Cover Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Marga Nograles at the opening of PHITEX 2022 | TPB
Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Marga Nograles at the opening of PHITEX 2022 | TPB
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Barely a month into office, Tourism Promotions Board’s newly-installed chief operations officer Marga Nograles led a travel event that brought record-high business sales in just two days
Steering through the challenging conditions of a tourism sector impacted by a pandemic is quite an endeavour, but Maria Margarita “Marga” Montemayor Nograles has embraced this daunting challenge with unwavering determination and a deep commitment to serving her country. Her efforts reflect a tireless dedication to revitalizing an essential sector of the economy. The resounding success of the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX 2022) serves as a promising beacon of hope, suggesting that with the right strategies and initiatives, we may recover and flourish more swiftly than we ever anticipated.
In case you missed it: Marga Nograles Now Leads Tourism Promotions Board Philippines
Above Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and TBP COO Marga Nograles hit the gong to signal the start of the travel expo | TPB
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and TBP COO Marga Nograles hit the gong to signal the start of the travel expo | TPB
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When Marga took the helm at the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) as its Chief Operating Officer this October, one of the projects she assumed leadership of was PHITEX 2022: “I came into my team committed to [setting] up PHITEX. I was there for the briefings. There were little struggles here and there but nothing we did not overcome."
And the result speaks for itself as PHITEX posted a monumental P172 million in business sales—a record-high for TPB.
With all modesty, the fashionpreneur-turned-public servant said, “Naiyak ako (I cried) because I was so proud of the team, the buyers, and the sellers. Everyone was just so inspired to work, because after all these years we’re hopeful and crossing our fingers that we are really on our road to recovery, slowly but surely."
Above Congressman Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona, TPB COO Marga Nograles, and TPB Deputy COO Atty. Charles Aames Bautista | TPB
Above The TPB Team | TPB
Congressman Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona, TPB COO Marga Nograles, and TPB Deputy COO Atty. Charles Aames Bautista | TPB
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For its 21st year, the travel expo was organized in a hybrid format with face-to-face business dealings held at Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City from October 19 to 22. 132 Philippine sellers and 116 foreign buyers onsite and online participated in PHITEX, all contributing to reaching a total of PHP 172,602,851 business sales leads in just two days. With the theme “Embracing Responsible Tourism: Making better places to live in and better places to visit,” the TPB wanted to highlight the significance of sustainability in the resurgence of the tourism industry.
“We must go beyond the money shot and think of ways to positively contribute to the betterment of the travel industry as a whole,” Nograles said.
For Marga, this is the Philippines’ best selling point. She added, “It’s our thrust for fighting for sustainable tourism. Finding what is unique in the ‘Filipino’: our culture, our tradition, our indigenous tribe, our food, our beaches. That is what we [give] to the world.”
See also: How to Be a Sustainable Traveller in 2022? It's Easier Than You Think
Above Marga poses with folk dancers | TPB
Marga poses with folk dancers | TPB
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When asked whether she felt any pressure leading TPB even without much public service experience, Marga said, “I always work because it’s a passion of mine, and I give all that I can and that is enough. With this new work, it just seems like I am doing what I was doing with Kaayo. With Kaayo, we work with creative sustainable livelihoods with our indigenous people while working for Mindanao. Now, my platform just got bigger.”
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When Jio is not creating content for Tatler Philippines' social media channels or covering style-related stories, he's probably binge-watching David Attenborough-narrated documentaries or nursing his vintage shopping fixation. He plans on using fashion criticism as a force for good. Follow him @hijowho or send him an email at jio@tatlerphilippines.com.
