DOT Taps Pinoys to be ‘Ambassadors of Fun’

Coinciding with the recent launch of the More Fun Awaits Campaign, the Department of Tourism (DOT) calls on Filipinos to be “Ambassadors of Fun” and promote their hometown’s tourist attractions using various social media platforms.

 Mt. Pulag, Benguet. Photo by Rio Lind (@heyitsmakee)

This is part of the DOT’s crowdsourcing campaign wherein netizens will become tour guides of their locale by posting their own virtual tours or sharing their own photos on their recommended destination, activity, or dishes.

The campaign aims to build interest on local destinations by assigning a weekly theme, such as must-visit destination, must-try activity, or must-sample cuisine, which will be the basis for the posts. It will tap both ordinary netizens and local content creators as ambassadors of fun.

Coron, Palawan. Photo by Ryan Ramal (@layag.palawan)

For netizens, they can choose a platform—Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter—where they will post a photo or video of the destination/cuisine/activities in their area that they think should be experienced by tourists. The post should include the hashtags #MoreFunAwaits and #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines and must tag the official DOT social media pages.

Selected posts will be featured on DOT’s social media pages or used as part of promotional campaigns for international tourists.

 Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. Photo by Sab (@sabrinuuuuuh)

The DOT has also collaborated with local content creators from different regions to share what’s new in their respective locales, such as the changes since the pre-pandemic period, new places or dishes they have discovered, and customs and traditions that continue to flourish or had been given a new twist to adapt to the new normal.

With more ambassadors of fun, the DOT sees the collaborative campaign as an effective way to show tourists, both local and foreign, what More Fun Awaits on their next trips to the different destinations in the country.

For more information about the More Fun Awaits campaign, and travel updates and advisories about the Philippines, visit www.morefunawaits.com.

Eco-friendly Millennial Resorts Pave the Way to Sustainability in Batangas

Crusoe Cabins are contemporary rooms constructed from upcycled container vans located at CaSoBē, Calatagan, Batangas

Inspired by Batangas’ coastal surroundings, the eco-friendly beach properties of Millennial Resorts feature designs focused on sustainability and provide guests with unconventional experiences and warmth of heartfelt Filipino hospitality.

Aquaria, a water park with a giant three-story pool slide at CaSoBē, is operated with Millennial Resorts’ resource efficiency design featuring the use of water reduction system. 

For its resource efficiency design, this hospitality group which is a sister company of Landco Pacific Corp., is registered for the prestigious EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification.

Landco President and CEO Erickson Y. Manzano shown at Crusoe Cabins. He leads Landco’s over-all sustainability initiatives.

“Ingrained in Landco’s DNA is our commitment to long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability in premium property developments for more than 30 years across the country. We do it, first and foremost, because it is the right thing to do.  This is evident in our latest Leisure Tourism Estates in Batangas – 15-hectare CaSoBē and 24-hectare Club Laiya, both of which are LEED Registered, and the management of Millennial Resorts which provide the leisure and hotel operations in these properties,” stated Erickson Y. Manzano, President and CEO, Landco.

Landco Senior Consultant for Hospitality Patrick C. Gregorio showcases the Cocoons. He oversees Millennial Resorts’ sustainability measures

“The EDGE registration of Millennial Resorts along with our measures to reduce our ecological footprint demonstrates Landco’s leadership and advocacy in green hospitality. Our goal is to ensure the stewardship and sustainability of Batangas as one of the country’s prime tourist destinations,” emphasized Patrick C. Gregorio, Senior Consultant for Hospitality, Landco.

Millennial Resorts owns and operates experiential resort accommodations, Crusoe Cabins and Cocoons, which are situated in the master-planned Landco Beachtowns CaSoBē (Calatagan South Beach) and Club Laiya, Laiya, San Juan Batangas, both approximately a two-three-hour drive from Metro Manila.

