MANILA, Philippines – The achievements of exemplary individuals and organizations in the Philippine tourism industry were recently honored at the 26th SKAL International Tourism Personality Awards held at the New World Makati Hotel.
“This award gives due recognition to tourism personalities who have lived up to SKAL’s goals and objectives, and have invaluably served and contributed to the growth of the travel and tourism industry,” said SKAL International-Makati and SKAL National Committee president Robert Lim Joseph Jr.
SKAL is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world promoting global tourism and friendship. The awards night coincided with the 35th SKAL International-Makati founding anniversary. SKAL is a Scandinavian acronym for Sundhet, Karlek, Alder and Lycka, which means health, love, long life and happiness.
STAR’s Christine Dayrit, New World Makati Hotel resident manager Randal Linhart and Robert Lim Joseph
People Asia publisher Babe Romualdez, SKAL International Makati president Robert Lim Joseph, Resorts World Manila president Kingson Sian, who received the award for Andrew Tan of Megaworld (Leader in Integrated Tourism Enterprise) and Etihad Airways country manager Juan Torres
Robert Lim Joseph, Miss Earth-Fire 2016 Shannon Bridgman, Turkish Airlines country manager Erhan Balaban, who received the Award for Best Foreign Airline, and Zuhal Sabin Binici
Philstar Media Group president and CEO Miguel Belmonte said when he accepted the Hall of Fame Award for Newspaper of the Year category: “I’m lucky to be working in a newspaper where we have excellent travel writers, the best in the business.” The Philippine STAR was the first newspaper to regularly promote tourism in mainstream media.
Reggie Joseph, Raymond Joseph, Grace Glory Go, Melissa de Leon-Joseph, Ronnie Joseph and Ida Manalo Joseph
Ivory Coast Consul General Vince Carlos and Philippine Airlines president & COO Jaime Bautista who received the Award for Skalleague of the Year
Ding and Norma Francia, Cecile Martinez, Milette and Miguel Belmonte
Philippine Wine Merchants president Ralph Lim Joseph, Erhan Balaban and Grace Glory Go
STAR’s Bum Tenorio, Chroma Hospitality Inc. VP for sales & marketing Carmela Bocanegra, Turkish Airlines sales manager Elaine Dato and Frank Evaristo