Virtus Awards 2022: Hospitality industry is on the rebound

After a challenging two years, the hotel industry is now ready to bounce back. The Virtus Awards, an annual event organized by the Philippine Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) to applaud excellence in hotel sales and marketing, reflects this positive outlook with its theme “Breakthrough 2022.” With travel restrictions beginning to ease around the world, hoteliers in the country are hopeful this year’s tourism will be better than last year.

“Now, the light glimmers and is seen from a distance. And while it is not clear what the vision brings with this pinlight, HSMA, ever the optimist, is busting free from the confines that have chained us, and is taking this chance—no matter how slim—to snap out of the confines that have prevented our guests from fully enjoying the essence of hotels and resorts and receiving the exciting experiences that are distinctive and customer-centered,” said Rose Libongco, Virtus Awards Chair, during the launch of Virtus Awards 2022 on April 28.

“Folks are ready to optimize the time they have to build happy, meaningful relationships, and this will not be postponed,” she added.

The 8th Virtus Awards

The Virtus Awards is a coveted recognition for excellence in the hotel industry, and this year’s event is particularly significant as it comes at a time when the hospitality industry is poised for a comeback. With travel restrictions gradually lifting, the hotel industry is showing signs of recovery. The Virtus Awards 2022 is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality industry who have worked hard to adapt and overcome the challenges posed by the global pandemic.

With a focus on Philippine tourism and travel, this year’s awards are sure to recognize the resilience and determination of those working tirelessly to promote the industry and keep it moving forward.

The closing date for submission of entries to the Virtus Awards 2022 is on August 31. On October 25, winners will be announced during a live ceremony 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.

Philippines Expo 2020 Dubai: The untold narrative

To raise excitement and inspire the hoteliers during the launch of Virtual Awards 2022, HSMA invited Rosvi C. Gaetos, Assistant Secretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry-Trade and Investments Promotion Group (DTI-TIPG).

Fresh from the Philippine participation in Dubai Expo 2020, Gaetos talked about the remarkable exhibits she saw in the pavilions of international exhibitors, as well as opportunities and ideas that hotels may draw inspiration from.

“Expo 2020 Dubai was an incredible platform for global talents from 192 countries, in every medium from music, performing arts, sports, design and architecture, fashion, cuisine, to arts and crafts, it delivered an amazing six months of non-stop trade business and investment networking, and world-class entertainment of celebrities and breakthrough artists,” shared Gaetos.

“With my own eyes, I witnessed the best and the worst of design, architecture, and content curation; ranging from the mundane to stunning, from simple to cutting edge, from weird to breathtaking, from ordinary to original. But whatever description applies to the design and content of the 192 pavilions, what is apparent is that each pavilion is a homage to the country it represents, conveying to the world a message of pride and a vision of hope.”

Bangkota journey in Dubai

The Philippines, according to Gaetos, had a unique and memorable participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. The country had the biggest pavilion in the history of participating in world expos, and it was the first time the Philippines built such an expansive structure from scratch.

“And we had a singularly focused theme that revolved on just one narrative: our 4,000-year journey as a people,” said Gaetos.

The Philippines Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai was appropriately named Bangkota, meaning coral reef in ancient Filipino.

Gaetos shared a beautiful explanation for this.

Like a coral reef where an individual polyp can travel oceans and attach itself to other polyps then grow into bigger corals, Filipinos are constantly on the move bringing their skills and talents with them while contributing tremendously to the economies of countries that accept them as citizens or residents—giving back what is given to them through hard work.

The work that went into delivering Bangkota has been truly impressive, according to Gaetos. From the detailed planning and coordination to the creative and artistic aspects that were incorporated, many moving pieces came together for the Bangkota experience to be a success.

“The complexity of the project involved thousands of nameless and faceless workers, designers, artists, artisans, and government personnel,” said Gaetos.

Working together as one team, they strived to showcase the Philippines in Expo 2020 Dubai and were able to create an immersive and unforgettable experience for all.

Expo 2020 Dubai: A game-changer

The Expo 2020 Dubai has been a great opportunity for the Philippines-UAE economic relations. This event has opened up many opportunities for trade, tourism and investments between the two countries.

But more than trade and investments, Gaetos noted that the country’s strong relationship with the UAE and the expo organizers is based on “people power”—the power of about 700,000 Filipinos living and working in the UAE.

“Our Expo 2020 Dubai experience yields a simple fact: our overseas Filipinos help power not only economies but lives—with care and compassion—giving a deeper meaning to the word service.

“At the Expo 2020 Dubai, we shared with the world the untold journey of the Filipino and his remarkable story of migration, aspiration and assimilation.

“It is a story that needs to be told and retold so that this generation and future generations to come will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Filipino emergency in the community of nations,” Gaetos concluded.

Featured image: credit to Canva

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