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9 Jan, 2017

Elizabeth P. de la Fuente, Executive Director, Hotel & Restaurant Association, the Philippines

ASEAN Travel & Tourism Hall of Fame – Initiated by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil to recognise the many veterans who helped grow and shape ASEAN tourism over the last 50 years.

Place and date of Birth: 09 June 1944

Marital Status: Married with two daughters and two sons

Education

1964 Maryknoll College, Liberal Arts Major in English Literature, Minor in Psychology. Dean’s List of honour students

1978-80 Executive Sessions, Conference Management Programme, Yale University.

1979 Convention Management Programme, International Association of Professional Congress Organisations.

1985-85 Executive Development Course in Tourism Management, University of Hawaii.

1985-86 Asian Studies Programme, Asian Centre, University of the Philippines

Career

1964 – 74 Worked as coordinator, director, Executive Producer and Network Programme Manager, Radio Mindanao Network and Interisland and Broadcasting Corporation.

1974 – Ministry of Tourism, Special consultant to the Minister of Tourism on Media Affairs, Marketing and International Promotions.

1975-76 Philippine Tourism Authority, Chief, Special Programs Office.

1976-1986 Executive Director, Philippine Convention Bureau, responsible for catapulting Manila and the Philippines as a Primary Convention Destination.

1985-86 Principle Initiator and First Secretary-General of the Asian Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (AACVB).

1987 – 92 President and Managing Director, Asian Communications Conferences Exhibitions System and Services (ACCESS) Inc.

1994 – 2006 Executive Director, Hotel & Restaurant Association, the Philippines

Since 1987 Director, Vidtronics Marketing.

1988-89 Partner in MICE Consultants Ltd., Hong Kong.

1988-89 Project Director / Consultant, UNDP-funded study in cooperation with the then Department of Tourism, Posts and Telecommunications, Indonesia, to promote the MICE sector in Jakarta and Bali.

Other activities

During her stint as Executive Director of the PCB, she organised more than 500 conferences, seminars, special promotions and exhibition events in Manila and other cities in Asia, Europe and the United States.

As a Professional Congress Organizer or Adviser, assisted in two Papal Visits to the Philippines in 1981 and 1995 with Pope Saint John Paul II.

Conference Advisor / Consultant to various international congresses and organisations, e.g.,

Press Foundation of Asia / One Asia Assembly 1989-90

Association of Philippines Physicians in American 1988.

Philippines Motor Association 9th Asia-Pacific regional assembly 1988.

International Festival of Indigenous and Traditional Cultures (1988)

ASEAN Hotel and Restaurant Association (1987/90).

Global Summit on Indigenous Cultures (1993)

Awards and Recognition

1981 TOWNS Award for Tourism (Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service), the Philippines

1982 Congress Women of the Year, World Travel Awards, New York.

1984 Pacific Asia Travel Association John Adnan Memorial Award as Communicator with Distinction

1989 PCVC award for organizing / handling the most number of international events in 1988.