janmar2007 UPdate

“Kultura, Konsepto, Konsyerto”. This was the theme of the Asian Institute of Tourism’s (AIT) 31st founding anniversary celebrations held from February 19 to 23.

Honing the skills of future managers in the tourism industry.
Distinguished alumni of the AIT shared their expertise with students
(standing, from left): Roberto Garcia, Marketing and Events Manager
of the Philippine International Convention Center;
Ma. Christina N. Asuncion, Solutions and Business Development
Manager, Amadeus Marketing Phil.; Yael Victoria Fernandez, Chair,
Standards Development Subcommittee of TIPSI-IWC; Undine Homena,
Sales Director, Hyatt Hotels and Casinos; Ronnie Ocampo, Corporate
Sales Manager, American Express Transnational Inc.; and
Anna Angeline S. Manzano, Passenger Sales Executive, Cathay Pacific
Airways Ltd. Seated are: Paula Junne Y. Ruiz, Chair, AIT 2006-2007
Student Council; Prof. Antonio Lazaro, Institute Secretary;
Prof. Susan Lagmay-Solis, Director of Academic Affairs;
Dr. Lorna I. Paredes, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and AIT
dean Dr. Corazon P. Rodriguez.

Among the activities held as part of the weeklong celebration were: a mini concert, cultural fashion show, jobs fair, faculty lecture series, food festivals and exhibits. For five days, the AIT compound was clad in native decorations and exuded a fiesta atmosphere. Exhibit displays came from the local governments of Angono, Marikina City and Quezon City. As a culminating activity, AIT launched “Managers in the Making,” a series of seminar-workshops organized by the AIT Division of Academic Affairs under the leadership of Dr. Susan Lagmay-Solis. The program sought to provide alternative classroom experiences intended to enhance or develop skills useful to tourism students in preparation for employment after graduation. Moreover, the undertaking aimed to bring the industry closer to the academe and to inspire the students to pursue a career in the tourism industry.

There were two tracks under the program: UPSTREAM (Skills Training by the Alumni Mentors) where distinguished alumni of the Institute conducted workshops for the students on topics such as customer service, leadership, decision making and customer relationship marketing; and QUEST (Quality Enhancement Through Skills Training) where longer sessions involving technical skills on topics such as yield management, food and beverage service, and ticketing and reservations were handled by the faculty and professional trainers.

UPD Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Lorna I. Paredes, officials of the AIT and representatives from the alumni and student organizations participated in the launch of the program.

The weeklong celebration was collaborated by the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, the Office of the University Registrar, the Campus Maintenance Office and other operating units of UPD.

A fiesta of culture and ideas