Now on its third year, the National Virtual Tourism and Hospitality Conference was held last October 28, 2022 (Friday), via the UST Cloud Campus. It was organized by the University of Santo Tomas College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education. The event served as a platform to discuss the current practices and standards of the tourism and hospitality industry vis-à-vis the theories being taught to the learners, and helped participants see the significance and value of industry practices and standards aligned with the courses taken by the learners. The conference also aimed analyze the difference between the current practices and standards of the tourism and hospitality industry vis-à-vis to the theories being taught to the learners, and to assess how the learners could utilize the learnings manifested once that they will be joining the industry.
The theme, Tourism and Hospitality Academe-Government Collaboration towards Sustainable Development, directly highlights the significance of academe-government partnership and collaboration in developing sustainable plans and programs for the tourism and hospitality industry and its related stakeholders.
Dr. Reil G. Cruz, Associate Professor from the Asian Institute of Tourism of the University of the Philippines Diliman, was the Plenary Speaker for the virtual event and shared on the current academe-government collaboration in the tourism and hospitality industry. Also, different academic staff from CTHM served as the Members of the Panel of Discussants who shared their experiences on research projects with local government units.
Asst. Prof. Fredeswindo R. Medina, MCHS, CHE, CGSP, shared his group’s experiences on the Municipality of Maragondon, Cavite Natural and Cultural Heritage Mapping Project. Mr. Arnulfo Ricardo A. Butiong, MMC (Tourism Management) and Ms. Kathrine Camille A. Nagal, MBA (Hospitality Management) shared the project outcomes and their experiences during the conceptualization of the Davao City Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Expositions (MICE) Strategic Management Plan 2022-2026. Lastly, Assoc. Prof. Atty. Gezzez Giezi G. Granado, DCL, CHE, shared their project output and experiences while conceptualizing the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) Sustainable Tourism and Strategic Development Plan 2022-2031.
Photo Opportunity with the Plenary Speaker and Panel of Discussants
