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Home 9 Articles 9 OLFU and CHIM Launches Leisure And Resort Summit 2013 Thunderbird Poro Point, La Union and OLFU Benchmarking Trip of HKPU AND Hong Kong And Macau
OLFU and CHIM Launches Leisure And Resort Summit 2013 Thunderbird Poro Point, La Union and OLFU Benchmarking Trip of HKPU AND Hong Kong And Macau
OLFU and CHIM Launches Leisure And Resort Summit 2013 Thunderbird Poro Point, La Union and OLFU Benchmarking Trip of HKPU AND Hong Kong And Macau

By: Vicente Santos

12/17/2013

By: Vicente Santos

12/17/2013

The College of Hospitality Management (CHIM) is as aggressive as ever and is pushing the envelope of the Hotel and Restaurant Management and Travel Management program into new, immersive, highly competitive territory.

CHIM recently launched the “Leisure and Resort Summit 2013” in partnership with Thunderbird Resorts in Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union from November 7-9, 2013.Attended by senior BS Travel Management and Hotel and Restaurant Management students, Mr. Modesto D. Baloloy, Chief Tourism Operations Officer for DOT – Region 1, shared the latest in industry trends and forecasts, their region’s best practices, their current network and colleagues, as well as their recognized industry leaders during their recently concluded regional tourism awards. Other speakers in the summit included the hospitable and accommodating Property Manager of Thunderbird Resort – Poro Point, Mr. Marvin Lanuza.

Both speakers spoke of the vast opportunities that nearby surfing haven San Juan has re-opened the province to, besides being the gateway to the Philippines’ Summer Capital, Baguio City, prompting growth and expansion of tourism facilities and installations, such as Poro Point’s Thunderbird Resort. The whitewashed, Santorini-inspired property is made more beautiful against a setting of the azure La Union bay, and served as backdrop not only to the summit but also the school’s resort design competition.

Highlighting the Leisure and Resort Summit was the Best Resort Design and Development Proposal Competition open to HRM and TM students taking the Integrated Resort and Leisure Management course. There were a total of six finalists for the competition, entries coming from sections TM 4Y1-1, HRM 3Y1-1 , 3Y1-2, 3Y1-4, 3Y1-5, 3Y1-6. All the participants’ entries were well praised for their creative but professional-looking and innovative designs that even included progressive features such as green and sustainable facilities and amenities. Each team presented their designs to the judges, and the panel then deliberated on the feasibility and suitability of each design and its ability to achieve the desired vision and outcomes of community enrichment and development. The winning design was inspired by breezy and natural elements highlighted with rattan, which, according to the architects, “were inspired by the Philippines’ penchant for woven and rattan fixtures providing and calming and solemn escape.”

The rest of the trip was highlighted by the delightful cuisine of the resort’s German Head Chef Micheal Gross, as well as as tours around La Union and a farewell dinner at Isdaan in Tarlac.

In addition to the summit, a team of faculty members led by CHIM Dean Dr. Ignacio C. Cordova, Jr., CHE, included Travel Management Department Head Mrs. Riza T. Delos Santos, MBA, Nutrition and Culinary Department Head Ms. Araceli Sobremisana, RND, Ms. Bernadette Punzalan, MAEd, and Mr. Andrew John Y. Fernandes visited Hong Kong and Macau last November 15 to 17, 2013 to see first hand the new and dynamic tourism attractions the territories had to offer. The benchmarking tour to Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management as well as the gaming facilities of the casinos in Macau was done in the spirit of spearheading the re-tooling of the LAGO (Leisure and Gaming Operation) track under BS HRM.

November 15, Friday, was dedicated to the immersive exploration of Macau. Travelling by foot from one Casino Hotel to another enabled the faculty to see the scale of pomp and grandeur of the facilities’ façade. The group also engaged in the shopping, sightseeing and gaming to see and experience first hand the world-class facilities of the MGM, Wynn, Galaxy and The Venetian Casino Hotels. The numerous tourists partaking in the gaming bedlam matched the spectacular service, ambiance and décor of the casinos. The tour was bookended with comfortable trips on hydrofoils from and to Hong Kong Central Harbor.

The second day was split into business and pleasure, as Dr. Cordova and Mrs. Delos Santos attended a conference hosted by HK Poly’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management School regarding the UNWTO’s (United Nations World Tourism Organization) accreditation and educational policies. The party was toured around the facilities of the school and the other half of the group not attending the conference continued the benchmarking tour of tourism attractions. Ms. Sobremisana, Ms. Punzalan and Mr. Fernandes visited the regionally renowned Hong Kong Disneyland and were enthralled to be treated to a truly whimsical and magical experience. The attention to detail, the quality of customer service and the drive to be truly memorable to their guests left the group with a strong impression that excellent customer service is best paired with top-notch amenities.

Day three’s morning was again split into the same groups but different endeavors; the first pair taking the seminar workshop and trio taking a city tour of Hong Kong’s bay walk, jewelry manufacturing and of uptown and downtown Hong Kong. The afternoon was spent freely going around the very famous Hong Kong shopping district of MongKok.

The three-day trip was a very productive and inspirational journey that was able to resonate with the faculty the ideal scenarios in making sure OLFU students are embedded with the right values and attitudes to enable them to provide world-class gaming, dining, hotel and tourism experiences as future professionals in the tourism and hospitality industry.

CHIM continues to push the popularity and effectiveness of the BSHRM and BSTM programs by developing and introducing the effectiveness of updated and relevant benchmarking and experiencing opportunities to both the faculty and the students of OLFU. 2014 is truly looking more exciting as bigger and brighter things are up for introduction and promotion for HRM’s IRCM track and the rest of CHIM’s courses.