The Makati Tourism Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) welcomed the new set of officers for 2015 through an induction at the office of Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay Jr. on February 27.

Binay Jr., who sits as the chairman of the foundation, led the oath-taking of Dr. Elton See Tan (chairman, The E-Hotels and Resort Group), incoming president now on his second term; Wally Cervantes (VP for leisure and travel, Baron Travel) as vice president; Adele Majaba (president, Danex International), treasurer; and Shiella Aguilar (Strategic Landbank Management Group of Ayala Land Inc.), secretary.

The trustees are Philippe Bartholomi (Y2 Residence Hotel), Robert Yupangco (Zoomanity and YAMAHA Group), Jeoff Solas (Best Western Plus Antel Hotel), Edgar Santos (Wine and Liquor Distributor), Cathy Park (Kaya Korean Restaurant) and Clarissa Bonsol (Expat Magazine), Agnes Macapia (Palm Rock Residences/Le Soleil de Boracay), Ed Arcilla (Good Clay), and Eduardo Madrid (Korea Post). Meanwhile, Voltaire Villegas will represent MTFI as executive director.

A non-stock, non-profit organization, MTFI was created in 2000 to promote Makati as the top business and tourism destination in the country through projects and events. Over the years, it organized projects like “Soul of the Makati City Tour” for tourists and HoReCa Festival 2014, an event participated by hotels, restaurants, catering companies, and cafés. It promoted facilities for persons with disabilities through the PWD-Friendly Establishment Awards and disseminated detailed, handy and tourist-friendly maps.

With the onset of a brighter and better business opportunity for the year, the new MTFI team aims to pursue its mission to foreign and local tourists, generate a wider scope of its membership, and create stronger partnerships among all its stakeholders.