VIRTUS AWARDS
Celebrating Excellence in Hotel Sales and Marketing
“The search for excellence is no longer a personal choice; it is the call of the times where service that delights is an imperative and where globalization and connectivity are new realities that have brought unprecedented changes in all aspects of the tourism and hospitality industry”, says Margie F. Munsayac, President of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA).
In 2015, HSMA launched the Virtus Awards in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies, the Tourism Promotions Board and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Industry Zone Authority. The multi-category competition shines a light on stories of excellence and success among hotel sales and marketing professionals in the country - who integrate creativity and innovation into strategies that deliver enhanced benefits to customers, who have their sights trained on new opportunities to drive business growth and deliver a robust bottom line value to their properties, and who inspire others through their leadership.
“Indeed, through the Virtus Awards, we hope to ignite the passion and drive of hotels and resorts through their all-important sales force to excite the market, deliver vigorous business, make hearts beat a little faster, and yes, shake our world”, adds Rose H. Libongco, Chair of the Virtus Awards.
There are four awards given out once a year. The individual awards (Associate, Manager, Leader) cover positions in rooms sales, events management, catering, reservation, public relations and communication, and revenue management. The Marketing Campaign of the year plum, on the other hand, recognizes a campaign built around a single, unified theme that uses at least two different types of media.
Nominations for the 2nd Virtus Awards covered the period of July 01, 2015 until June 30, 2016. Judging took place on October 18, 2016 at the Crimson Hotel, Filinvest City Manila. Stalwarts of the travel and tourism industry, members of the academe and thought leaders in the fields of advertising, public relations, media and digital marketing comprised the distinguished panel of judges.
Winners were announced in a glittering Awards Ceremony that took place on November 15, 2016 at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center. An Inspirational Message was delivered by Tourism Undersecretary Alma Rita D. Jimenez while former Tourism Secretary and currently President of the International School for Sustainable Tourism, Dr. Mina Gabor, delivered the Keynote Address.
By night’s end, the following walked away with the four prestigious Virtus Awards trophies - Ma. Trixie Ong, Sales Accounts and Events Executive of Best Western Hotel La Corona Manila for the Associate category; June Kelly Ichinomiya, Assistant Director of Sales, Japanese Market of The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts for the Manager category; Marivic Recio, Group Director of Sales & Marketing of The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts for the Leader category; and Radisson Blu Cebu for the Marketing Campaign of the Year category with its “Something Blu, A Wedding of a Kind” campaign.
The evening was made more memorable by a bespoke dinner menu paired with select wines from Emperador Distillers and Barefoot Wines as well as by the cast of children from the Resorts World Manila production of “Annie”, led by Isabeli Araneta Elizalde, who regaled guests with popular musical numbers from the beloved family musical.
HSMA is also grateful for the support of other industry partners – Philippine Airlines, Novotel Manila Araneta Center, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City Manila, DirectWithHotels, Hotelbeds, Traveloka, Zen Institute – and media partners Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessMirror and its sister publications (Cook, Philippine Graphics, Health&Fitness), and Experience Travel and Living magazine.
Indeed, the Virtus Awards will for years to come blaze new trails in the hotel and resort industry.