The Philippines’ Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) brings back its annual online travel sale on 1 September.

HSMA made the announcement at a press event on Wednesday, 14th August.

HSMA’s September Online Sale (SOS) offers discounts as low as 75 percent on hotel staycations, resort stays, as well as dining packages and on-site experiences.

This year’s SOS offerings also include packages for meetings, conferences, birthdays, weddings, and other special events.

Around 85 hotels and resorts from across the country are slated to participate in the month-long event which began in 2020, gaining ground throughout the pandemic years.

HSMA secretary and SOS project head Maria Celeste Romualdo said of the event: “We aim to boost revenue for our member hotels, generating income and supporting their comeback. We [also] want the sale to be a catalyst for inspiring travel and exploration across the Philippines.”

A pandemic success story

The annual sale started in 2020 to help the hospitality sector, the hardest hit during the pandemic, stay afloat amidst the devastating impact of the global health emergency.

The SOS has since generated PHP98.3 million in revenue after selling at least 16,436 stay packages between 2020 to 2023.

The event recorded its highest sales in 2022, clocking in at PHP35.6 million just as the easing of restrictions prompted revenge travel.