(Cebu, Philippines) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced that Flori-Anne Dela Cruz, youth representative to the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) Board of Directors, was named as the 2019 PATA Face of the Future. She was recognized in front of hundreds of tourism professionals at the PATA Annual Summit in Cebu, Philippines that occurred from May 9-12, 2019.  According to PATA, the Face of the Future is a prestigious honor open to young tourism professionals in the Asia Pacific region.

“On behalf of PATA, I would like to congratulate Flori-Anne on winning the 2019 PATA Face of the Future award. Her commitment to the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region and her views on how travel and tourism can contribute to a more sustainable and socially responsible industry will be a welcome asset to the 2019/2020 PATA Executive Board,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy.

Dela Cruz was one of the debaters at the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO)/PATA Leaders Debate during the PATA Annual Summit. She was also invited to join as a non-voting member and observer in the 2019-2020 PATA Executive Board.

“To be recognized with the prestigious PATA Face of the Future award is truly an honor. I will be forever humbled by this recognition. Today’s society has access to numerous opportunities with just a click of a button. With this, we should utilize technological innovations to lead an ambitious and proactive role in shifting the tourism industry to become more sustainable, accessible, and culturally sensitive,” said Dela Cruz. “Through collaborative efforts, we need to seek out ways on how we can accomplish this vision in the most effective and resourceful manner. I look forward to an exciting and interesting venture with PATA and other industry stakeholders in seeking out these ways.”

Dela Cruz’s aspirations for the future of travel and a sustainable tourism industry are expressed by the acronym GUAM (Going Green, Understanding Cultures, Appreciating Diversity, and Making Travel Accessible for All). She believes these visions can best be achieved through the collaborative efforts between all travel and tourism stakeholders and other industries.

GVB President and CEO Pilar Laguaña, who nominated Dela Cruz, noted this award is historic for Guam. “She is the first female and representative from Guam to have received this prestigious award from PATA. We are truly delighted for Flori-Anne. She has a unique opportunity to mentor young tourism professionals in our region and participate in international discussions that affect the future of the travel industry. This is great exposure for Guam in helping to raise our brand reputation and I couldn’t be more proud to have witnessed history in the making,” said Laguaña.

Guam’s first female governor, the Honorable Lourdes Leon Guerrero, recently appointed Dela Cruz as the youth representative to the GVB Board of Directors.

Dela Cruz graduated this past December with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and International Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Guam (UOG). She also received her Associate's degree in Travel and Tourism Management from the Guam Community College (GCC). She is currently employed as a marketing specialist at ASC Trust, the largest provider of retirement plan management services in Micronesia.

Media Contact: JOSH TYQUIENGCO - Public Information Officer