𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮’𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The fifth Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards (CTHA) will recognize the people and establishments behind Cebu's tourism and hospitality industry, organized by the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRACCI).

This year’s theme, “Roots and Resilience: Celebrating Cebu’s Hospitality Champions,” recognizes the people, culture and traditions that have shaped Cebu hospitality, as well as the industry’s ability to recover from challenges.

HRACCI president Mia Singson-Leon said the CTHA is a personal and important initiative for the association because it puts the spotlight on the people who keep Cebu’s hospitality industry running. “What started as a way to motivate and give spotlight to our people during the pandemic has grown into a source of pride for Cebu hospitality,” Singson-Leon said. The CTHA was launched in 2022, when the tourism and hospitality industry was beginning to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. For Singson-Leon, the awards have since taken on a bigger role. They have become HRACCI’s way of recognizing the people who kept hotels, resorts and restaurants operating during the pandemic. CTHA chairman Ron Manalang said the awards are important not only to HRACCI but to Cebu as a whole.

The pandemic tested the industry, he said, but it also showed the resilience of its people. Hospitality workers continued to serve guests, care for their properties and keep businesses running despite uncertainty. “These people deserve to be recognized,” Manalang said. This year, 59 nominees from across Cebu’s tourism and hospitality sector are being screened for the awards. Manalang reminded the nominees that being chosen is already an achievement. “All of you are already winners just being nominated,” he said. The theme “Roots and Resilience” reflects the two qualities that have sustained Cebu hospitality through the years. It points to two things that have long defined Cebu hospitality: its roots and its resilience. Its roots are in Cebuano culture, values and the tradition of welcoming guests. Its resilience was tested by the pandemic and other challenges that forced businesses and workers to adapt.

This year’s awards will focus on the people behind the guest experience, including frontliners, supervisors, managers and educators. Establishments and other industry practitioners will also be recognized. Individual awards include Front of the House Employee of the Year, Heart of the House Employee of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Hospitality and Tourism Educator of the Year. Special awards will also recognize Sustainability Champion of the Year and Best Marketing Campaign of the Year, with five hotels competing in the marketing category. Manalang said the awards recognize employees who deal directly with guests as well as the teams working behind the scenes. Supervisors and managers lead their teams, while educators prepare the next generation of hospitality professionals. The awards also recognize sustainability initiatives and marketing campaigns by Cebu hotels and resorts.

For HRACCI, the CTHA has become an important annual gathering for the industry. This year's awards will be held at Ayala Center Cebu on September 22, 2026. It is a celebration of the people who have carried Cebu’s hospitality industry through its difficult years and continue to shape its future. Five years after the awards began, CTHA continues to recognize the people whose work keeps Cebu’s hospitality industry going.