PHOA president receives 2023 Mabuhay Gold Award

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) president Arthur M. Lopez was given the Gold Award at the 26th Mabuhay Awards Night organized by the Association of Human Resources Managers (AHRM) held on Nov. 27, 2023 at the Westin Manila, Mandaluyong City.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco graced the event, which drew hotel general managers and other executives, the nominees and previous awardees.

The Mabuhay Awards is the hospitality industry’s service excellence awards program aimed at recognizing and rewarding model employees of the industry and promoting outstanding service commitment.

The Mabuhay Awards categories include Heart of the House rank-and-file, Front of the House rank-and-file, Supervisor, Manager and Human Resource Leader of the Year. AHRM also gives the Mabuhay Gold Award to recognize a Filipino who has contributed to the upliftment of the Philippine Hotel Industry.

The 2023 Mabuhay Gold Awardee Lopez is an accomplished hotelier with a distinguished career over five decades. His journey in the hospitality industry began as a management trainee.

Through hard work and determination, he quickly climbed the ranks and held esteemed managerial positions in renowned hotel brands in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines. He has the distinction of being the first Filipino general manager appointed by an international hotel chain overseas.

Throughout his career, he has worked directly with the owners of all major developers in the country in various capacities.

“I am deeply honored that a prestigious organization such as the AHRM has recognized my achievements. I hope this recognition can serve as an inspiration and motivation to young Filipino hoteliers to strive for competitiveness and maintain world-class standards,” Lopez said.

In her keynote speech, Frasco spoke on the department’s continuous efforts in uplifting the country’s tourism industry. The secretary proudly said that the latest report on international arrivals in the country has already surpassed the 4.8 million target for 2023.

This is just one of many indicators that show the merits of DOT in leveraging partnerships created by the government and private sector for the tourism industry.

PHOA stands as a respected organization, serving as the unified advocate for hotel owners throughout the nation. Committed to fostering progress and upholding industry standards, PHOA plays a pivotal role in driving growth, offering indispensable support to its extensive network of members, and actively promoting tourism in the Philippines.

With a roster of 200 diverse hotels in various categories nationwide, it continues to lead the charge in elevating the hospitality scene in the country.