MIRI, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA, 9 July 2026 – At the 6th International Conference on Responsible Tourism & Hospitality (ICRTH 2026), Mr. Nguyen Quang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Hotel Association (VHA) and Chairman of the Vietnam Executive Housekeepers Association (VEHA), was invited by the Organizing Committee to serve as an Impact Stories Speaker, sharing VEHA’s best-practice model during the conference’s “Impact Stories” session.

Recognized as one of Southeast Asia’s notable forums on responsible tourism and hospitality, ICRTH 2026 brought together tourism experts, policymakers, researchers, hospitality leaders and industry practitioners to explore practical solutions for advancing sustainable tourism development across the region.

 

 

From a Professional Association to a Model for Community Value Creation

 

During his presentation, titled “Empowering People to Create Local Economic Value,” Mr. Nguyen Quang introduced VEHA’s inspiring journey over the past twelve years.

 

 

Established as a professional association dedicated to executive housekeepers, VEHA has grown into a dynamic national and international network connecting housekeeping leaders and hospitality professionals across Vietnam. Working closely with the Vietnam Hotel Association, businesses partners, educational institutions and International Housekeeping Association, VEHA has become a catalyst for professional excellence, workforce development and sustainable industry growth.

 

Rather than highlighting individual activities, Mr. Quang emphasized VEHA’s long-term impact model: Investing in People → Enhancing Professional Competencies → Improving Service Quality → Creating Greater Value for Businesses and Local Communities → Contributing to Sustainable Tourism Development

 

Investing in People Creates Sustainable Value

 

Through a wide range of professional development initiatives – including specialized training programmes, industry conferences, housekeeping skills competitions, business networking, the promotion of local products and environmentally responsible hotel operations – VEHA has helped strengthen workforce capabilities while generating meaningful economic, social and environmental value for local communities.

 

In his presentation, Mr. Nguyen Quang highlighted a key message: “Prioritizing human resource development is paramount to empowering communities from awareness to action, fostering business sustainability, and enabling tourism to generate greater social value."

 

 

The message resonated strongly with international delegates, demonstrating how a professional association can go beyond serving its members to create measurable benefits for businesses, local communities and the broader tourism ecosystem through workforce development and cross-sector collaboration.

 

International Recognition for Vietnam’s Housekeeping Community

 

In recognition of his valuable contribution to the conference, the ICRTH 2026 Organizing Committee presented Mr. Nguyen Quang with a Certificate of Appreciation for his role as an Impact Stories Speaker.

 

 

The recognition came alongside VEHA’s milestone achievement at the Responsible Tourism Awards in Southeast Asia (RTA-SEA) 2026, where the Association received the prestigious Special Judges Award. Together, these two moments reaffirm the growing reputation and international standing of Vietnam’s housekeeping profession and hospitality industry.

 

Sharing Vietnam’s Experience with the International Community

 

Through its participation at ICRTH 2026, VEHA reaffirmed its commitment to expanding collaboration with professional associations, educational institutions, tourism enterprises and international organizations to exchange knowledge, foster innovation, develop high-quality hospitality talent and promote responsible tourism practices across the region.

 

 

Over the past twelve years, VEHA has demonstrated that a professional association can become much more than a networking platform. By empowering people, strengthening professional standards and building meaningful partnerships, it can create lasting economic value for local communities while contributing to a more responsible, resilient and sustainable tourism industry.

 

 

This is the message VEHA proudly shared with the international community at ICRTH 2026: when people are empowered, communities prosper; and when communities prosper, tourism becomes truly sustainable.

 

Article & Photos: Phuong Linh