Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards to Honor Cebu’s Hospitality Champions
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The fifth Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards (CTHA) is set to recognize the people, establishments, and industry practitioners who continue to shape and strengthen Cebu’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Organized by the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRACCI), this year’s awards will carry the theme “Roots and Resilience: Celebrating Cebu’s Hospitality Champions.” The theme highlights the culture, traditions, and values that have long defined Cebu’s hospitality industry while honoring its remarkable ability to overcome challenges and emerge stronger.
Celebrating the People Behind Cebu Hospitality
HRACCI President Mia Singson-Leon described the CTHA as a meaningful initiative for the association, emphasizing that the awards put the spotlight on the people who keep Cebu’s tourism and hospitality industry moving.
“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 Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards was launched in 2022, at a time when the tourism and hospitality industry was beginning its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the awards have grown into an annual platform for recognizing the individuals and organizations that helped sustain the industry during one of its most challenging periods.
For Singson-Leon, the CTHA serves as HRACCI’s way of honoring the people who kept hotels, resorts, and restaurants operating despite the uncertainty brought by the pandemic.
Recognizing Cebu’s Resilience
CTHA Chairman Ron Manalang said the awards are significant not only for HRACCI but for Cebu’s tourism and hospitality industry as a whole.
The pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on hotels, resorts, restaurants, and their employees. Despite the uncertainty, hospitality workers continued to serve guests, care for their properties, and help keep businesses operating.
“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 also reminded the nominees that being selected is already a significant achievement.
“All of you are already winners just being nominated,” he said.
“Roots and Resilience” at the Heart of the Awards
Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards 2026 by Cebu Ni BaiThe 2026 CTHA theme reflects two qualities that have sustained Cebu’s hospitality industry through the years: its roots and its resilience.
Cebu’s hospitality roots are deeply connected to its culture, values, and long-standing tradition of warmly welcoming visitors. These traditions continue to influence the way hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tourism establishments serve guests.
At the same time, the industry’s resilience has been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges that have required businesses and workers to adapt, innovate, and find new ways to serve both local and international visitors.
Together, these qualities represent the character of Cebu’s hospitality industry—and the people who continue to move it forward.
CTHA 2026 Award Categories
This year’s Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards will recognize individuals working across different areas of the tourism and hospitality sector, including frontline employees, supervisors, managers, educators, and other industry practitioners.
Individual award categories 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
- Hospitality and Tourism Educator of the Year
Special awards will also recognize organizations and initiatives that contribute to the continued development of Cebu’s hospitality industry, including:
- Sustainability Champion of the Year
- Best Marketing Campaign of the Year
Five hotels will compete in the Best Marketing Campaign category, highlighting the creativity and strategic efforts being undertaken by Cebu’s hospitality establishments to promote their brands and destinations.
Honoring Frontliners, Leaders and Educators
According to Manalang, the awards are designed to recognize not only employees who interact directly with guests but also the teams working behind the scenes.
Frontliners create the guest experience, while back-of-house teams ensure that operations run smoothly. Supervisors and managers provide leadership, direction, and support to their teams, while hospitality and tourism educators help prepare the next generation of professionals who will carry the industry forward.
The awards also recognize the growing importance of sustainability and effective marketing in strengthening Cebu’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Cebu Hospitality Champions to Be Honored on September 22
The fifth Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards will be held on September 22, 2026, at Ayala Center Cebu.
More than an awards ceremony, the CTHA serves as an annual gathering of Cebu’s tourism and hospitality community—a celebration of the people whose dedication, professionalism, and resilience have helped carry the industry through difficult times.
Five years since its launch, the Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards 2026 continues its mission of recognizing the people behind Cebu’s hospitality story and celebrating the champions who continue to shape its future.
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