CaSoBē offers a relaxed and intimate beachside destination, while Club Laiya is a vibrant hotspot for those who like to have an active beachside lifestyle; and socialize with friends and groups who share their interests.

Both properties highlight resource-efficient designs which include LED lighting fixtures and water-efficient showers and faucets. The rooms are airconditioned, have access to a strong WI-FI connection and provisions for modern comforts. Natural sunlight and airflow are also maximized for efficient use of lighting and air conditioning.

Situated in CaSoBē and Millennial Resorts’ flagship brand, Crusoe Cabins are contemporary rooms constructed from upcycled container vans and refreshed with rustic and beachy exteriors that blend in with the relaxing coastline of Calatagan.

 Millennial Resorts’ guests can contribute in the reduction of carbon footprint by utilizing the bike lanes around the beachside properties.

Cocoons are pod-like rooms made of refurbished giant concrete pipes with bright painted murals on its exterior highlighting the diverse marine life of Calatagan and Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. These surreal-like rooms are available in both CaSoBē and Club Laiya.

Cocoons, located at CaSoBē and Club Laiya are refurbished giant concrete pipes built as pod-like rooms for an intimate and cozy overnight stay. It is iconic for its vibrantly painted murals on its exterior celebrating the diverse marine life of Calatagan and Laiya.

Millennial Resorts guests are also provided with the option to go paperless. Check-in and check-out requests for housekeeping services and room service maybe be done through the hotel’s proprietary Milli App. With Millennial Resorts’ resource-efficient design, water reduction measures are also undertaken at Aquaria, a water park with a giant three-story pool slide at CaSoBē and Laiya Beach Club near Club Laiya.

Exciting new facilities will soon open such as Captain Barbozza restaurant and bar, Canopy and The Isle -- venues for events, and Colony, a beachside co-working space.

As part of a broader community, adventure seekers and visitors at Cocoons and Crusoe Cabins can take part in the resorts’ initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint by utilizing the development’s pedestrian friendly tree-lined walkways and scenic bike lanes around the beachside properties.

Millennial Resorts is continuing its efforts for greater resource efficiency design in its operations to eventually qualify for EDGE certification.

EDGE is an innovation of International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. EDGE is an international green building registration and certification in about 160 countries and encourages solutions to reduce energy, water and the energy used to make building materials.

Landco Pacific Corp. is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. For more information about Landco and its Millennial Resorts and Leisure Tourism Estates Club Laiya and CaSoBē, visit https://www.landco.ph/ or FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/LandcoPacificCorporation.

MVP Beyond the Suit - Advocacy for Tourism

 A pause to recharge or reimagining a future that empowers Filipinos to co-build a more robust tourism industry in Batangas, Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) is not your conventional business leader as he strikes a balance of both endeavors.

MVP walked around CaSoBe and inspected Cocoons, the unique capsule-like rooms designed with a mural of sea creatures.

As Chairman of the infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and other numerous companies that provide essential services, MVP stays on top of the company’s COVID-19 response in support of the government efforts. At the same time, he jumpstarts the preparedness of the Philippine economy to bounce back from the global health crisis with his vision for tourism in Batangas.

MVP leads his team to have courage in facing the future with bright prospects through the uncertainties. He does all these while he visits the pristine beauty of the Landco’s latest Leisure Tourism Estates (LTE) – the 15-hectare Calatagan South Beach, better known as CaSoBē.

“Through Landco Pacific Corp.’s latest beachside projects: CaSoBē and Club Laiya, I take pride in promoting Batangas as one of the country’s top tourist destinations. These properties are responsibly developed to preserve the cultural and natural features of the place; provide employment for locals; and give Filipinos an opportunity to recover from these unprecedented times by not just building their dream beach homes but opting to create Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that cater to the tourism market,” MVP stated.

Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP), Chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (center) together with Landco President and CEO Erickson Manzano (right) visited the pristine beach of CaSoBe.

Architect's Perspective of CaSoBe.

