7 Reasons Why You Need That Staycation

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With countless deadlines, meetings, events, and other tasks one has to tackle these days, regular unwinding is now a necessity for those looking to recharge. But let’s face it—planning a long vacation can be just as tedious, and sometimes you feel even more tired when you get back home!

Thank goodness, then, for the proliferation of quality hotels right within your city—which makes it easy to book a staycation anytime you need it. On May 30 to 31, the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMA) will make it even easier to do so, as the group will be holding its first Great Room Sale at the Glorietta 3 Activity Center in Makati City.

Expect discounts of up to 60 to 70 percent, plus a room category upgrade when you book at these hotels and resorts: Ascott Residence, Astoria Hotels and Resorts, Azalea Hotels and Residences, Bayleaf Hotels, BE Resorts, Best Western Hotel (La Corona Manila and Oxford Suites), Bluewater Resorts, Citadines Apart’Hotel, Conrad Hotels, Dusit Thani Manila, Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila, Hotel 101, Island Cove, Las Casas Filipinas, Manila Marriott Hotel, Manila Ocean Park, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Phinma Microtel Hotels Inc., Roxaco-Vanguard Hotel, SEDA Hotels, Siglo Suites, Sheridan Beach Resort, Somerset Serviced Residence, and Resorts World Manila. Other participating merchants include Slimmers World. 

And that’s just one reason you should finally take that staycation! If you need more convincing, just think of these seven other benefits you’re sure to enjoy:

1. Me time. You’ll get to do whatever you want without anyone bothering you, at least for a day or two.

2. No chores. Since you’ll be staying in a hotel/resort with a cleaning service, you won’t have to worry about leaving too much of a mess.

3. Room service. Have breakfast—and lunch and dinner—in bed; or, if your hotel offers the service, have a massage right in the comfort of your room.

4. Netflix galore. Binge, binge, binge on your favorite series, since most hotels and resorts have speedy internet connections.

5. A chance to unplug. You can also opt to use the time to step away from your phone and just enjoy some quiet with a book and a hot cup of cocoa.

6. More snooze time. With no commitments on your mind, it’ll be fun to sleep in and enjoy the warmth of those fluffy sheets. A revitalizing sleep will also bring out the best version of you.

7. And, finally, a new perspective. Sometimes it’s nice to be a tourist in your own city. Who knows, you may even discover something new!

Plan that well-deserved time off and enjoy the best staycation deals at the first Great Room Sale on May 30 and 31. It’s time to #sleepwell, #eatwell and #feelwell, so you can recharge and be the best version of yourself! For details and inquiries, follow HSMA on Facebook @HSMA(Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International).

HSMA To Hold 2018 Virtus Awards

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The HSMA has issued the call for entries for the forthcoming Virtus Awards—otherwise known in the industry as the Oscars of hotel sales and marketing executives. The prestigious contest was first launched in 2015 as a unique platform for hotel sales and marketing professionals in the country to tell their stories of excellence and success.

Virtus recognizes outstanding sales and marketing practitioners who are role models and inspirations to current and aspiring players in the travel and tourism industry in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific, thus fulfilling HSMA’s vision to contribute to the robust growth of Philippine tourism.

Now on its fourth year, the Virtus Awards’ categories include: Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate; Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager; Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader; and Outstanding Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Nominees for individual categories must be regular employees who have served in a HSMA member-property for at least one (1) year, including the covered period of April 1, 2017 to March 30, 2018, and should have no past and/or pending administrative or criminal case.

Nominators, on the other hand, must come from an HSMA member-property to ensure familiarity with the performance being cited. Entries may be sent online at www.hsma.online/virtus-awards. Deadline of submission is on June 29.

Winners will be announced on August 8 at the Virtus Awards 2018 Night at the Manila Marriott Hotel.

“Through this annual competition, we hope to ignite the passion and drive of hotels and resorts through their all-important sales and marketing team to excite the market, deliver vigorous business, make hearts beat a little faster, and yes, shake our world,” said Rose Libongco, chair of the Virtus Awards.

Thunder's Brewer, Nets' Levert, Heat's Olynyk, Mavericks' Powell Headline Second Basketball Without Borders Camp in India

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) today announced the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories who will participate in the 10th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia.

BWB Asia 2018 will be held May 30 – June 2 at The NBA Academy India in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), marking the second time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in India. Nike will serve as the official partner.

Corey Brewer (Oklahoma City Thunder; U.S.), Caris LeVert (Brooklyn Nets; U.S.), Kelly Olynyk (Miami Heat; Canada; BWB Americas 2009), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada), two-time WNBA Champion Ruth Riley, and former WNBA player Ebony Hoffman will coach the top high school age campers from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

BWB Asia 2018 will feature two current prospects from NBA Academies, the league’s signature elite player development initiative that consists of a network of elite basketball training centers around the world for top male and female prospects from outside the U.S. Since October 2016, NBA Academies have been launched in Canberra, Australia; Jinan, Urumqi and Zhuji, China; Delhi NCR, India; Mexico City, Mexico; and Thies, Senegal.

Players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, positional skill development, shooting and skills competitions, 5-on-5 games, and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication. One boy and one girl will be named BWB Asia 2018 MVPs at the conclusion of the four-day camp.

BWB Asia 2018 will be preceded by a basketball development camp May 27 – 29 for the 18 female prospects from throughout India as part of The NBA Academies Women’s Program. 1996 Olympic

Gold Medalist and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Jennifer Azzi, Riley and former college coach Blair Hardiek – the global technical directors for women’s programming across the league’s seven academies – will oversee the camp.

BWB Asia 2018 and The NBA Academies Women’s Program camp will also include a variety of NBA Cares and Jr. NBA community outreach efforts with youth in New Delhi in partnership with local community organizations, including basketball clinics for more than 150 youth from the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program and the NBA Basketball Schools in New Delhi. These programs will highlight the power of sport to promote cultural understanding while teaching the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle and the values of the game, including teamwork, respect, determination and community.

Current NBA assistant coaches Bret Brielmaier (Nets), Darvin Ham (Atlanta Hawks), Ryan Saunders (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Mike Wells (Utah Jazz) will also serve as BWB Asia 2018 coaches. Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) will be the camp director. Casey Smith (Mavericks) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear.

BWB has reached more than 3,190 participants from 127 countries and territories since 2001, with more than 50 former campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents. A record 24 former BWB campers were on opening-night rosters for the 2017-18 season.

The NBA and FIBA have staged 53 BWB camps in 33 cities across 27 countries on six continents. More than 250 current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players have joined more than 200 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world. BWB Asia was previously held in India in 2008.

The NBA Academy India, an elite basketball training center in Delhi NCR for the top male and female prospects from throughout India and the first of its kind in the country, officially opened in May 2017 and builds on the NBA’s existing basketball and youth development initiatives in India. The Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program has reached more than 6 million youth and trained more than 5,000 physical education instructors nationwide since its launch in 2013. In April 2017, the NBA launched The NBA Basketball School, a network of tuition-based basketball development programs open to male and female players from outside the U.S. ages 6-18. NBA Basketball Schools have been launched in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Punjab as part of a multiyear agreement with India On Track (IOT), one of India’s leading sports management, marketing and development companies. NBA Champion Kevin Durant became the first active NBA player to visit The NBA Academy India in July 2017.

Follow BWB using the hashtag #BWBAsia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow The NBA Academies Women’s Program using the hashtag #NBAAcademy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Find out more about NBA Academies at nbaacademy.nba.com and on Instagram (nbaacademy).


Additional 2018 BWB camps in Serbia and South Africa will be announced at a later date.