All Systems Go for WV Travel Mart/TRAVEX
USEC. BLANCAFLOR
It's all systems go for the First Western Visayas Travel Mart and Travel Exchange on October 23-26 at the Upper Ground Floor of SM City Iloilo Mall in Mandurriao, Iloilo City as 32 Sellers composed of tourism properties/facilities meet 60 Buyers composed of leading tour operators and travel agencies in Metro Manila and transact business.
According to DOT Region VI Director Edwin G. Trompeta, the WV Travel Mart/Travel Exchange is purely a business sector event although the public is also welcome to visit individual booths. It is one of the eight events of the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly on October 23-29, 2006 organized by the Department of Tourism Region VI and hosted by the City of Iloilo. Director Trompeta chairs the Organizing Committee while Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas chairs the Host Committee. This is the first time that a Travel Exchange of this magnitude is held in this city. This event seeks to establish Iloilo City as a Travel Mart/Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) destination in this part of the Philippines.
Yehlen Camarista, Event Organizer of the Western Visayas Travel Mart/Travel Exchange said that Sellers include tourism establishments from this region, Metro Manila, Palawan, Olongapo City and La Union. Three transport companies, namely, Negros Navigation Co., Aboitiz Transport System and Vallacar Transport (Ceres Liner) will also see action during the 4-day event. To represent the host city and province of Iloilo are Days Hotel, Hotel del Rio, Sarabia Manor Hotel & Convention Center, Association of Iloilo Travel & Tour Operators (AITTO), Amigo Terrace Hotel, Iloilo Golf and Country Club and Centennial Resort Hotel & Convention Center. Negros Occidental seller-participants include Casino Filipino Hotel (Bacolod City), National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS)-Bacolod Chapter, Luxur Place (formerly Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel), Nature's Village Resort (Talisay City) Punta Bulata White Beach Resort & Spa (Escalante City). Aklan participants include Sampaguita Gardens Resort (New Washington) and the following from Boracay Island: Patio Pacific Boracay, Paradise Garden Resort-Hotel, Pearl of the Pacific Resort, Cocomangas Resort, Boracay Eco-Village Resort, La Carmela de Boracay and Fairways and Bluewater. Baia Norte Beach Club from Roxas City is the lone seller-participant from the province of Capiz. To represent the province of Guimaras is the Guimaras Resort Association.
Outside Western Visayas, the seller-participants are Bayview Park Hotel Manila, The Legend Palawan, Dos Palmas Arreceffi Island Resort (Puerto Princesa City), Subic International Hotel Corp. (Olongapo City), Department of Tourism Region I (San Fernando, La Union), Atrium Hotel (Manila), Legend Villas (Mandaluyong City) and Kabayan Hotel (Pasay).
(DOT6)