Melo Villareal
Agoda.com, one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), has forged a partnership agreement with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), to grow the online exposure for the Philippines as a premiere tourist destination.
The Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines and Agoda.com formalized their partnership in a Memorandum of Agreement signing at Fairmont Makati recently with (from left) TPB’s Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III and Agoda.com’s Vice President of Partner Development Lennart van der Beek. Together both companies share the same vision in boosting the country’s tourism so that travelers can now enjoy their overall stay through the wide network of hotels with the best rates and experience the Filipino hospitality.
On ItsMoreFuninthePhilippines.com – the Philippines’ flagship tourism website – visitors can browse DOT-accredited hotels & resort throughout the country all with Agoda.com signature offerings such as its Best Price Guarantee, room availability, and exclusive promotions. The hotel listings are available in 38 languages and 45 currencies, meaning consumers around the world can shop with ease and certainty.
The partnership announcement is another positive development for Philippine tourism, following the country’s recent international recognition as one of the top destinations for 2014, according to British publications such as The Daily Telegraph and Rough Guides. In the last quarter of 2013, readers of American magazine Condé Nast Traveler rated the “Cebu and Visayas Islands” 80.4 out of 100 due to the friendly locals, beautiful scenery, and endless beaches.
Agoda.com’s Vice President of Partner Development Lennart van der Beek said: “As one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites, we see immense value in working in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines. With more than 7,000 islands, the country offers many of Asia’s “bests” – from white-sand beaches to breathtaking landscapes to diverse marine life. We are thrilled to extend our best-in-class hotels offerings to domestic and international visitors of the Philippines.”
TPB’s Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III said: “It is with great pleasure for the Tourism Promotions Board to welcome the partnership with Agoda in these times where digitalization is a growing trend in every business. Thru Agoda, this instant-online-hotel-reservations-service will enable visitors of the It’s More Fun in the Philippines website to immediately book their stay in the Philippines. Travelling to the Philippines is more convenient allowing domestic and foreign tourists to experience a direct access to real-time rates on accommodation. It is high time that we convert our website views into actual hotel bookings. With Agoda, everyone can now easily access this service and help tourist get a chance to experience that world renowned Filipino hospitality immediately.”
Both organizations encourage yet-to-be listed Philippine properties to sign up in the Agoda.com network for greater online exposure and stronger foothold in the international playing field. In line with the TPB’s thrust of creating a world-class Philippine tourism marketplace, domestic hotels listed on Agoda.com are able to take advantage of its instant confirmation and best price guarantee, both features are readily available to customers in just few simple clicks.
To learn about special deals and promotions on hotels in the Philippines, connect at www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com or go directly to www.agoda.com/morefunph . For hotels or properties who want to be part of our global network you may email [email protected].
