HRAP 1st General Membership Meeting:
TOURISM TRANSFORMATION
PEOPLE AND PLANET AT THE CORE OF THE INDUSTRY
Date: MAY 16, 2024 (THURSDAY)
Registration Time: 8:00 AM
Program Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Venue: RIGODON BALLROOM, FIESTA PAVILION, THE MANILA HOTEL
Registration fee for our Membership Meeting is Php 3,000.00 per person.
To facilitate registration and payment, please complete registration form and remit payment before May 10, 2024 thru direct deposit to:
ACCOUNT NAME: HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
BPI Current Account 3211-0552-18
Kindly email Registration Form and scanned deposit slip to HRAP secretariat at secretariat@hrap.org.ph
To acknowledge receipt of your registration and payment, Secretariat will email your scanned copy of Official Receipt. If acknowledgement email is not received, you may call Secretariat Office at +63 8816-2421.
See you all at our first GMM!
Guest Speakers
MS. SHARLENE ZABALA-BATIN
Regional Director
Department of Tourism - NCR
Sharlene Zabala-Batin is a name synonymous with innovation and transformational leadership. Serving as the Regional Director (Director IV) of the Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) since November 2021 and was appointed in March 2022, her tenure has been celebrated by remarkable achievements and strategic initiatives that have significantly contributed to Metro Manila’s urban tourism landscape's vibrancy and resilience.
Since Day One, RD Sha has implemented a comprehensive management and leadership of the region as underscored by the regional office’s sound financial and resource management, a citation from the Commission of Audit in the last four consecutive years..
A notable highlight of her career is her role as the Project Owner of the Philippines Hop-On Hop-Off Program, a pioneering initiative designed to enhance the overall tourism experience to explore and savor the National Capital Region as the premier gateway to Love the Philippines.
RD Sha’s role as the Deputy Secretary General for the Philippine Hosting of the World Travel and Tourism Global Summit in 2022 and as the Overall Committee Head for the Department of Tourism's support to the FIBA World Basketball Championship in 2023 underscores her capacity to lead high-profile and big-ticket projects with international implications.
Her background in tourism is comprehensive, with prior positions including as Officer-in-Charge Regional Director and Supervising Tourism Operations Officer of the Department of Tourism National Capital Region, where she honed her skills in management, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement.
Her commitment to personal growth and development is reflected in her lifelong pursuit for learning with her Doctorate in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines awaiting completion. With a Master's degree in the same field, alongside her practical experience, and proven skills, RD Sha is a visionary leader whose contributions to the Philippine tourism industry are both profound and enduring.
With her at the helm of the DOT-NCR, we can expect more exciting and meaningful programs and initiatives that will position Metro Manila where It All Starts Here!
MR. KINGSON SIAN
President & CEO
Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.
Kingson Sian is the President and CEO of Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc., owner and operator of Newport World Resorts, the first integrated resort in the Philippines. He was recognized as the Executive of the Year for the Hospitality and Leisure category in the Asian Management Excellence Awards held in Bangkok in January 2024. Under his leadership, Travellers has been listed in the Philippines Best Employers for the second year in a row by Statista and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, placing first among companies in the Travel & Leisure industry for 2024.
He is concurrently the President of Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI), one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, with interests in property development, food and beverage, quick service restaurants, tourism and gaming.
He has been with AGI in various positions for over 28 years, and is a member of the Boards of Directors of AGI, Travellers, and Megaworld Corporation. Prior to joining AGI, he worked in the banking sector in the United States and Hong Kong.
He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines, and an MBA for Finance and Business Policy from the University of Chicago.
MR. BENITO C. BENGZON JR.
Executive Director
Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc. (PHOA)
Mr. Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. assumed the role of Executive Director at the Philippine Hotel Owners Association in September 2021, marking his transition from a distinguished 35-year career in the government sector to a leadership position in the private industry. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from University of the Philippines Diliman, a Master of Business Administration from Ateneo Graduate School of Business, and a Master's in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, Mr. Bengzon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his current role.
Having served in various capacities at the Department of Tourism, including as Tourism Attache in Tokyo, Japan for seven years, Mr. Bengzon has a proven track record in development planning, strategy formulation, bilateral negotiations, marketing, investment promotions, and product development.
He started as a contractual employee and worked his way up to become an esteemed Undersecretary for …. Furthermore, his role as a part-time lecturer at prestigious institutions such as UP Diliman and the Development Academy of the Philippines underscores his commitment to excellence in education and public service.
As the Executive Director of PHOA, Mr. Bengzon is dedicated to driving the Association's agenda forward, with a focus on amplifying its influence as the foremost representative of private businesses in the accommodation sector. His tenure at PHOA exemplifies his continued dedication to shaping the future of the hospitality industry in the Philippines.
MS. MA. CHRISTINA G. AQUNIO
Member, CHED Tech Committee - THM
Faculty, LPU Batangas
Currently a part-time faculty member of the Graduate School of the Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas. She is also a Resource Person for Development Academy of the Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Tourism for various programs. She is a member of CHED Technical Committee of Tourism and Hospitality Management programs, a member of the NCR Regional Quality Assurance Team (RQAT), a TESDA STAR External Validator; a DTI Philippine Quality Award (PQA) Assessor, and an ASEAN Master Tourism Assessor for Housekeeping.
