Tourism and Hospitality Industry News Updates brought to you by MY RANGGO Hospitality Magazine for the week ending 26 September 2025.
Our Tourism & Hospitality Industry News Headlines:-
- Hotel Attacked During Anti-Corruption March
- First Manila Senior Tour Guides Begin Training
- Manila Artishan Rescheduled As Another Typhoon Looms
- ₱5M Grants For Innovative Tourism Projects Launched
- World Travel Index Lists Top 10 Philippine Cities
- Tacio’s Bistro Expands Into Franchise Market
- Paris’s Annual Course Des Cafes 2025
- Rising Traveler Demand for AI Trip Assistants
- Google Launches Protocol For AI Agent Purchases
Hotel Attacked During Anti-Corruption March
Sogo Hotel on Recto Avenue found itself under attack from protesters on Sunday 21 September, during the Anti-Corruption March. The hotels doors and front windows were smashed, and the brave staff team on duty resorted to barricading the entrance area using the lobby sofas and chairs.
While the march was mostly peaceful, areas around Recto Avenue saw outbreaks of violent behavior on Sunday. This may have been in response to the planned route to Malacañang Palace being blocked by Police.
Manila Police District spokesperson, Major Phiipp Ines reported that more than 113 people were arrested, across the various Manila protest routes and locations. He also reported that 93 police personnel sustained injuries during the protests.
The Hotel Sogo chain is managed by the Global Comfort Group Corp.
First Manila Senior Tour Guides Begin Training
Thirty senior citizens began their Community Tour Guide training in Manila this week. The seniors, whose ages range between 60-79 years, began their training on Wednesday 23 September at the Centro de Turismo Intramuros. Most come from, or live in, districts close to Intramuros.
The training program aims to equip the seniors to become ambassadors of heritage and inclusive tourism, and includes:-
- The Filipino Brand of Service Excellence,
- Philippine & Intramuros history,
- Guiding techniques, and
- Hands-on training.
The employment program is a partnership project between the Department of Tourism, the National Commission of Senior Citzens (NCSC) and the Intramuros Administration.
The DOT and the National Commission of Senior Citizens only signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – which included creating senior citizen tourism job opportunities and involving them in tourism training initiatives – on the 21st May, read more
Manila Artishan Rescheduled As Another Typhoon Looms
The much anticipated Manila Artishan event, originally set to take place on 27 & 28 September, has been rescheduled as another typhoon is predicted to hit Manila this weekend.
Intended to be a large open-air art event at Plaza Mexico, Pasig River Esplanade, Manila, Artsihan will now be held on October 4-5, at the same location from 2pm until 10pm each day.
Featured Artists include:
Follow the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila for updates.
₱5M Grants For Innovative Tourism Projects Launched
The Tourism Start-Up Challenge (TSC) 2025 – a nationwide competition for higher education students – was launched on September 24, 2025 at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros, Manila.
Three ₱5M Grants are up for grabs for innovative tourism projects from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The Department of Tourism (DOT), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), are looking for bold ideas that can transform the future of Philippine tourism in each of the three regions.
The competition process will see submitted project proposals go through provincial and regional vetting rounds for shortlisting.
Shortlisted proposals will then each receive a P250,000 grant, to refine their proposals ahead of the national competition. There three winners will be chosen and each awarded ₱5 million for project implementation.
“…. students will confront pressing challenges, push the boundaries of innovation, and collaborate with communities, industry leaders, and local governments to create real impact.” Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, CHED Chairperson.
The closing date for Project proposals is October 31, 2025. Higher Education Institutions are encouraged to submit their students proposals through their respective CHED Regional Offices.
World Travel Index Lists Top 10 Philippine Cities
The World Travel Index 2025 released its Top 10 Philippine Cities to visit this week. The results are based on safety, security, and traveler-friendly services.
WTI’s Top 10 Philippine Cities to Visit:–
- Davao City
- Makati City
- Puerto Princesa City
- Dumaguete City
- Bagio City
- Cebu City
- Iloilo City
- Manila
- Legazpi City
- Lapu-Lapu City
Tacio’s Bistro Expands Into Franchise Market
Tacio’s Bistro and Bar has taken its first steps into the Franchise Market this week, with the opening of Hangar 18, in Ermita.
Hangar 18 launched this weekend with a soft opening on Friday the 19th September, followed by a rousing Opening Night on the 20th with live bands.
Located on the ground floor of the historic Casa Tesoro Building, Mabini Street, Hangar 18 retains many of the interior features of former occupier Dakota Cabin, including its art work and the famous ceiling-suspended Dakota aircraft and wing.
Regulars of Dakota were pleased to be met with the familiar faces of its bar, wait and kitchen staff, as well as the new look venue. Many stayed on past their meal to enjoy the music, brought to them by Mud Honey Productions.
Bands on opening night were Save The Prophet, LVNA, Deadbeat Surfers, Band Ito Pili-Pinas, Wabash and F4E.
Hangar 18’s menu combines some of the most popular dishes from the Dakota Cabin menu, along with Tacio’s firm favorites.
Tacio’s Bistro can be found at New Frontier Theatre in Cubao, Tacio’s Bistro Boracay at Station 2 Boracay, and at Ondus Boracay Beach Resort.
Global Industry News Updates
Paris’s Annual Course Des Cafes 2025
The annual La Course des Cafés, a 4km race through the streets of Paris, took place on Sunday 21st September 2025. The race was first staged in 1914 and returned to Paris in 2024, after a 10 year break.
La Course des Cafés sees waiters speed walk through the Marais, along the Seine, and back to the starting point at Hôtel de Ville, while balancing trays with a coffee, a glass of water, and a croissant.
No running is allowed and if a drop of coffee or water is spilled the waiter is disqualified from the race – now that takes skill!
This year was also the first year that the general public could take part, with 150 competitor spots made available.
Catch a great reel of the race here
What would be on the waiters tray if the Philippines hosted a similar Race?
Rising Traveler Demand for AI Trip Assistants
Amadeus, a global travel and tourism tech company, has recently released a report which includes data and insight in to the rising demand for Gen AI Trip Assistants and Planners.
The report, How will technology transform travel in the next decade? is informed by a survey undertaken with 9,700 travelers. Insights include a rise in the numbers of people who now consider Gen AI an “Influential Source of Research” for trips and vacations, increasing from 11% in 2024 to 18% in 2025.
Read More Here
Google Launches Protocol For AI Agent Purchases
On Tuesday 23 September, Google announced new open protocol which will enable AI Agents to make Purchases. A development which could help Hotels and Tour Operators to secure a bigger share of the market through direct bookings.
The Agent Payment Protocols (AP2) are the first steps ahead of developing and launching AI Agents that will soon be able to search, shop and purchase on behalf of consumers.
The protocol will cover:
The “Intent Mandate” (the User prompt)
e.g. “Build me a travel package to Boracay arriving 09/30/2025 for 5 nights, with return flights and round trip land transfer, staying in a deluxe room at a beachfront hotel in Station 3, with a pool and breakfast included”
The “Cart Mandate” which will enable final purchase approval once the package has been designed.
The system will be interoperable – meaning that the AI Agent can interact direct with vendors (Airlines, Hotels and tour operators) to negotiate the best deals, and with payment systems and gateways to purchase once the package is finalized.
The protocol development is already supported by over 60 merchants and financial institutions including Mastercard, American Express, PayPal and Coinbase, MetaMask and other cryptocurrency entities.
Read More at TechCrunch
