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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Added safety armor': Hotel group's 15K workers now fully vaxxed

'Added safety armor': Hotel group's 15K workers now fully vaxxed

Published Oct 9, 2021 03:08 pm

Over 15,000 tourism workers of member hotels and resorts of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in a bid to further boost travel confidence among local tourists amid the pandemic.

Member hotels and resorts of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines are confidently opening their doors to guests with what can be called an added safety armor—their over 15,000 fully vaccinated personnel. (Photo from HSMA)

HSMA Vice President Loleth So said 98 percent of the entire staff among the association's 125 member-properties across the country have already completed their COVID jabs.

"I was very persistent about getting all of our member-properties access to the vaccine. I made it a point to reach out to the human resources departments of the member-properties through a dedicated chat group so I would have the buy-in of the entire hotel," So said in a statement.

According to So, getting their members onboard the vaccination drive, which was launched in March, has been an "easy task" as almost everyone was willing to get the jab to continue serving their customers safely.

So also called fully vaccinated tourism workers an "added safety armor" providing an "extra layer of security" for local tourists who have been longing to rediscover the Philippines' tourism destinations after over a year of lockdown.

The HSMA official is also optimistic that their member-properties will reach the 100 percent vaccination rate soon with their partnership with the DOT, local government offices, and the Metro Manila Council.

The group's inoculation program is in line with the "Safe Trip, Pinas" campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT) which aims to ensure strict implementation of health and safety protocols set by the World Health Organization (WHO) among tourism establishments.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has also been pushing to fully vaccinate the entire population of tourism workers in the country to stimulate and revive domestic tourism.

"Inoculating our tourism frontliners all over the country will be a key factor in reopening the industry, as well as restoring the public's confidence to travel, translating to higher socio-economic activities and boosting our recovery prospects," Puyat said.

"I call for public and private entities to practice the Bayanihan spirit in furthering the vaccination of our tourism workers," she added.

The HSMA is currently holding the second run of its September Online Sale (S.O.S.) which offers discounted travel packages from 80 hotels and resorts in the country's key destinations.

Interested travelers can score as much as 70 percent discount on more than a hundred vacation and food & beverage packages which will be sold as e-vouchers that can be used within a year from the date of purchase and may be extended upon request.

This year's S.O.S will run until October 15 and can be accessed at the HSMA website.

Related Tags

bernadette romulo-puyat Department of Tourism (DOT) resorts Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) vaccinated Loleth So tourism workers hotels
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