Tourism promotions body optimistic on new leadership

MANILA, Philippines — The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is optimistic of the country’s tourism marketing and promotions initiatives this year, as it is set to operate under a new leadership.

In statement, the TPB welcomed Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones as its new chief operating officer (COO), as she succeeds Marie Venus Tan, who recently announced her retirement.

“Atty. Velasco-Allones will lead TPB’s continuing campaign to manage all domestic and international marketing and promotional efforts for Philippine tourism an Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events (MICE) industries,” the TPB said.

“Aside from promoting and supporting sustainable tourism, TPB will also participate in numerous travel expositions, strengthen its social media presence, and continue ongoing projects to help increase the number of local and inbound tourists,” it added.

Allones is set to assume office as TPB COO on Feb. 10.

“Under her leadership, TPB is looking forward to a purposeful year of promoting the country to become the most preferred tourist destination in the Asia Pacific by 2022,” the TPB said.

Prior to her appointment, she served as executive director of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) since 2007.

Under her leadership, CESB received international recognition form the UN-Asia Pacific Center for ICT in 2009 and 2010 for bridging the information and communications technology (ICT) capacity gap of government executives in the Philippines to achieve socio-economic and development goals.

She also served as assistant secretary for personnel of the Department of National Defense from 1999-2001 and as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment from 2001-2006.

Allones completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines. She obtained her Master in Public Management from the joint program of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy-National University of Singapore and the Kennedy School of Government-Harvard University.

She currently serves as a core faculty member of the Ateneo School of Government and is a resident faculty of CESB’s Leadership and Management Proficiency Program.

The incoming TPB COO is a receipt of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award in the field of Human Resource Development in government service in the Philippines in 2009 for her extensive achievements in public sector, organizational development and strategic human resource management.

The TPB is the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT).