PHILTOA's Annual Team Building -- "Breaking the Barriers"
Story by: jovy avisado ( Member ) on 2016-10-17
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Back in the years, Lake Caliraya has been a familiar name of a destination in the south. Many would think a natural lake in the midst of the province of Lumban, Laguna was turned into a leisure haven for family or company outings. Well, I, myself was wrong. Caliraya was built in 1939 mainly to generate electricity, therefore, making it a man-made lake, which was then turned into a leisure park. The rest is history.
Like other properties, Lake Caliraya had undergone changes to better improve its facilities and services. Now, it is not only known for its usual swimming pools and its close-to-nature ambiance. It is now known as Caliraya Resort Club and has been a favorite place for company team buildings and closer family bonding because of its wide range of amenities and recreational facilities.
The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) officers and members including tripmoba.com had a fun-filled experience of what Caliraya Resort Club has to offer! PHILTOA’s annual team building has always been a worth joining activity. It is not a usual gathering for business and industry updates but more of strengthening the connection of each member from the different sectors in the industry through mental, emotional, and physically challenging activities. Despite of the 'hellacious' weather, as expected, members showed their enthusiasm and willingness to achieve this year’s theme, “Breaking the Barriers”. Regardless if the players need to slide and splash in the mud, crawl in a slimy puddle, canoe and bathe in the lake, fly by a cable -- the adrenaline of all made them go through the heavy rainfall and finish all the tasks. There was nothing to worry because the resort’s facilitators are well-experienced on these kinds of activities. What made it more exciting are the prizes at stake, and of course, winners were announced at the end of the day!
Before the much awaited event, PHILTOA members were able to have a few glimpse of what Laguna has to offer. Calle Arco is a must-try restaurant in Pagsanjan known for its local cuisine and antiqued homey feel. tripmoba.com was able to witness on-the-spot creativity on embroidery of the province, which they have always been proud of.
On PHILTOA’s program, Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Assistant Secretary Malou Japson, graced the event on behalf of Secretary Wanda-Tulfo Teo. Asec. Japson said that indeed, change has come. The Department of Tourism is holding on the president’s statement that tourism is a priority sector. It is expected that there will be more improvements on the infrastructure to better serve both our local and foreign visitors. With this said, it is also expected that there will be a full cooperation from different government sectors. DOT is also targeting on making Philippines as one of the most destination brands and that to also give attention to sustainability to sell and preserve while people get to enjoy unique and quality services.
Region IV-A’s Director Rebecca Labit was also there to give updates on the region’s progress. Different sites such as Quezon Province’s Kamay ni Hesus and its floating Palaisdaan restaurants, Kagbalete, as the Boracay of the South, Laguna’s Mt. Makiling, hot springs, Batangas’ Padre Pio and Pico Sands, Rizal’s Daranak Falls, Hinulugang Taktak, and Regina Rica are only few of the region’s most popular and favorite places that tourists visit. An international brand is also constructing its site in a more than 100 hectares of land in the region. Enchanted Kingdom is also on its way of making a global change.
The President of Philtoa, Mr. Cesar Cruz is thankful for the usual warm hospitality of the region to PHILTOA. They never fail to amaze the association, that even on their repetitive visit, Region IV-A always has something new to offer. This calls Mr. Cruz to encourage more the operators to continue its advocacy in strengthening and continue rediscovering local destinations. According to the association’s president, today’s generation is a time wherein the millennials are very aggressive in discovering unique places and that each would want to be known as the first to let the social media know of their discovery. In the upcoming Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) on September 2-4, there will be unique packages that would be offered and that these destinations are all those that are not recognized in the map yet, but are already in the radar of the social media. PTM is the annual travel expo of PHILTOA, in which tripmoba.com will be one of the exhibitors.
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