Davao City-The regional office of the Department of Tourism(DOT) lauded the united efforts of the Hotel Sales Manager Association (HSMA) of Davao in helping the tourism sector of the city.
“The reality is that with you coming together it makes my job easier,” said DOT director Sonia Garcia in a message to the group during the recent induction of their new officers held at the Grand Regal/ Pagcor Casino Pagtawan Hall. Garcia emphasized the need for networking as their efforts would benefit everyone.
HSMA is an association of the sales force coming from 11 hotels and resorts in Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS). Its members include the Marco Polo Davao, Apo View Hotel, The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Waterfront Insular Hotel, Grand Regal Hotel, Pearl Farm Resort, Microtel Inn and Suites, Eden Nature Park, Malagos Garden, Ritz Garden Hotel, Linmarr Apartelle.
The HSMA has partnered with major tourism industry players in the city as it hosted various tourism events like the Mindanao Travel and Trade Expo., IGACOS familiarization tour, Kalimudan fashion show and the South Food Expo in Cagayan de Oro which they actively assisted the Davao contingent.
Roxanne Obregon of the Grand Regal Hotel and newly re-elected President of HSMA bared the major programs during the induction ceremonies which included having monthly guest speakers to talk on sales and marketing and organizing quarterly events in the City.
Meanwhile Dir. Garcia bared that the visitors’ stats gathering function has been devolved to the City Tourism Office under tourism officer Bong Aportadera. She urged cooperation with the CTO which he says would be given more teeth. “In the past, even if the CTO would not give you the license, it was okay because DOT would issue the accreditation anyway but now without the CTI license, we won’t issue an accreditation, Garcia said.
