Miri (Sarawak, Malaysia), July 7, 2026 – Within the framework of the 6th International Conference on Responsible Tourism & Hospitality (ICRTH 2026), the Vietnam Executive Housekeepers Association (VEHA) was honored with the "Special Judges Award" at the Responsible Tourism Awards in Southeast Asia 2026 (RTA-SEA Awards 2026) presentation ceremony.

 

The moment VEHA was announced by the international panel of judges to receive the "Special Judges Award"

 

The "Responsible Tourism Awards in Southeast Asia 2026" is a prestigious accolade co-organized by ICRT-SEA and Responsible Borneo. As a regional program under the umbrella of the "Global Responsible Tourism Awards," it aims to honor organizations, businesses, and initiatives that generate positive economic, social, and environmental impacts on local communities. The awards seek to minimize the negative impacts of tourism while recognizing and replicating exemplary practices and models in responsible tourism worldwide.

 

The Special Judges Award is a distinctive recognition determined by the Panel of Judges to honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions and created multifaceted, positive impacts on the development of responsible and sustainable tourism.

 

 

 Mr. Nguyen Quang, representing VEHA, receives the "Special Judges Award" Certificate at the Responsible Tourism Awards in Southeast Asia 2026

 

This represents a historic milestone for both the housekeeping community and the wider hospitality industry in Vietnam and the ASEAN region. It marks the first time a Vietnamese hospitality professional association has been recognized at an international award dedicated to responsible tourism development.

 

 

 The Responsible Tourism Awards in Southeast Asia 2026 ceremony gathers numerous regional tourism organizations and enterprises

 

Recognizing Sustainable Values Pursued by VEHA

 

Throughout more than 12 years of formation and growth, VEHA has continuously built a united, professional, and globally integrated professional community. This has been achieved through various strategic activities, including training, vocational competency standardization, skills competitions, business matching, connecting local suppliers, promoting green transformation, fostering sustainable development, driving corporate social responsibility and expanding cooperation with professional associations across the ASEAN region. VEHA has significantly contributed positive values to the community while enhancing service quality and the competitive edge of Vietnam's hospitality industry.

 

These comprehensive contributions have been officially recognized by the international Panel of Judges through the presentation of the Special Judges Award to VEHA.

 

 

 The RTA-SEA 2026 Awards Ceremony hall  

 

"The award is a powerful catalyst for us to continue delivering greater value to the community"

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Quang – Vice President of the Vietnam Hotel Association (VHA) and President of VEHA – expressed his deep emotion and extended his gratitude to the Organizers and the RTA-SEA 2026 Panel of Judges for establishing such a meaningful and impactful platform for sustainable tourism development. He also conveyed his sincere thanks to the leadership of the Vietnam Tourism Association, the Vietnam Hotel Association for their unwavering support, and especially to the Executive Committee and VEHA members, with partners who have accompanied VEHA throughout its journey of growth.

 

"VEHA is deeply honored to receive the Special Judges Award from the international panel of judges," stated Mr. Nguyen Quang. "This accolade is not only the pride of the Executive Committe and all VEHA members but also a testament to the dedication of thousands of executive housekeepers, hotel professionals, corporate partners, and local communities who have joined hands with us to foster a professional, responsible, and sustainable hospitality industry. We firmly believe that by investing in people, we generate long-term economic, social, and environmental values for the community. When communities are guided toward structured and professional growth, the hospitality and tourism industry will thrive sustainably."

 

He further emphasized that the "Special Judges Award" is not a final destination, but rather a powerful driving force for VEHA to continually innovate, expand international cooperation, develop high-quality human resources, and propagate best practices. This will contribute to building a Vietnamese hospitality industry that is increasingly professional, greener, more responsible, and deeply integrated into the region and the world.

 

Affirming the International Stature of the Vietnamese Housekeeping Community

 

Felicitation with the "Special Judges Award" is not only a proud moment for the Vietnamese housekeeping community but also affirms the increasingly vital role of professional associations in partnering with businesses, regulatory bodies, and communities to realize sustainable tourism goals

 

This international accolade reinforces VEHA's strategic direction: adopting a human-centric approach, driving innovation, strengthening partnerships, and creating long-lasting value for the community, thereby elevating the position of Vietnam’s hospitality sector on both the regional and global tourism maps