De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) recently hosted a benchmarking visit from Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) on June 25, 2025, focusing on the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) and its best practices in hospitality education and income-generating operations.
The visit was part of MMSU’s preparation for the refurbishment and renovation of four income-generating sites under the CHED Sustainable Tourism Education Program Upgrading Project (STEP UP) grant. The delegation, composed of Dr. Sheila Baquiran, Dr. Eva Jean Viernes, Mr. Jericho Padamada, Mr. Quincy Savellano, Ms. Kathlyn Tomas, and Ms. Princess Muñoz, engaged in comprehensive discussions and a guided tour of SHRIM’s academic programs, laboratories, hatcheries, and support services.
During the engagement, SHRIM shared its integrated approach to hands-on learning, industry alignment, and operational management of income-generating ventures, providing MMSU with valuable insights for their own STEP UP project. MMSU also expressed interest in faculty capacity-building initiatives, which SHRIM warmly welcomed as an area for potential collaboration.
Both institutions agreed to schedule a follow-up meeting to explore the collaboration in greater depth and to formalize the partnership through an official agreement.
This benchmarking activity highlights Benilde’s commitment to sharing best practices in hospitality and tourism education, fostering collaboration that not only strengthens institutional capacities but also advances sustainable, industry-relevant training for future hospitality professionals.
