THE World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has named Manila, Philippines as the next global summit host in October.
This was announced by Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO, after finishing a three-day successful virtual run in Cancun, Mexico on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
The global summit also named Carnival Corp. president and chief executive officer (CEO) Arnold Donald as new chair of WTTC, which represents the global private travel and tourism sector.
“We concluded our Global Summit here in Cancun, confident that together we can revive a sector which will generate the world’s economic recovery and bring people back together thanks to the amazing benefits international travel and tourism can bring... Now we embark on a new chapter with Arnold Donald as WTTC’s next chair and look forward to our next Global Summit, which will take place in Manila in the Philippines later this year,” said Guevara in a statement.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat extended a warm invitation to all partners as the Philippines looks forward to hosting the next summit which will help restart the tourism industry and will further boost the continuing strategies to position the country as the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) hub in Asia.
“We, your Philippine partners in tourism, are eager to share our hopes, dreams and plans for our industry, [and are] ready to do our share in the global effort to overcome and break down barriers in this new dynamic and unpredictable tourism landscape,” Puyat said in a statement.
The WTTC Global Summit is an annual event that gathers over 800 delegates composed of CEOs, presidents and chairpersons of the largest and most prominent international travel and tourism companies from airlines, hotels and resorts, travel agencies, tour companies, global distribution system, transportation and allied enterprises, as well as tourism ministers and officials from international organizations, such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
“The WTTC brought together exceptional leaders from across the private and public sectors throughout travel and tourism at our global summit, united in their desire to safely revive international travel. Our very presence here shows that we can resume international travelling once more, by observing the latest health and safety protocols, which WTTC has helped develop for businesses large and small throughout the sector,” said Guevara.
The Cancun summit was anchored on the theme, “Uniting the World for Recovery.” It discussed pressing issues of protecting jobs, saving businesses, and supporting the global economy through the safe revival of international travel as well as the growing importance of using digital technology, such as biometrics being critical to creating a contactless, safe and seamless traveler journey.
Moreover, the country’s hosting came timely after the Department of Tourism granted the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp to 33 more hotels nationwide.
Sixteen tourism establishments in Cebu and Bohol were awarded the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp.
The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp is the world’s first safety and hygiene stamp for travelers to recognize governments and businesses that have adopted global health standardized protocols. (JOB with KOC)