From the southern tip of Mindanao to the Southeast Asian spotlight, Palacio del Sur has once again put Zamboanga City on the tourism map as the sole Mindanao recipient at the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards 2026 in Cebu City.
Operated by Marcian Garden Hotel, Inc., the Zamboanga-based venue earned recognition under the ASEAN MICE Venue – Event Venue Category, reserved for facilities that excel in hosting meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions. For Palacio del Sur, the award is more than a trophy, it reflects years of consistent quality and dedication to world-class hospitality.
Raising the Bar for Regional Tourism
The ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards honor destinations and establishments across Southeast Asia for excellence in sustainability, urban tourism management, and events infrastructure. Categories include the Green Hotel Award, Clean Tourist City Award, MICE Venue Awards, and the Sustainable Tourism Award.
The Department of Tourism Zamboanga (DOT Zamboanga) highlighted that Palacio del Sur has become a benchmark for professionalism and service excellence, successfully passing stringent nomination processes, detailed site inspections, and comprehensive ASEAN evaluations.
“As the only awardee from Region IX in this category, Palacio del Sur brings pride not just to Zamboanga Peninsula, but to the entire Philippine tourism industry,” DOT Zamboanga said.
A Record of Consistent Excellence
This year’s recognition marks the hotel’s third ASEAN Tourism Standards Award, following wins in 2020 for the Meeting Room Category and in 2024 for the Event Venue Category. These repeated honors underscore Palacio del Sur’s commitment to high standards, innovation, and guest satisfaction.
A total of 27 Philippine tourism establishments and local government units were recognized at the 2026 awards. Other Event Venue Category recipients included facilities from Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa, Baguio Country Club, and The Bellevue Resort.
Boosting Confidence in ASEAN Tourism
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco lauded the awardees, emphasizing that such recognitions reflect disciplined management, responsible decision-making, and consistent service excellence. She noted that these achievements strengthen confidence in ASEAN as a unified tourism destination.
The awards were presented during the ASEAN Tourism Forum, a three-day event hosted by Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City from January 28 to 30, highlighting the Philippines’ role in advancing regional tourism collaboration.
