Europe and brought it close to its goal of attracting 8.2 million tourists by the end of 2019.

The WTM provided a platform for the Philippine private sector to conduct business-to-business meetings and renew linkages with theirtourism markets around the world.It also enabled TPB and DOT to generate marketing and promotions leads and stay abreast with the latest trends to support its bid to promote the Philippines as the preferred destination.

“The private sector always looks forward to joining WTM,” said DOT Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III. “In fact, the Philippines gets very good tourists arrivals from the UK, with a 10% increase from last year. But our participation is not just about tapping the UK market. Through WTM, which is the Olympic of travel fairs, we are able to tap key travel and tourism markets in Europe and the rest of the world.”

The Philippine delegation was composed of industry partners and stakeholders including DOT-accredited tourism establishments led by Amorita Resorts, El Nido Resorts, Bohol Beach Club, Nature Wellness Village, Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, Movenpick Resort and Spa Boracay,; travel and tour operators Baron Travel Corporation, Rajah Tours, Annset Holidays, Inc.,Intas Destinations Management, Inc., Travel Experts, Inc. as well as the Clark Development Corporation.

Meanwhile, highlights of the Philippinebooth included ‘slow fashion’featuring the colorful ancestral art of weaving from the province of Kalinga in the island of Luzon, local and bright-colored banig from Basey, Samarand intricate fashion accessories made of agsamfrom the province of Surigao del Sur.

Also making a big splash were the Itogon coffee served all day by no less than top notch baristas Kiddo Cosio and Silvester Samonte of El Union Café and Raoul Peralta of the social enterprise Henry & Sons, as well coffee pairings featuring Pili Latte and Concerva. Award-winning chefs Jam Melchorand Chef Rica Buenaflor also drew huge crowds with their vegan laing, bringhe and adobo.

And proving that Filipinos are world-class entertainers, the crowd was treated to a performance byaward-winning artists of folkloric group La Lira Filipina, headlined byvocalist Princess Virtudazo and violinist and concertmaster Merjohn Lagaya.

Through active participation in global tourism industry events like WTM, TPB is more than optimistic that the Philippines will indeed be the next must-see destination in Asia.

SM Supermalls Launches Travel Adventure with DOT

As part of its Malling is More Fun in the Philippines campaign, SM Supermalls, in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), launched the Juan Fun Adventure at SM City San Lazaro. Through this initiative, mallgoers can “travel” to the country’s most popular destinations without leaving the metro through Instagram-worthy life-size displays called Travel Pods at SM. These picturesque displays will feature the Mayon Volcano in Albay, Calle Crisologo in Vigan, and the Puerto Prinsesa Underground River, among others. Aside from Travel Pods, Juan Fun Adventure will also feature booths with eco-friendly travel essentials, local delicacies and souvenirs. Juan Fun Adventure will run this October 2019 until April 2020 in SM malls nationwide. Photo shows SM Supermalls COO Steven Tan and DOT secretary Berna Romulo Puyat during the launch.

TPB Mounts Biggest International Travel Trade Event in the Philippines for 2019

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to boost tourism in the Philippines as it simultaneously mounts the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) and MICE Buyers Invitational (MICECONnect) 2019 on October 20 to 27 to promote the Philippines as a prime tourist destination for both leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibits/Events).

Now on its 18th year, PHITEX is considered to be the biggest travel trade event in the country, with close to 200 sellers and 200 buyers participating. The main highlight of the event is the one and a half day business-to-business (B2B) session between foreign buyers and local sellers to encourage tourism-related discourse among the participants, and open doors for business opportunities.

“PHITEX is mounted annually as a support for stakeholders in the travel trade industry,” says TPB COO Marie Venus Tan. “Instead of working as individual operators and sellers, we provide a platform for them to connect to hundreds of buyers from all over the world in one venue, which saves them precious time and money. The event also gives buyers a more comprehensive view of the different destinations and packages that they can sell to consumers, either as individual or bundled tours.”

Participants also took part in the PHITEX educational seminar where industry leaders discussed new trends in tourism marketing as well as marketing strategies in mature and emerging markets while keeping the theme of “Philippine Tourism: Trailblazing Responsible Travel and Inclusive Growth,” in mind.

Giving their insights were Thomas Graham, Co-Founder of Make A Difference (MAD) Travel, Carlos Mori Rodriguez, the Chief Innovation Officer of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, and Nelly Nuezca Dillera, CESO III, the Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center - Global MSME Academy, who ended the seminar on how DTI is building capabilities for halal development and certification."

Meanwhile, MICECONnect 2019, aims to accelerate the Philippine MICE industry by gathering MICE suppliers to showcase the country as a premium destination for international events and conferences.

Happening simultaneously with PHITEX, MICECONnect 2019 is the continuation of a two-year program as a comprehensive educational seminar for local MICE stakeholders to learn new and effective global trends, approaches, and methods. This year’s focus is conducting business networking opportunities to further develop the country’s MICE industry.

MICECONnect 2019 likewise features B2B sessions for Philippine and foreign MICE buyers, and include a hotel and MICE venue inspection. Moreover, MICECONnect delegates will be treated to post-event tours to highlight some of the country's premier MICE destinations including Iloilo City, Bacolod, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Tagaytay, Manila and Batangas.

More importantly, both PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019 enable TPB to support and raise awareness on sustainable community-based tourism. Apart from promoting what the Philippines can offer, TPB also advocates for the protection of natural assets and expanding the benefits of tourism to communities that are directly and indirectly affected by the industry, consequently helping DOT towards achieving its goals for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To know more about PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019, visit the following websites: https://www.phitex.ph/, https://www.micecon.ph, https://www.tpb.gov.ph/, or https://www.facebook.com/tpbphl/.