These master-planned estates are the newest projects of upscale real estate developer Landco, a subsidiary of MPIC. These developments under Landco BeachTowns are close to MVP’s heart as he foresees these lively leisure and tourism destinations in Batangas as the next big thing. The country’s answer to some of the world’s most vibrant beachside destinations: Ibiza, Spain; Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Capri, Italy.

For more than three decades, Landco made its mark in developing exclusive and luxurious properties around the country. One of its leading projects is Peninsula de Punta Fuego, a premiere luxury seaside residential community situated on the 88-hectare of pristine coastline in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Leveraging on tourism as one of the key drivers for the country’s growth when it emerges from these challenging times, Landco with the leadership of MVP, envisions a revolutionary and innovative new concept.

Crusoe Cabins is Millennial Resorts’ unique beachfront accommodation at CaSoBe.

Landco CEO Erickson Y. Manzano supports MVP’s vision to position the LTE as thriving and inclusive seaside communities in the travel and leisure destination of Batangas, inspiring entrepreneurship and work-life harmony.

“It’s a gamechanger approach. Instead of making it exclusive, it’s open to the tourism market but remains aspirational and premium,” said Manzano. “It presents an opportunity for budding Filipino entrepreneurs or those who would like to work closer with nature. Eventually, the place will not just be a hotspot for local tourists but for inbound travelers from abroad,” he added.

CaSoBē offers a mix of seaside residential homes, and beachside retail and commercial establishments. There’s a Retail Row, a Harbour Walk, and an Activity Block – with lot sizes ranging from 356 square meters to 890 square meters. All these lots are near the beach and paved with pedestrian streets. There’s a common area estate WIFI, 24/7 security with CCTV, a beach promenade and a hotel-inspired property management service.

It's is a haven for those who prefer more privacy and a laidback and intimate lifestyle. It is near Cape Santiago lighthouse, a golf course, Little Boracay sandbar, Starfish island and the underwater pyramid.

Located on the other side of the Batangas coastline, the 24-hectare Club Laiya features a combination of residential and commercial-ready lots in the tourist spot of San-Juan Laiya Road. It’s a choice destination for the stylish and chic leisure seekers who love to work on their tan, get into water sports and hangout in the hottest party scenes. A row of diverse resorts, restaurants and bars already dots its shores.

Two to three hours away from Metro Manila, CaSoBē and Club Laiya are both LEED-registered with Landco’s commitment for long-term environmental sustainability.

MVP attests to CaSoBē’s significance as a tourist destination and an ideal work from the beach venue in the new normal. His business calendar was filled with Zoom meetings and online conferences with a seaside view and assistance by the warm and friendly local staff.

Aquaria is Millennial Resorts’ waterpark with a three-story giant slide at CaSoBe.

Helmed by Landco’s Senior Consultant for Hospitality Patrick C. Gregorio, the Edge-registered Millennial Resorts Corporation (MRC) is the hospitality service provider within the LTE. MRC owns and operates unconventional accommodations: Cocoons and Crusoe Cabins, select leisure facilities: Laiya Beach Club at Club Laiya and Aquaria, a waterpark with a three-story giant slide at CaSoBē These are the tourism attractions for which the properties are known for.

Landco projects are in line with MPIC’s commitment to help achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; and strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

For MVP, coming home to a tropical paradise in these LTE is a breeze. It’s going to be the newest trend in the travel industry.

For more information about Landco and its Millennial Resorts and Leisure Tourism Estates Club Laiya and CaSoBē, visit https://www.landco.ph/ or FB page: https://www.facebook.com/LandcoPacificCorporation.

