Philippine Hotel Owners Association Executive Director Benito C. Bengzon Jr.
Bengzon named PHOA executive director
THE Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) has recently named former Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Benito C. Bengzon Jr. as its new Executive Director.
PHOA President Arthur M. Lopez has welcomed Bengzon’s new position in the association.
“With his vast experience and wide knowledge about the tourism industry in the Philippines, we are confident that Mr. Bengzon will help PHOA and its hotel members in improving the quality of service that we provide,” Lopez said. “We are glad that an experienced public servant has joined PHOA. I am sure that our association and the hotel industry stakeholders will be properly represented in all our public and private engagements,” Lopez said.
For his part, Bengzon vowed to make a meaningful and sustained contribution to the advocacy of PHOA and help make the organization the dominant voice representing private businesses in the accommodation sector, and foster adherence to the highest professional standards among the members.
He will lead PHOA’s trainings to upscale, empower, and further develop the skills and quality of service of hotel employees. These trainings, which are exclusive to PHOA hotel-members’ workers, include hotel safety workshop, soft skills training program, among others.
Bengzon graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Administration.
He earned his Masters in National Security Administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines. He also took up his Masters in Business Administration at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
Bengzon served the DOT for 35 years prior to joining PHOA. He was Undersecretary for Tourism Development and was involved in development planning, strategy formulation, bilateral negotiations, marketing, investments promotion, and product development. He also spearheaded the crafting of the Tourism Response and Recovery Plan.
He represented the DOT in various global and regional organizations including the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations, World Travel and Tourism Council, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, World Tourism Organization, and Pacific Asia Travel Association, among others.
As an advocate of continuous learning, Bengzon spent years as a part-time lecturer at UP Diliman Asian Institute of Tourism and College of Home Economics and at the Development Academy of the Philippines Graduate School of Public and Development Management.
PHOA is a non-profit, non-stock organization composed of owners of the country’s major accommodation providers including hotels, resorts, and service apartments. It represents the accommodation sector on matters of policies, laws, rules, and regulations, and other
dealings with the government. PHOA has been protecting and promoting the common interests and concerns of members by pooling together talents and resources that advocate the development of the Philippine accommodation industry.
