Ayala, Tan, Belmonte lead Rotary tourism awardees

MANILA, Philippines - The Rotary Club of Manila, headed by Urbano Caasi, has announced the 10 outstanding tourism personalities to receive this year’s prestigious annual Tourism Award 2012.

The awarding will be held on Thursday, March 15, during the club’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Manila Polo Club in Makati.

Awards committee chairman Robert Lim Joseph said the award was conceived “to recognize tourism personalities in the industry and support and promote the country as a tourist destination, with the various Rotary Clubs throughout the world, with emphasis in the Asean region and in cooperation with Philippine Airlines, Tourism Educators and Movers of the Philippines, SKAL Club of Makati, and co-sponsored by Travel Cooperative of the Philippines Ralph’s Wines and Spirits.”

Now on its eighth year, Joseph said, award recipients are businessmen Fernando Zobel de Ayala for Tourism Investment; Andrew Tan, chairman of Megaworld and owner of Resorts World Manila for Hotel Category; Henry Chusuey, chairman and owner of Boracay Regency Group for Resort category;

Jerry Alcuzar, chairman, New San Jose Builders for Tourism Destination; and Miguel Belmonte, president and CEO of the Philippine Star Group of companies, for Print Media.

In the government sector, those who received the award were Tourism Undersecretary Danny Corpuz and Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza of Pangasinan, for National Government Category, and Local Government Unit Category, respectively.

Other awardees from the private sector are Vincent Golangco for Online Media Category, Ruth von Siebenthal Hung, principal lecturer for Hospitality Management, Enderum Colleges for Tourism Education Category, and Bessie Badilla for Online Travel & Tour Category.