Airbnb encourages Pinoys to #TravelAsJuan, as travel searches surge for beachside and nature destinations near Metro Manila

 ●     New Airbnb data shows spike in domestic demand for stays after recent easing of travel restrictions; trending destinations include Zambales, Batangas and Tagaytay

●     More Filipinos are searching for getaways lasting a week or longer, at family-friendly villas
and bed and breakfasts

Manila, Philippines,  October 2021 - Airbnb launched its new #TravelAsJuan campaign that aims to energize the Philippines’s tourism recovery throughout the remainder of 2021 and beyond. As part of the campaign, the company is encouraging Filipinos to rediscover their country with their loved ones, while celebrating unique stays and hidden gems across the nation. The #TravelAsJuan campaign also aligns with the Department of Tourism’s 2022 plan to rebuild a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive domestic tourism industry

Responding to the Department of Tourism’s call for Filipinos to become “Ambassadors of Fun”, Airbnb’s #TravelAsJuan will work closely with its community of #AirbnbJuanderers including Filipino Hosts and local content creators. They will shine a light on the country’s off-the-beaten-path destinations, from lesser-known beaches to mountainous getaways and farms, as well as tips for safer travel. The campaign will kickstart by highlighting destinations where intra- and inter-state travel are currently allowed and expand to cover more destinations as more cities and provinces reopen.

 Airbnb is already seeing surging interest in domestic stays as Filipinos look forward to traveling with the platform once more, following the recent easing of travel restrictions. In September, searches for Airbnb Stays in Zambales spiked by over 100% month-over-month* after the government announced travel rules allowing Metro Manila residents to travel to areas under more relaxed quarantine rules. In the same period, searches for Airbnb Stays in Batangas and Tagaytay also almost doubled month-over-month*.

Beachside and nature destinations, especially locations within driving distance of Metro Manila, remain popular among Filipinos. Zambales and Batangas, both popular for their beaches and coves, along with nature-based destinations Tagaytay, Pampanga, and Baguio, are currently the top five trending destinations among Filipino guests on Airbnb. This follows key findings from a YouGov survey conducted earlier in the year, which found that Filipinos want to travel to nature retreats and places within driving distance once they can get back on the road.

The easing of travel restrictions has spurred Filipinos to quickly plan for upcoming trips with their family and loved ones. While Filipino guests on Airbnb are largely searching for Stays with a duration of 1-6 nights, there is a growing trend towards longer domestic getaways of one week and longer, to make up for the past year spent at home. Larger family-friendly Stays are also increasing in popularity, as Filipino guest searches for villas and bed-and-breakfasts spiked by more than 50% month-over-month*. 

As Filipinos eagerly make their travel plans, Gen Zs and Millennials who make up 68% of Airbnb’s community of new Hosts who came onboard the platform in the first half of this year are looking forward to welcoming fellow Pinoys into their homes**.

Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Airbnb shares: “Filipinos are eagerly anticipating the return of domestic travel, and search trends on Airbnb indicate a strong, positive uptick in travel sentiment as restrictions ease. With our wide variety of unique stays hosted by locals across the Philippines, Airbnb offers something for everyone through our #TravelasJuan campaign, which highlights the wonderful places, experiences and communities that make the Philippines such an incredible place to experience for both locals and visitors alike. Airbnb is committed to being a good partner to the government to rejuvenate the country’s tourism sector; and help drive travel that is more diverse, resilient, and empowering for more people and communities than ever before.”

Safety remains a priority

Health and safety remain a top priority for travelers as they search for upcoming travel accommodation. To that end, Airbnb introduced the Enhanced Clean protocol in June last year, the first overarching standardized guidelines for cleaning and sanitization in the home-sharing industry. Endorsed by the World Travel and Tourism Council, the protocol helps guide Hosts across the Philippines to provide safer and cleaner accommodation for guests.

Airbnb also recently announced a partnership with global provider Sherpa, an online tool that provides travelers with real-time travel information on their destinations. Travelers can access information on COVID-19 related requirements including testing, quarantining and social distancing guidelines. This will help guests plan their trips more effectively as they continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 regulations.

Note:

*Based on internal Airbnb guest search data in September 2021, as compared to August 2021.

