October 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Many celebrities have diversified their income streams into the hospitality industry. They continue to expand their portfolios beyond their successful careers by investing in hotels and other related ventures. Aside from these hotels being associated with A-list stars, the prospect of meeting them personally is an added attraction to the establishments and boosts tourism in the area.
Oscar winner Robert De Niro owns a boutique hotel, The Greenwich, and has investments in several restaurants, as well as a new hotel project on the island of Barbuda. Renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, of “The Godfather” series, owns the Family Coppola Hideaways, which features opulent hotels and lodges in Belize, Guatemala, Argentina and Italy. His All-Movie Hotel in Peachtree City, Georgia, offers state-of-the-art post-production facilities and visitor accommodations. Celebrities who have invested in these business initiatives recognize the significance of the hospitality industry in generating financial and employment opportunities.
It is essential to possess a high standard of education if one wants to build a thriving career and achieve personal growth in this dynamic industry. This is what the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM) of the Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) provides students through its programs.
College of Hospitality and Tourism Management dean Dr. Maria Rhoda Dinaga.
As an indication of CHTM’s continued pursuit of academic excellence, its Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) program has recently received a Level 4 accreditation from the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc.
“The accreditation is fundamentally a testament to the collective dedication of the entire CHTM community, such as the department heads, faculty members, students and the community we served both then and now,” shared Dr. Maria Rhoda Dinaga, dean of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Years of service, commitment, hard work and tenacity have paid off. “It is a milestone that motivates us to aim higher and pursue even greater achievements in the years ahead,” said Dr. Loida Banzuelo, department head of Hospitality Management.
It all started under the College of Industrial Technology (CIT), when Dr. Esteban Robiso led the program’s preliminary accreditation initiative, ensuring compliance with AACCUP standards and laying the groundwork for curriculum development, faculty training and resource allocation. Then, the College of Hospitality Management (CHM), headed by Dr. Celia Cariño, attained Level II and Level III accreditations.
Hospitality Management department head Dr. Loida Banzuelo.
This year marks a major accomplishment as the program earned a Level IV accreditation, the highest honor given by AACCUP, under the supervision of Dean Dinaga. Through her leadership, the BSHM program is further strengthened through the implementation of Outcome-Based Education (OBE), enhanced research productivity, expanded international collaborations and intensified community engagement.
Dean Dinaga and Dr. Banzuelo talked about their respective works in CHTM. “Seeing our students walk in as hopeful freshmen and then watching them graduate as confident, globally minded professionals, ready-equipped with knowledge, skills and competency to shape the future of service, is the ultimate reward. It’s a joy to be a shepherd to the next generation of innovators,” enthused Dr. Dinaga, who has been a dean for almost 10 years now.
Dr. Banzuelo added, “The best part of serving as department head is having the privilege to shape the direction of the department toward excellence. Leading with a focus on development gives me the chance to continuously elevate the standards of our academic community.”
Attaining Level IV accreditation indicates new challenges, including sustaining excellence, deepening international partnerships and driving innovation in teaching, research and extension. CHTM’s BS Hospitality Management program will continue to uphold EARIST’s noble mission of preparing globally competitive graduates who make meaningful contributions to the hospitality and tourism industry.