Ms. Aquino was with the Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila as the Executive Director for Linkages & Standards and International Affairs Office, Deputy Integrated Management Representative for various ISO programs (QMS & EMS) , Project Director for the LPU Dusit Thani partnership of the Tourism and Hospitality programs offered in all LPU campuses, oversaw institutional and program quality assurance programs in the University. She was also Dean of the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management and a faculty member also.
She is the immediate past Chairperson of the Tourism Industry Board Foundation Inc, (TIBFI), , former Associate Board Member of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP). Past President of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines (COHREP), Asia Pacific Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (APacCHRIE), and a former Board & Corporate Secretary of International Center for Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE).
She was a faculty member the University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Home Economics, School Director of the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila, and various administrative and faculty posts at the LPU Manila.
Ms. Aquino holds the qualifications of BS HRA (cum laude); MA in Education, major in Educational Administration, and has completed all the academic requirements for a PhD in Education, specializing in Curriculum Studies. She has the following certifications: AHLEI’s Certified Hospitality Education (CHE) and Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP), Certified Microsoft Office Specialist (Office Word 2016), STR Hotel Industry Foundations Introduction to Analytics (HIFIA), and ASEAN Master Assessor for Housekeeping.
M
R. GREG DE GARRIZ
President
Association of Human Resource Managers in the Hospitality Industry
In his 33 years of experience as a senior human resources executive in hospitality across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Greg has established a distinguished reputation in the hospitality industry. He has contributed significantly to highly respected brands such as the Shangri-La, Hyatt, Millennium and Copthorne, IHG, Banyan Tree, Carlson Rezidor, Marco Polo, and the Megaworld Hotels & Resorts group.
Specializing in hospitality and hotel establishment pre-opening, employee engagement, senior management talent resourcing, talent development, performance & competency management, and collective bargaining, Greg brings a wealth of expertise to the table. He is passionate about fostering growth and excellence within the industry as an educator and certified trainer. Over the course of his career, Greg has earned well-deserved recognition for his outstanding achievements and unwavering dedication.
His current roles include Head of People Development at Megaworld Hotels & Resorts and Director of People Management & Development at Savoy Hotel Manila, where he continues to drive excellence and innovation.
Additionally, Greg has been elected President of the Association of Human Resources Managers in the Hospitality Industry (AHRM) for the year 2023-2024, and elected as a board director for HRAP (Hotels & Restaurants Association of the Philippines) and TIBFI (Tourism Industry Board Foundation Inc.) which demonstrates his dedication to advancing the standards of the hospitality industry.
DR. MARK IRVIN CELIS
President
Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines (COHREP)
A lifelong learner educator who’s dedicated to the pursuit of innovation and excellence. A book author in food service, front office and other tourism and hospitality courses. He is a frequent guest speaker, lecturer, research adviser and panelist and judge in various hospitality and tourism academic events.
Education: A graduate degree in International Hospitality Management and a post graduate degree in Business Administration.
Experience:
He is the President of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines
He is also a Director, in the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines.
He is also a Certified Hospitality Educator awarded by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
He is the Vice President for Academic Affairs in Lyceum of the Philippines University-Cavite.
His research background includes publications, presentations, and paper reviewer in various international and local research journals and conferences.
In 2013, he participated in the Faculty Exchange Program in South Korea.
He is tapped by both private and government agencies to ensure quality in hospitality and tourism education in the Philippines. He serves as:
PACUCOA Accreditor
CHED Rqat IV Member
TESDA TM Trainer and Assessor
DOT, TESDA, and TIBFI –National ASEAN Master Assessor
ISO 9001 Internal Auditor
His humble beginning in the hospitality industry started when he worked as a Front Office Associate in an international hotel chain. At present, he is working as a part time resort business consultant.
DR. LILIBETH ARAGON
Dean, CITHM
Lyceum of the Philippines University - Manila
Dr. Lilibeth Aragon is the Dean of the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila’s College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management. Dr. Aragon is an Accreditor for Tourism, Hospitality programs of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA). She is part of the Commission on Higher Education National Capital Regions Quality Assurance Team (NCR-RQAT).
Dr. Aragon holds a BS degree in Tourism, Master in Business Administration and a Doctorate degree in Business Administration. She took a Post Graduate course in Crisis Management at the University of Southern Florida, Muma College. She is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and Trainer by AHLEI and an ASEAN Master Trainer.
She currently serves the Association of Administrators in Hospitality, Hotel and Restaurant Management Educational Institutions (AAHRMEI) as President and the Philippine Association of Researchers for Tourism and Hospitality (PARTH) as Board Member. She is also a Board of Director of the International Center of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE), an international accrediting agency based in Australia. She is part of the Tourism Industry Board Foundation Inc. as Board Secretary and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines as Board Member