Economic conditions caused postponement of MTEC golf fundraiser

The 2024 Marianas Tourism Golf Cup Classic scheduled for Oct. 12, 2024 was postponed due to the current local economic conditions.

“The MTEC board discussed the situation with our business partners and stakeholders, and with the current economic conditions we decided to postpone the fundraising event to next year,” said MTEC chair Vicky Benavente.

Rest assured, Benavente said MTEC will continue its educational outreach efforts and other initiatives with the CNMI community despite the postponement of its signature fundraiser.

“We did have golfers sign up and looking forward to playing. We also had a few sponsors who came on board. But the usual major sponsors were not in the position to assist this year, citing business levels over the past year or so,” she added.

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion said they support MTEC’s decision to postpone the 2024 Marianas Tourism Golf Cup Classic.

“The MVA understands the decision by the Marianas Tourism Education Council to postpone the Marianas Tourism Golf Classic to 2025 due to the challenging economic environment right now. We support their decision and will work with them again as we prepare for the tournament to take place in the coming months. We thank the MTEC board of directors for their dedication towards educating our youth about our tourism industry.”

MTEC said a date will be announced for the 2025 Marianas Tourism Golf Cup Classic. Registered players will be issued a refund from their venue of registration (original credit card required, if registered with card). For more information, contact MVA Community Project specialist Jack Aranda at jaranda@mymarianas.com or (670) 664-3200.

MTEC is a non-profit organization formed in 2002 that aims to heighten the community’s awareness of the importance of tourism to the well-being of the people of the Marianas. Its stated mission is three-fold—to foster community understanding and support of the visitor industry; to educate the general public, especially school students, about the value, social benefits, and economic contributions made to the community by the visitor industry; and to instill, improve, and promote the “Hafa Adai-Tirow” hospitality spirit throughout the island community.

Vicky Benavente