HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL
For those of us old enough to remember, there was a time when there were only a handful of retail establishments where we could send our foreigner friends when they’d say they wanted to buy quality souvenirs of their visit here. When they were enamored by certain native delicacies and our Filipino apparel, or even wanted to buy those giant wooden utensils to take back to their country; we’d have to rack our brains as to where they could source those items, often coming up with individual suppliers. Other than two then-famous stores, I’d be hard-pressed to think of retail centers which would work as a one-stop shop for all things Filipino.
Today, and for 20 years now, we can be thankful to SM Retail for having established Kultura, and making the Filipiniana retail concept so accessible, convenient, and well-stocked. I dropped by their 20th Anniversary celebration earlier in the week at the Mall of Asia, where the festivities included a welcome for returning Brand Ambassador Marian Rivera-Dantes.
What I appreciate is the evolution of Kultura through the decades; and how, even before the terms became buzzwords, Kultura was about championing Lokal, the circular economy, and sustainability. Think about it, and you’ll agree with me on this aspect of Kultura’s DNA — how they were ahead of the curve; doing the things we now seek, and insist, brands to be championing.
Their Filipino design studio initiative is a fine example of promoting artisanal and community-driven product lines. Carefully curated, the export potential and high standards of the selected brands and design houses point to the studio acting as an incubator and marketplace for the SKU’s displayed. Sustainability and circularity are often aspects of the brands, and of the lifestyle products highlighted.
Just last week, I attended their first Kultura crawl at the Megamall. This initiative works as a showcase for the food and beverage MSMEs that operate within Kultura. Not just acting as a consolidator for these brands, the crawl actively promotes the brands, putting them in the proverbial spotlight, at “front of store.”
We rally around the artisanal crafts fairs that blossom during the second half of the year, turning them into “Titas of Manila” mini-reunions. Funny then, that we don’t shower the same kind of appreciation and support for the retail concept that’s doing it all year round, and have been supporting these artisans day in and day out, for 20 years now. Me, I congratulate Kultura for staying true to its vision, and look forward to its next 20 years.
A blueprint for our hotels’ sales and marketing near-future
The second HSMA (Hotel Sales and Marketing Association) summit was held at the Marriott the other week, and it was a wonderful opportunity to get a “snapshot” of our hospitality industry, and feel the potential and promise that’s keeping the industry buoyant in these challenging times. Entitled Hospitality Unleashed: Breaking boundaries and creating connections, the summit wasn’t just about alliteration, but primarily about forging a sense of community.
Yes, the HSMA members may come from hotels and resorts that essentially compete with each other; but they’re also all in the same “boat,” facing similar problems and issues. It was the mindset of how the success of one can translate to the success of many, through an exchange of ideas and best practices — and thereby, lift up the whole industry. You had to appreciate, and love, that kind of spirit!
It’s a spirit that’s carefully fostered and tended to by the current board of directors of the HSMA, led by its indefatigable President, Loleth So, Group Commercial director of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts. Collectively, they work to raise the morale of those in the sales and marketing arenas of our hotels and resorts. The upcoming Virtus Awards is just one initiative that recognizes individual and group efforts, and brings the community together in friendly competition.
During the summit, I was especially taken by two talks: that of economist Ronilo Balbieran, talking of tourism trends against the total economic picture; and by Bruce Winton of Marriott International, who spoke about his hotel group’s aggressive stand on behalf of, and in support of, sustainability.
Ronilo, I liked for his presentation skills and the humor he’d constantly inject into his spiels. It made for a very engaging, entertaining talk — something you don’t normally associate with an economic analysis.
In the case of Bruce, it was his impassioned delivery of the hotel group’s sustainability initiatives. One of the five-point sustainability drivers had been encapsulated under a “HEART” acronym, and that was smart as a tool for memory, if one was a Marriott employee.
A lot of takeaways on the industry from this second HSMA summit, and nice to be getting them from the horse’s mouth, as these are the frontliners in our hospitality industry.