**Based on internal Airbnb data from January to June 2021.

 

PH cited Asia’s top beach and dive destination anew in 2021 World Travel Awards

 The Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) announced today that the Philippines is, once again, Asia's leading beach destination and Asia’s leading dive destination at the 28th World Travel Awards (WTA).

“We are elated that the country’s pristine beaches and mesmerizing dive spots have once again been cited as the best in Asia by the prestigious 2021 World Travel Awards. We share this recognition with our tourism stakeholders, local government units, partner agencies, and all Filipinos who have been helping us promote our country’s attractions, products, and culture,” said Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat.

Panglao Island, located in Bohol Sea in Central Visayas, is a famous tourist destination known for its

white-sand beaches and world-class diving sites. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

This is the Philippines’ fifth time to win Asia's Leading Beach Destination and the third time in a row since 2019 to win Asia’s Leading Dive Destination award.

The Philippines is still in the running for the following World categories of the 28th World Travel Awards:

● World’s Leading Beach Destination 2021: Philippines

● World’s Leading Dive Destination 2021: Philippines

● World’s Leading Island Destination 2021: Siargao, Philippines

● World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2021: Intramuros, Philippines

● World’s Leading Tourist Board 2021: Philippines, Department of Tourism

Voting runs until midnight of October 25, 2021 via https://www.worldtravelawards.com/.

Siargao Island, a popular surfing destination, is home to unspoiled white sand beaches. Photo by Beautiful Destinations, courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

The WTA aims to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

“This will boost our efforts to keep the Philippines as a top-of-mind destination for foreign tourists as we await the resumption of international leisure travel to the country, consistent with our “More Fun Awaits” global campaign,” said Puyat..

Some of the country’s top beach destinations, such as Boracay in Aklan, Siargao in Surigao del Norte, and El Nido and Amanpulo in Palawan, have already opened to domestic tourists and are ready to welcome foreign tourists once international borders reopen.

El Nido is a Philippine municipality on Palawan Island. It is one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines for its absolutely stunning islands and beaches. Photo by Erwin Lim, courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

Moreover, the PDOT has developed many of the country’s beach destinations, as well as new and existing dive circuits and is constantly identifying potential destinations that may be developed for dive tourism. Top diving spots in the country include the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas, Malapascua and Moalboal in Cebu, Balicasag, Panglao and Anda in Bohol, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.

Tubbataha Reef is known for its extraordinary biodiversity, abundant marine life, and breathtaking drop-offs into the open ocean. Photos by Robert Yin.

Anilao in Batangas has some of the best scuba diving for underwater photography in the world, particularly for rare underwater critters and new species of fish. Photo by Evelyn Go, courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

Sombrero Reef in Batangas is a diving site where gorgonians, black coral, shells, rays, grunts, jacks, snappers, and a great variety of soft corals are scattered all over the place. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

The Department also ensures that the safety of visitors remains is prioritized with the strict implementation of health protocols in destinations that have opened their doors to guests. Meanwhile, more than half or about 65.53% of tourism workers in the country have already received their Covid-19 jabs as of October 16.

For more updates and information on the DOT’s campaigns and programs, please visit www.morefunawaits.com.

Smart brings you the most exquisite Filipino contemporary art at ALT Philippines 2020

After a multitude of reimagined experiences it has brought to its customers, Smart Signature now dares consumers to reimagine the way they see local art. Introducing ALT Philippines 2020, a first-of-its-kind collaborative project among 10 galleries in Manila that aims to not only showcase contemporary Filipino art, but also to reframe the notion of the art show itself.

The landmark art event, which will be held at the SMX Convention Center at SM Aura on February 13 to 16, brings together galleries Artinformal, Blanc, Finale Art File, Galleria Duemila, MO_Space, The Drawing Room, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, West Gallery, and 1335 Mabini. This epic collaboration will result in a showcase of over 150 leading contemporary Filipino artists, in a groundbreaking and dynamic way that involves the immersion of viewers and the engagement of artists and professionals.

