Sustainability may well be 2019’s biggest buzzword and with the coming of the new decade, tech and innovation are not far behind. These can be felt across many industries, including hospitality and tourism.

When it comes to sustainability, Sheraton Manila’s general manager Anna Vergara says it’s not just about choosing to use local and organic materials and ingredients anymore. It’s about promoting advocacies and sharing best practices among hotels to ensure a more sustainable industry as a whole.

Likewise, The Peninsula Manila’s food and beverage director Jose Jimenez believes in the importance of planning and forecasting, especially when it comes to food. A simple formula: Good products produce good food, and thus result in less wastage.

Dusit Thani Manila’s general manager Stanley Lo and Diamond Hotel’s general manager Vanessa Suatengco both discuss the role technology now plays in hospitality. Lo notes the importance of tapping big data to better address guest expectations. Suatengco, meanwhile, notes the ways hotels can digitalize to improve the guest experience.