Makati begins campaign to be ‘Business Tourism Hub of the Philippines'

Makati city Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay will lead the covenant signing in its bid to promote Makati as the business tourism hub of the Philippines. Witnessed on the opening day of the first HoReCa Makati Festival on September 15 / 11am at the Glorietta 2 Activity Center.

Touted as one of the biggest tourism events to happen in Makati, the Makati Tourism Foundation, Inc. or MTFI will open the historical festivity dubbed as “HoReCa Makati Festival 2014: Finest Footprint at its First” to be attended by foreign diplomats, industry practitioners, academe, high-profile business and government figures and other stakeholders.

The MTFI, a non-profit organization composed of hotels, restaurants & bars, apartelles & inns, travel agencies and cafes represented by its general managers, owners, managing directors and CEOs have joined forces to build a strong and solid bloc to promote Makati as the business tourism hub of the Philippines to local and international tourists. Similarly, the MTFI is a staunch advocate in promoting business tourism in Makati as one of the sustainable drivers of economic growth.

“This is indeed first for us -- a history for the book of Makati tourism. As such, we have decided to unite in arms and by heart all tourism-related enterprises in Makati to set this finest footprint of a soulful tourism experience that touches on the richness of Makati’s cultural heritage, a showcase of the city’s fine arts and a secured business and family environment for both local and foreign tourists,” Triccia Dacer, chairperson of HoReCa Makati Festival 2014 said.

“We expect strong participation from other tourism-related enterprises like travel agencies, tour operator associations, and the like to join us in the fray as we all get ready to impress our Asian neighbors for the upcoming 2015 ASEAN Integration about the holistic experience and business friendly environment that Makati offers to local fellow institutions and other nations.”

“HoReCa, by the way, is one of the fastest growing touristic sectors in Europe which I have derived the idea from. I met a Parisian business executive at the New World Hotel who leads the HoReCa sector in the Middle East. He rallied to me about its success in the Middle East. Inclusively, many countries in Europe have recognized the wonders that HoReCa sector events bring to accelerate tourism and bolster economic growth that even the European Union made it a mandate for the European Commission to strengthen the HoReCa sector activities,” Dacer, also the youngest tourism board official of Makati revealed.

Meanwhile, Christian Pirodon of the InterContinenal Hotel Group and Dr. Elton See Tan of the E-Hotels Group, former and current President of MTFI, respectively expressed confidence of the success that the concerted effort of the HoReCa sector will bring to accelerate tourism in Makati. “We assure everyone that all competing participants from the tourism and hospitality industry stand tall together and are united in bringing a boost in the platform of business opportunities and employment attraction in Makati,” Pirodon and Tan said.

HoReCa Makati Festival 2014 was held on September 15 and 16 at the Glorietta 2 Activity Center. The festivity will be showcasing tourism-related presentation, latest trends in booth dressing among the participating HoReCas, discussion & forum and lots of arts and entertainment production  while the public expects HoReCa best promo deals & offers and freebies from the exhibitors .