DOT Trains 244 Tourism Frontliners for the 49th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is strengthening the Philippines’ hospitality readiness ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in November 2026 through a month-long specialized training program for tourism and hospitality frontliners.
As of October 19, the DOT had trained 244 participants across seven batches. The initiative aims to ensure that delegates, officials, and international guests receive professional service and experience Filipino hospitality throughout the summit’s social events and official hospitality activities.
Anchored on the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE), the program prepares participants for assignments as liaison officers, information officers, and ushers at designated venues, accredited hotels, and airports.
Specialized Training for World-Class Hospitality
DOT Assistant Secretary Ma. Christina G. Aquino developed the training curriculum, drawing on her extensive experience in hospitality education and leadership in the tourism industry. Her previous positions include Dean of the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management at Lyceum of the Philippines University, Chairperson of the Tourism Industry Board Foundation, and President of the Asia Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education.
The program features sessions on diplomatic standards, social graces, professional grooming, service excellence and recovery, teamwork, communication, and conference venue and logistics management.
To deliver the training, the DOT brought together experts from diplomacy, aviation, higher education, tourism, and hospitality. The resource speakers include former Ambassador Laura Quiambao-Del Rosario, former Philippine Ambassador and APEC Senior Officials Chair; Ian U. Cacho, Director and Training Head of CAFA Manila and former Qatar Airways Cabin Services Director; and Prof. Robert Frederick P. Hayden Jr., a senior higher education executive and institutional development strategist.
Other speakers include Yael T. Fernandez, a DOT-accredited tour guide and hospitality educator; Ramon F. Mariñas, owner and Managing Director of Bienvenido Travel and Tours and an FBSE-accredited trainer; Orlando Ballesteros, Chief Operating Officer of Exlink Management and Marketing Services Corp. and a MICE industry leader; and Mel Jayson B. Sanchez, Hospitality Manager at Asia Affinity Property Management Inc. and a certified DOT FBSE Enterprise Level Trainer.
Frontliners to Undergo Readiness Assessments
Beyond classroom instruction, participants will undergo stress tests, panel interviews, site inspections, and positioning exercises. These assessments will evaluate their readiness, help determine their assignments, and familiarize them with their designated posts before deployment.
The preparation aims to ensure frontline personnel can respond professionally to the demands of an international summit, where effective communication, attention to detail, and coordination are essential.
Participants come from the DOT and its attached agencies, the Cultural Center of the Philippines ushering group, universities offering tourism, hospitality, and diplomacy programs, and organizations accredited by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA).
Filipino Textiles to Showcase Philippine Craftsmanship
The summit will also provide an opportunity to highlight the country’s cultural heritage through the uniforms of selected ushers. Their specially designed attire will feature traditional Filipino textiles from the Ilocos Region, including Binakol, a traditional hand-loomed textile known for its distinctive geometric patterns.
The uniforms will bring local craftsmanship into an international setting, allowing the Philippines to showcase its cultural identity alongside its hospitality standards.
DOT Highlights the Importance of Filipino Hospitality
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay emphasized that hosting the ASEAN Summit is an opportunity to present the country’s hospitality to regional leaders and international delegates.
The secretary said the department wants frontliners to be confident, capable, and prepared to deliver excellent service while making every delegate feel welcome.
She also stressed that hosting the summit should have an impact beyond the successful conduct of meetings and official events. Positive interactions with Filipino frontliners can help strengthen goodwill, foster regional friendships, and encourage visitors to return to the Philippines for future holidays.
With specialized training, readiness assessments, and culturally inspired uniforms, the DOT aims to ensure that the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit reflects both professional service standards and the warmth of Filipino hospitality.