The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) has celebrated its 120th anniversary at the officially opened plug-and-play events place, COLLAB, of its longtime partner Sheraton Manila Hotel.
AmCham’s birthday bash last August 24 was graced by MaryKay Loss Carlson, the new US ambassador to the Philippines.
At the afternoon symposium titled “Why MICE is NICE”, AmCham Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe, Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Gary Domingo, Sheraton Manila Hotel General Manager Anna Vergara, and Marriott Multi-Property Vice President Philippines Bruce Winton, together with other industry leaders, talked about the opportunities in the Philippines.
“I really appreciate what they said about the Philippine people, and their energy, power, and purpose. Not only is it fun in the Philippines, but there are people with a purpose here,” said Carlson, who has been posted to US Diplomatic Missions in China, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic.
In her very short time in the country, she has come to appreciate the connections between people in the US and in the Philippines.
“The Philippines everywhere makes very important connections,” the career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of minister-counselor pointed out.
Carlson added that leveraging the power of the Filipino people is the future, drawing on the experiences from the pandemic and leveraging opportunities that have emerged during that period.
Stoked to be in the country, in the first days of the new administration, she said the new Philippine President made a very important point which is to focus on the economy. Carlson said that is imperative as what American businesses and others want are transparency and predictability in the environment and the business ecosystem.
“I think we are seeing that with this administration with so many technocrats and experienced people,” she stressed.
“We have got a foundation to build upon and I am so excited to be here to be a part of it,” she added.
For his part, Winston said Marriott International’s mission is to engage the community and to participate in the business environment.
“And we do that through special partnerships like the one that we have with AmCham,” he said.