Virtus Awards 2022: Celebrating breakthroughs in the hospitality industry

After two years of celebrating online the Virtus Awards—the annual peer-recognition event of the Philippine Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA)—it was finally time to gather and celebrate in person.

The Virtus Awards, which have been recognizing excellence in hotel sales and marketing since 2015, celebrated its eighth edition this year. And despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Virtus Awards was able to adapt and continue its mission of recognizing the best and brightest in the hospitality industry.

HSMA Virtus Awards 2022 Winners

Held at Okada Manila in Parañaque City on October 25, the HSMA Virtus Awards 2022 recognized three winners for individual categories and one outstanding marketing campaign award.

This year’s winners are:

• Outstanding Sales & Marketing Associate: Jhune Niño Calinawan, Banquet Sales Executive of Quest Hotel & Conference Center-Cebu
• Outstanding Sales & Marketing Manager: Marie Antonnette de Belen, Conrad Manila’s Senior Sales Manager
• Outstanding Sales & Marketing Leader: Michelle Angeli Crudo, Director of Sales at Novotel Manila Araneta City
• Outstanding Marketing Campaign: Newport World Resorts (NWR) for its I Love Earth program

NWR created I Love Earth campaign as the resort group’s commitment to sustainability after witnessing the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. NWR houses five international hotels, a shopping mall, casinos, entertainment venues, and MICE facilities. As part of its post-pandemic plans, they are consolidating and integrating all sustainability efforts throughout the property complex under “I Love Earth.” The program’s main innovation is the creation of the I Love Earth Council, which quickly assessed and identified priority areas for collaboration. These priorities have since become NWR’s basis for its sustainability targets.

Virtus Awards: Breakthrough 2022

Congratulating this year’s winners, Virtus Awards chair Rose Libongco said that their achievement marked the start of their “odyssey” in the industry. 

“Every day forward is your opportunity to prove that you are the right winner. Watchful eyes are on you to continue to demonstrate excellence in purpose, plan, and action thereby educating others directly, inspiring by example, and converting others towards the philosophy of winning until you form a like-minded army who will make your objectives doable, replicate them and eventually perpetuate your ideals of success,” Libongco said.

With the theme “Breakthrough 2022,” outgoing HSMA president Benjie Martinez said that this year’s winners are helping the industry break free from the pandemic by “embracing opportunities and relentlessly pursuing business for [their] respective properties despite the challenges.”

He added: “For fostering creativity and bringing in new perspectives and ideas that drive customer loyalty, and for taking pride in doing quality work regardless of the task, you are worthy of the Virtus Awards.” 

HSMA Virtus Awardees 2020 and 2021

Also recognized at this year’s face-to-face awarding ceremonies were the winners of Virtus Awards 2020 and 2021, respectively: Okada Manila Events Executive Erika Denice Patajo and Hotel 101 Group MICE Sales Executive Ericka Joy Calamba (Outstanding Marketing Associates); El Nido Resorts Senior Sales Manager Pio Sanchez and JPark Island Resort & Waterpark Mactan, Cebu Marketing and Communications Manager Alexis John Aquino (Outstanding Marketing Managers); Conrad Manila Sales-FiT Director Bae Eun Joo and Robinsons Hotels and Resorts’ Sales and Marketing Group Director Joselina de Mesa (Outstanding Marketing Leader).

Started in 2015, the Virtus Awards is organized by HSMA with the support of Co-Presenters Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, Gold partners Atlantis and Okada Manila; Silver partners Dida Travel, Crimson Filinvest, and Media Meter; Bronze partners IDeaS, Maya Business, and Newport World Resorts; Wine & Snack Partner EDI (Barefoot, Harveys, and PikNik).