PAL and DOT in San Francisco promote new destinations, travel features

Dell Merano-PAL Area Manager SF, Riza Penaredondo-PAL Sector Mgr, Freddie Cuatico-Phil. Tour Operator, Pura Suanding Molintas, PDOT Director, Terrence Reagan-winner of RT Business Class SFO-MNL from Berkeley’s Northside Travel and Bang Ang-PAL AVP. CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO –Philippine Airlines and the Philippine Department of Tourism in San Francisco last week jointly presented the best of what the Philippines and the airlines can offer to a wide swath of world travelers.

Six hotels and resorts vendors from the Philippines had tables with their brochures, offering quick turn-around tours or “quick nights” and weeklong stays at world-renowned resorts and hideaways. San Francisco Bay Area travel agents consisting of Chinese and Caucasian tour operators attended the event and had face-to-face talk with their Filipino counterparts.

San Francisco Tourism Director Purificacion S. Suanding-Molintas, PAL Assistant Vice President for International Passenger Sales Bryan L. Ang and Delia Merano, area manager, made Power-Point presentations highlighting the “beauty of the Philippines” and the latest additions to tourism spots like Palawan and Bohol resorts.

Molintas reported that there with 534 newly found islands the total is now at 7,634 islands. PAL promoted its new aircrafts and expanding hubs like Cebu and Clark Field; other domestic, Asian, Middle-East and US Destinations; as well as multiple flights to and from Manila and other cities.

Ang said that on PAL’s 75^th anniversary last year the airlines embarked on a five-year program to be the first and only five-star full service carrier in the Philippines. “And now that we turned 76 this year, friends, we’re not about to slow down,” Ang added.

On PAL’s 76^th anniversary, it signed an agreement for the acquisition of two new Boing 777-300ERs, as their flagship aircraft. “These will be delivered December this year and the month after. Meanwhile, we are reconfiguring our Airbus A330, installing fewer but brand new seats,” Ang disclosed.

By taking away more than a hundred seats, the whole cabin becomes very spacious, allowing for a tri-class cabin consisting of Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class. Eight of these A330s will have lie-flat Business Class seats.

“We are likewise very excited to receive our 6 new A350s, which will be delivered starting next year. This will allow us to fly directly between Manila and New York, as well as other cities on the East Coast,” Ang said.

Attendees were treated to surprise raffle prizes. Grand prize winner of round-trip Business Class to Manila and on to Davao was Terrence Reagan from Berkeley’s Northside Travel. It will be his first trip to the Philippines.

The Philippine hotel and resorts tour operators were Raissa Wynne Teo, President of Mt. Apo Travel & Tours specializing in Davao and Baguio City tour packages; Antonio Ang, general manager of Ang’s Tour Inc; Frederick Cuatico, president, Great Sights Travel & Tours Corp.; Wilson Techico, VP, Uni-Orient Travel Inc.; and Ruben Co, president, New Goldmines Tours & Travel Corp.