“We are truly excited to be part of this momentous event in the local art scene. This is just one of the many ways we provide meaningful connections by bringing subscribers closer to their passions,” said Smart President Alfred S. Panlilio. “Through this, we enable our subscribers to live the life they want, including the kind of life fueled by art.”

Amongst the anticipated highlights at ALT Philippines 2020, is the digital art wall that will be brought to life by artist Derek Tumala. “Derek’s work in collaboration with Smart is a coming together of art and technology. His “Pure Impermanence” 10-channel video in portrait orientation mirrors how we view images on our mobile phones. It represents the endless cycle of experience and image-making through a network of fleeting connections,” according to a statement released by ALT Philippines 2020.

Reimagine the way you see art

Smart subscribers will have the opportunity to freely reimagine the way they see art, as they can avail of exclusive passes to ALT Philippines 2020 as part of the elevated customer experience that Smart provides its valued customers.

With Smart Signature Plans, subscribers can also enjoy the best postpaid and overall experience. Smart Signature affords for its subscribers the capacity to live the life they want because their passions are supported by Smart Signature's bigger data allocation and Smart LTE, the undisputed fastest mobile network in the country, as awarded by third-party organizations such as Ookla, OpenSignal, Tutela, and P3 in their respective crowdsource-based studies on mobile internet services in the Philippines.

But Smart doesn’t stop with data and network speed that customers deserve. Smart also serves perks and privileges to its subscribers, in this case, the levelled-up Signature lifestyle that allows loyal customers to pursue their love for art by getting free tickets and ticket discounts to ALT 2020 Philippines.

To score tickets and discounts to ALT 2020, Smart Postpaid subscribers may submit their entries by answering the question, “What are you looking forward to the most at ALT 2020?” Just go to the comment’s section of Smart’s ALT 2020 ticket giveaway post on Facebook and include the hashtag #SmartALTPH2020.

For more levelled-up love-for-art experiences, follow Smart on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications or @ReimaginePH on Instagram. Keep tabs on the hashtags #Reimagine and #SmartALTPH2020 for more updates as well as ALT Philippines on social media at Alt Philippines on Facebook and @altphilippines on Instagram.

Click on the link for additional event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/222715622076541.

PAL cancels flights from China, Hong Kong, Macau until March 28

(February 12, 2020) — Philippine Airlines (PAL) extended its cancellation of flights from China, Hong Kong, and Macau until March 28 an advisory said Monday.

According to PAL, flights between Manila and Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Quanzhou (Jinjiang), Hong Kong, and Macau will remain cancelled.

“We are compelled to cancel these flights until March 28 in view of the continuing travel restrictions imposed by the Philippine Government as a public health and safety measure, related to the novel coronavirus situation,” the advisory read.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 2 ordered a ban on the entry of foreign travelers coming directly from China, Hong Kong and Macau or who have a history of travel to those places within the last 14 days. Filipinos and holders of permanent resident visas issued by the Philippines are allowed to enter the country but subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Filipinos are also barred from flying to those places.

“As there is no definite end date to the travel ban and thus no certainty that we may resume flying after March 28, we are unable to carry out automatic flight re-accommodations for passengers of cancelled flights.”

Once the travel ban is lifted and the flights are reinstated, passengers can “rebook, reroute, or refund tickets within the ticket’s validity period, with rebooking, rerouting, or refund serve fees waived,” the statement said.

The airline was mum about flights to Taiwan. On Monday, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said Taiwan has been included in the temporary travel ban, although it was enforced late last week and was not part of Duterte's initial order.

Domingo pointed out that the World Health Organization considers Taiwan as part of China. The Philippines also follows a "One-China" policy that recognizes China and limits relations with Taiwan to cultural and economic ties.

China considers the self-administered island of Taiwan as its province.