The Magsaysay Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (MIHCA) organized the country’s first-ever Cruise and Hospitality Careers Convention last August 29, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Philippines with 2,500 hospitality professionals and delegates from the Philippines’ major colleges and universities in attendance.
The convention, which showcased the various career opportunities onboard cruise ships, had speakers coming from some of the world’s major cruise and hotel operators, specifically AIDA Cruises, Citadines Salcedo Makati, Costa Cruises, Gosaibi Foods Company, Magsaysay, New World Hotels Group, Princess Cruises and Resorts World. Notable speakers included Christian Weindorf, Manager, Fleet Talent Acquisition, Princess Cruises; Christine Schiftner, Director, HR Hotel Management and Fleet Services, Costa Crociere S.p.A; Andrea Tonini, Head of Asia Shipboard Hotel Training, Costa Crociere S.p.A.; Walter Kuhnert, Training Manager Asia, AIDA Cruises; Ian Hyndman, Managing Director, Gosaibi Foods Company; Susana Salcedo, Residence Manager, Citadines Salcedo Makati; Elpidio Beloso Jr., Director for Hotel Operations, Resorts World Manila; Mark Heywood, General Manager, New World Manila Bay Hotel; Randal Linhart, Resident Manager, New World Makati Hotel and Marlon R. Roño, President, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation. The topics covered included the global shipping and cruise industry, the multi-cultural environment on the cruise ship, the importance of training and ensuring quality operations and customer services, among others.
Key government officials from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Department of Tourism also graced the event together with Magsaysay executives. POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac served as the convention’s keynote speaker, while DOT Assistant Secretary Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. spoke about the promotion of the Philippines as a major tourist destination.