NAGA CITY -– Harnessing the critical mass of unity and cooperation, operators of tourism-related establishments in Bicol organized themselves into Bicol Association of Hotels and Restaurants (BAHR), laying out plans for institutional undertakings that will give the industry a boost to better its services for clients coming from different parts of the globe.

        Now holding series of meetings weekly in different hotels and restaurants in the region, the operators continuously pursue exploratory discussions to address the emerging challenges on the manpower competence and the effective services of major facilities of their establishments.

        BAHR Interim President Lawrence Tan said the weekly meetings, now on its third, were a prelude to the more grandeur convention of hotel-restaurant owners and the launching of their organization on February 8, 2008 at the Avenue Convention Plaza here.

        National tourism figures expected to grace the region-wide convention includes Senator Richard Gordon and the incumbent president of Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines who will give his inspirational message. Gordon’s keynote speech will underscore the roles of hotels and restaurants in tourism development.

        Tan said the convention will serve as an effective tool for the industry to start up new trends and innovations such as hotel registration of the customers thru the internet, the provision of personal services to guests and other customer-friendly approaches and strategies.

        Chairman Daniel A. De Leon of the Bicol Regional Tourism Council (BRTC) and the Department of Tourism headed by Regional Director Nini Ravanilla have been working in synergy with the BAHR to firm up areas of complementation among its members.

        Pampanga-based food chain owner and tour organizer Angelito Ong encouraged tourism figures in Bicol during the December 3 Tourism Summit to find ways to improve the services of the industry and make them attuned to the global standard with the region as frontline of the tourism flagship program of the national government. Ong is planning to bring in some 1,000 local and foreign tourists in Bicol by midyear.

        Convention secretariat is charging P200-registration fee for every tourism student, P300/faculty member of tourism courses and P500 each for professionals/operators of tourism-related establishments.