On the wings of travel and tourism

The year 2017 ended well for Philippine Airlines and Silkair.

Philippine Airlines launched its Cebu-Bangkok flight early December 2017. Meanwhile, Silkair made its presence in Cebu with the awarding of its top agents. Marking its 25th year, Silkair has served as one of the best in upscaling Cebu’s travel and tourism. For many years, Silkair has partnered in the tourism events of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry when I was the Cebu Business Month tourism chairperson.

Korean Air remains to be one of the top travel options. I love the ambiance of its business and first-class accommodations coupled with good service and amenities. Cathay Pacific and Cebu Pacific continue to expand their international and domestic destinations.

Cebu’s leading hotels proved their mettle in accommodating foreign and local visitors and delegates.

Looking ahead, I see the continuous rise of tourism arrivals in Cebu. The Department of Tourism Region 7 has made efforts to expand local tourism and enrich cultural attractions. The Province and City of Cebu have tourism-based programs in arts, culture and the academe. The year 2017 witnessed Cebu as venue for many Asean and Asia-Pacific events boosting it as the Convention Hub in Asia.

We commend Cebu’s leading hotels, resorts and restaurants for their state-of-the-art facilities. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry was instrumental in engaging business tours and will do more for 2018. With all these perspectives, I see Cebu flying high and mighty and surviving in the face of global threats in our country, if any.

In My Diary in 2018 will continue to chronicle worthy information to help boost tourism and travel as it has always done.

The National Day of Belgium at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu with business, media and consular corps. GROUP.

At Radisson Blu Cebu, site of many international conferences, were media lifestyle writers with general manager Laurent Boisdron, director of sales and marketing Ann Olalo and sushi specialty chef Jefferson Yalung. FRESH.

Silkair Top Agents: Upscaling tourism outbound flights. The awardees: Top winner Aida Uy of Cebu Fortune Travel; Baby Dy of Grand Hope; Jake Jew, manager, Silkair; Marget Villarica of Destination Specialists, Alan Carvajal of Travelways and Jenny Teh of G AWARDS.

The November 2017 Zonta I and Jose Mari Chan Concert at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Cebu’s “Concert Hub.” MUSIC.

NEW. Philippine Airlines opened Cebu-Bangkok flights in December 2017.

ShangriLa’s Mactan Resort and Spa, a favorite venue of international summits and conventions. VENUE.

Cebu City Marriott Hotel bids goodbye to “Decades of Glorious Events.” In this photo are general manager Patrick Carroll, Diana Zalsos and Nico Ivan Acebedo Velasquez. CHEERS.