MTEC to host TourismSummit on Jan. 22-23

The Marianas Tourism Education Council will hold its annual MTEC Tourism Summit for Public School System students on Jan. 22-23, 2015, at Saipan World Resort.

The summit is expected to gather 600 students to learn about tourism and express their own thoughts on the Northern Marianas’ primary economic driver.

“MTEC visits the schools throughout the year, presenting information about the islands’ tourism and hospitality industry. The annual tourism summit gathers the MY WAVE clubs from the schools to increase awareness of the value of tourism development, “said Vicky Benavente, MTEC chairwoman. “Even at a young age, the summit participants will be able to learn about future careers and to understand the importance of caring for our natural environment, which is the number one reason most travelers will visit our islands,”

This year’s summit will feature guest speakers, MY WAVE Club presentations, historical displays, and cultural entertainment.

Glenn Policare will address elementary students on Jan. 22, 2015. Policare is Director of Sports, Entertainment and Activities at Pacific Islands Club Saipan. Policare earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism at College in San Luis Obispo. With 20 years experience working at PIC Saipan’s SEA Department, Policare worked through management from activities manager to department head to director. He is also a world traveler, avid writer, and lifeguard instructor/instructor trainer.

Fred R. Schumann, Ph.D., will address secondary level students on Jan. 23, 2015. Schumann is associate professor of Global Resources Management in the School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Guam. Schumannhas been active as a business executive in the Asia Pacific region for over 30 years, working with various multinational retail and hospitality firms. His primary research has been in the field of international tourism and trends in consumer spending. He has extensive experience in luxury and specialty retail, with groups such as DFS Guam and The Athlete’s Foot Group, Inc.. At TAF, he was responsible for 196 retail stores in 17 countries/territories as Franchise Director for the Asia Pacific region.

MTEC was formed in 2002 to heighten the community’s awareness of the importance of tourism to the well-being 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” hospitality spirit throughout the island community. (MTEC)