HSMA Launches the Virtus Awards in the Philippines

I am quite excited to bring to you guys the next great thing in the Philippine's Red Carpet- The Virtus Awards. This will be the biggest and most prestigious sales and marketing competition in the travel and tourism industry.



Sales and marketing of any kind must be the toughest and most challenging branch of a business I have ever known. I've seen it in real estate, and just thinking of doing it in the hotel business department is daunting. Imagine having to look over every possible nook and cranny that may be a problem in the future and addressing to them now, accompanied by getting that certain million sales quota is really dizzying for me. So I guess it's only right that the people who work their days, months and years off the sales and marketing team of hotels deserve some recognition. And thus, The Virtus Awards is born.



Organized by the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association (HSMA), in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, the awards honor excellence in three individual sales and marketing categories namely:

• Associate


• Manager


• Leader

And these are covering the positions in room sales, events management, catering, reservation, public relations and communication, and revenue management. The multi-category initiative also recognizes a Marketing Campaign of the Year, built around a single, unified theme, using at least two different types of media.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Margie Munsayac, President of HSMA[/caption]

 

“We are excited to present the Virtus Awards, which we envisage to transform the mindset of sales and marketing professionals in our industry, and set the tone for excellence. It brings to focus the key role they play in the country’s travel and tourism industry as they drive the bottom line value of their hotel properties and maximize return on investment”, said Margie Munsayac, President of HSMA.



The Hotel Sales & Marketing Association (HSMA) is 38 years old. Currently comprising 60 hotel and resort properties nationwide in its roster of members, HSMA is committed to growing business for their members by fueling sales, inspiring marketing, and optimizing revenue. With a strong focus on education, HSMA has become the industry champion in training and developing sales and marketing professionals through workshops, seminars and conferences with focus on selling skills, marketing trends, creativity, communication, change management, current events, economy, and travel forecasts.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Rose Libongco, Overall Chair for the Virtus Awards[/caption]

 

Rose Libongco, Overall Chair for the Virtus Awards, adds “The Virtus Awards comes at a most opportune time. With the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015, the prioritization of the country’s travel and tourism industry opens a unique window of opportunity for local stakeholders to benefit from, as well as to cope with the challenges of regional integration”. The ASEAN tourism market is expanding steadily over the years, reaching 94 million in 2013, with more ASEAN nationals travelling around ASEAN countries. "The Virtus Awards aims to position Filipino sales and marketing professionals well in a wider marketplace as more properties open in the region and particularly in the Philippines", according to Libongco.

 

The maiden competition was launched last May 28 at the Diamond Hotel in the presence of Tourism Promotions Board COO Domingo Ramon “Chicoy” Enerio III, General Managers and Directors of Sales and Marketing of member hotel and resort properties, and the media.

Deadline of entries is on September 15, 2015, and Judging of nominated/short listed entries starts on October 15, 2015. The panel of judges that will determine the Virtus Awards winners are as follows:

• 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 Judging of short- listed entries is set on October 15.

“The black-tie gala dinner on November 27, is a pinnacle celebration of this year’s first set of winners, expected to attract nearly 500 key influencers in the tourism and travel industry”, states Ms. Libongco.

Information on the 2015 Virtus Awards is available at www.hsmaph.com. You may also call the awards Secretariat at telephone numbers (02) 926.0224, 514.5714 or e-mail at Virtusph@gmail.com