Guam Legislature adopts resolution honoring Lourdes “Lou” Sanchez for 30 years of service

Sen. Munya Barnes presented and read a resolution commending Lourdes “Lou” Sanchez for more than 30 years of service to Guam’s tourism, marketing and banking sectors during a session of the 31st Guam Legislature.

The resolution, read into the record by Sen. Munya Barnes, “be it resolved that the Committee on Rules of Guam does hereby on behalf of the people of Guam commend and congratulate Lourdes ‘Lou’ Sanchez for her 30 years of commitment and dedicated service to the people of Guam.” The text included a summary of Sanchez’s work in telecom, banking, office products, health insurance and real estate and cited more than a decade as a sales and marketing manager for Continental Airlines.

The nut graf: Legislators formally recognized Sanchez’s long-running role in promoting Guam and the Micronesia region — including leading the Micronesian Roadshow and coordinating with tourism offices across the Pacific — as a contribution to the island’s economy and cultural outreach.

The resolution lists regions and events tied to Sanchez’s work, saying her responsibilities covered Guam, Palau, Yap, Fiji, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Majuro, Saipan, Cairns, Hong Kong and Manila. It credits her with launching and expanding the Micronesian Roadshow beginning in 2008, coordinating with the Northern Queensland tourism office in Cairns and promoting Guam at travel expos and events such as the Guam Micronesia Island Fair, the IPIC half marathon and 10K races, PATA meetings, and other tourism conferences.

According to the resolution text read aloud, Sanchez “regularly collaborated with the U.S. Navy and Air Force” for annual travel shows and worked with Continental’s Manila sales team and the Guam Visitors Bureau’s Manila office to participate in the Philippines’ largest travel expo. The resolution also states that Continental and the Guam Visitors Bureau received awards for marketing strategy tied to her efforts.

Lourdes “Lou” Sanchez, the guest of honor, accepted the presentation and told the Legislature she has “recently joined First Hawaiian Bank” and remains active in regional tourism work. “I love Guam. I love my family. Thank you for supporting me all these years,” Sanchez said.

The resolution text named Speaker Judith T.P. Won Pat and Sen. Rory Respicio as signatories and lists Sen. Munya Barnes as legislative secretary; the reading stated the measure had been duly adopted by the 31st Guam Legislature and that copies would be transmitted to Sanchez and other named officials.

The presentation was ceremonial; the resolution recognizes Sanchez’s career and asks that copies of the measure be transmitted to her and the officials named in the resolution. No budgetary or regulatory action was attached to the recognition.