Cathay Pacific honors top producers in Hong Kong

When Cathay Pacific sends out an invitation, expect something worth your while, may it be a simple product update and introduction or a familiarization tour to any of the multi-awarded airline’s destinations. Whatever it is, one thing is for sure, there will never be a dull moment. I experienced all these when they invited some friends from the media and Cebu’s top travel agents  for their  Top Producers 2008 Awarding held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Hong Kong last March 13.

Since the awarding was scheduled the night after the group’s arrival in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific (CX), through CX - Cebu Manager Vicky Yue and the efficient Jewel Sanchez – CX Cebu’s Passenger Sales Executive, prepared a brief  itinerary for the group, making sure that every minute of our two-day Hong Kong tour wouldn’t be wasted.

We were billeted at the Hong Kong Skycity Marriott Hotel,   strategically located near the Hong Kong International Airport and is set on the banks of the South China Sea. It is also connected to the AsiaWorld Expo and just a few minutes away from Lantau’s attractions. We were then toured around the hotel by Winny Mui, Director of Marketing Communications; Ringo Yeung, Account Director – Travel Trade and Angel Leong, Marketing Communications Officer. Then, we went to Hong Kong Central for that impeccable dinner at the Peking Garden in Alexandra House a Michelin-accredited restaurant. A very pleasant surprise to everybody was the sudden arrival of Cathay Pacific’s former Cebu Manager Eddie Kong who joined us in the middle of our dinner. Vicky then treated all of us to Vero Chocolate Lounge for dessert. The atelier accommodates up to 150 people with a spectacular harbor view of the city. I promised myself not to take dessert after our festive dinner. But oh gosh! All those chocolates in different forms and sizes, not to mention the chocolatey smell of the place, was just so sinfully tempting that I drastically changed my mind! Yes, I indulged (to the max!) together with the whole group! Vero chocolates are handmade premium chocolates created freshly everyday with no preservatives or artificial flavors and sourced from the world’s finest cocoa plantations. Vero chocolates are exclusively sold only in Vero and Lane Crawford and is one of the “Top Five” things to buy in Hong Kong, according to the Wallpaper Magazine. The next time I will be in Hong Kong, Vero will definitely be in my itinerary.

The next day was our second and last day in Hong Kong. The day started with breakfast at the Hong Kong Skycity Marriott Hotel with the hotel’s Director of Sales, Jeanny Mak; Vicky and Jewel. Then, off we went to Kowloon to transfer to the Royal Garden Hotel along Tsimshatsui East. The Royal Garden Hotel is one of the finest luxury five star hotels in Hong Kong. It has 419 contemporary guest rooms, including 48 spacious and luxurious suites. From the design of the room to its choice of facilities, absolute quality and comfort is assured at The Royal Garden.

Jason Lin, Director of Sales; Heidi Chan, Public Relations Manager and Joe Cheung, Sales Manager headed the hotel tour before our lunch at the hotel’s The Greenery. While the others rushed to maximize our three-hour shopping break, Zee’s Cybil Gayatin, and I opted to spend another 30 minutes with Jason for the “to die for” freshly brewed coffee before panicking to Canton Road, Harbor City and Elements Mall. Thanks to Jason who suggested to us the best shopping areas to maximize our super limited shopping break. Too bad, Cybil and I decided to cancel our last stop at Temple Road since time was already running out. Back to the hotel to prepare for our trip’s main purpose, the Top Producers 2008 Awarding ceremonies.   

So, the Cathay Pacific Top 10 Producers 2008 Awarding ceremonies at the Royal Garden Hotel’s Dong Lai Shun Restaurant, another Michelin-accredited establishment. The awardees were: 1.) Travelways, Allan Carvajal; 2.) Grand Holidays, Liza Deloso; 3.) Fortune Travel, Aida Uy; 4.) Destination Specialists, Marget Fernan-Villarica; 5.) Leisure Travel, Sheila Colmenares; 6.) Global Link Travel, Jeanne Teh; 7.) Pan Pacific Travel, Gwen Po; 8.) Grand Hope Travel, Angelita “Baby” Dy; 9.) Worldwide Travel, Zenaida Chua; 10.) Uni Orient Travel, Rosita Mendaros.

Vicky and Jewel awarded the certificates of appreciation to all the awardees after the specially prepared dinner. To compliment the lavish multi-course dinner, Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005 was served to all of us. It won as the Best Business Class Red Wine in the Sky Awards 2008 and it is served in flight in all Cathay Pacific flights.

It was indeed a brief yet enjoyable trip. Yes, never a dull moment! Cheers to all the awardees and to Cathay Pacific!