Previous Story
Exhibitors to join MTEC Tourism Summit on Jan. 25
-
- Naomi Santos of the Marianas Visitors Authority shares about her job in product development and destination enhancement with students at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School on Nov. 2, 2017. The Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit will gather students to learn more about tourism on Jan. 25, 2018, at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan. (MVA)
-
- Wendi Herring, general manager of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, talks about tourism with students at Admiral Hopwood Middle School on Nov. 7, 2017. The Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit will gather students to learn more about tourism on Jan. 25, 2018, at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan. (MVA)
-
- Marianas Visitors Authority Community Projects specialist Lynn Sablan, left, quizzes students about tourism at Admiral Hopwood Middle School on Nov. 7, 2017, as Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan GM Wendi Herring of hands out prizes. The Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit will gather students to learn more about tourism on Jan. 25, 2018, at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan. (MVA)
-
- All participants received a Saipan-da backpack at the presentation by the Marianas Tourism Education Council at Admiral Hopwood Middle School on Nov. 7, 2017, (MVA)
Under the theme “Live Your Culture, Love All Cultures,” exhibitors are signing up to join the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.
Over 250 Public School System’s MY WAVE (Marianas Youth Welcome All Visitors Enthusiastically) Club students and chaperons are anticipated to attend the summit, which will feature a full lineup of on- and off-island speakers.
Providing hands-on demonstrations at breakout sessions at the summit will be the cultural communities of the Federated States of Micronesia; Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji; and Hawaii, Tahiti, and Cook Islands.
Also scheduled to exhibit are the Marianas Visitors Authority, Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, Division of Coastal Resources Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Northern Marianas Trades Institute.
“What makes a destination unique? The sites, the people, and certainly, the culture,” said MTEC chair Vicky Benavente. “We sincerely appreciate the support of all our exhibitors and are confident they will have an interesting exchange of ideas on cultural with the MY WAVE students.”
This year’s keynote speaker will be Andrew Jones, Guardian of Sanctuary Resorts and the immediate past chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
The students will also hear from Gerard van Gils, the 2017 CNMI Teacher of the Year and 2017 Pacific Educator of the Year, and co-owner and managing director Gordon Marciano of tour company Pacific Development Inc.
“The Marianas Visitors Authority is excited to again be partnering with MTEC on bringing together young people at this year’s summit to share information with them, hear their ideas, and generate enthusiasm about tourism,” said MVA managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “With this year’s exceptional speakers, we aim to have them leave the summit proud of and excited about what their unique cultures can contribute to enhance the experience of visitors when they visit our multi-cultural home.”
The summit is also sponsored by T Galleria, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, Kanoa Resort, and the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.
MTEC was formed in 2002 to heighten the community’s awareness of the importance of tourism to the wellbeing of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. MTEC’s stated mission is three-fold: to foster community understanding and support of the visitor industry; educate the general public, especially school students, about the value, social benefits, and economic contributions made to the community by the visitor industry; and to instill, improve and promote the “Hafa Adai-Tirow” hospitality spirit throughout the island community. (MVA)
