HOST RECOGNITION + ACTIVITIES

FOUNDERS DAY

Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk (ESH)

BY KAIMI KALEI — Served up by Embassy Suites management team were Tutu Kelley’s famous waffles, alongside pancakes. We couldn’t forget the customizable sweet and savory toppings! Thank you to our food & beverage manager, Justyn Wee, for whipping up Estelle’s famous recipe and supplying the toppings.

Fairway Villas Waikoloa by OUTRIGGER (FVR)

BY KRIS NICKELSEN — The FVR team celebrated Founders Day with homemade waffles made by Melany Hunter, assistant general manager, straight out of the waffle maker.  There was a mix of great toppings and fruit-flavored syrups to make it a tasty start to the day. Later on, we celebrated Housekeepers Week to include those hosts who were not available during the official week of celebration. Not often is the entire team present in a single day, so it was a special opportunity for us to be together and made more memorable by proudly recognizing and honoring Roy and Estelle Kelley.

Hokulani Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGH)

BY MITCH YOKOYAMA — HGH hosts honored Roy & Estelle Kelley and celebrated with Liliha Bakery sweets and ice cream.

Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai by OUTRIGGER (KPR)

BY DONNA KING — The hosts at Kiahuna Plantation Resort by OUTRIGGER celebrated Founders Day by honoring Estelle Kelley’s tradition of making waffles for guests. In that spirit of hospitality, we shared our Aloha with our neighbors on Maui who were affected by the recent wildfires by selling Waffles for Maui. Each waffle was $5 with a choice of toppings. We raised $700. We wish our fellow Outrigger hosts on Maui the very best and hope that our contribution helps a little.

OHANA Waikiki East by OUTRIGGER (OEH)

BY KATHERINE ALLEN — For our host Founders Day celebration, we gave out desserts and recreated The OUTRIGGER “O” on the pool deck while an aerial shot was taken of our pool.

As part of our social media sharing, we had a surprise and delight for our guests at the pool; we handed out ice pops and refreshing cold beverages on the hot sunny day along with a sticker of the Kelleys.

OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort (FOR)

BY ASHNEEL CHAND — OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort celebrated Founders Day with a gathering where all hosts were invited to commemorate the founding of our company by Roy and Estelle Kelley. The team shared a celebratory cake at an after-tea event and took photos with posters of our highly respected founders. FOR Management also hosted a guest cocktail reception with our VIP guests sharing the journey of the OUTRIGGER brand since its founding by Roy and Estelle Kelley and how it has become an iconic global brand.

OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort (OKB)

BY WENDY MUNETAKE — A heartfelt mahalo to the incredible Kawenaokeao team for orchestrating a fun-filled day that celebrated Hawaiʻi’s rich history and culture in honor of Roy and Estelle Kelley.

Hoʻonui Villarimo, Kawenaokeao manager, shared that the team’s inspiration stemmed from the values and traditions embodied in Ke ʻAno Waʻa, paying tribute to the Kelleys for their dedication to the hospitality industry.  These principles have been passed down through generations, bridging the past with the present.

Our amazing food & beverage team fired up the grill serving tasty hot dogs and burgers while hosts cranked up the fun with some fantastic karaoke. It was an all-around “feel-good” day filled with fellowship and aloha spirit.

For Edwin Torres, Founders Day now holds an even more special significance, as he received a warm welcome into our OKB ʻohana and was presented with his very own kukui lei. This kukui lei carries great symbolism, as it originated from a young kukui sapling planted when our cultural program took root. The kukui lei we now cherish represents enlightenment. As we wear it, we carry the hope that we will continue to learn and grow together.

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OUTRIGGER Kauai Beach Resort & Spa (KBR)

BY JENNIE WONG — KBR hosts and guests enjoyed celebrating our Founders.

OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa (OKR)

BY VICKY AKANA — OKR celebrated Founder’s Day with our hosts. Executives and HR prepared waffles to serve our hosts and our amazing culinary staff prepared fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and tossed salad. Our talented executive chef and baker added the OUTRIGGER logo on a Chantilly cake for the hosts.  It was a great lunch celebrating and talking about the Kelleys. Luana Maitland was in town for the Aloha Shirt Festival and shared stories and her mana‘o with our hosts. It was a great day!

OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort (MAM)

BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — At MAM we began the day with a special breakfast where hosts and guests enjoyed delicious waffles and a photo op. We held a cocktail party and shared information on our founders.

On Founders Day, we celebrated not just the brand, but the enduring spirit of aloha that the entire OUTRIGGER team has shared with the world. It’s a reminder that genuine hospitality, respect for culture and a love for the land can create something truly extraordinary.

OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (ORF)

BY RENEE SPEAR — We celebrated the legacy of our company founders, Roy & Estelle Kelley, with our guests at the Voyager 47 Club by greeting them with sparkling wine, a specialty mai tai and cake for dessert, complemented by a hula dancer and ukulele musician!

OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels Thailand

BY SUKANYA SOMPHAN (Khun Orm) — Our guests and resort teams celebrated and had fun on Founders Day with a Hawaiian dance show followed by a fun OUTRIGGER quiz while enjoying homemade waffles, fresh coconuts and a cake-cutting ceremony and cocktails with our guests that evening. It was a great day honoring our founders, Roy and Estelle Kelley and Outrigger’s 76 years.

OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort (TKL)

OUTRIGGER Koh Samui Beach Resort (TKS)

OUTRIGGER Surin Beach Resort (TPM)

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OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort (OWK)

BY VICTORIA TAPICERIA — Our management team celebrated Founders Day by inviting all of our return guests to join us for waffles. All guests were gifted with Hula Pie and Mai Tai vouchers from Steve Miller, general manager, and surfboard keychains specially created by our team (“Made with Aloha from our ‘ohana to yours.”). It was an honor to have our guests share how long they’ve been loyal to the OUTRIGGER brand and how much they always look forward to returning to their home away from home.

We also celebrated Founders Day with our hosts and showed our appreciation by treating them to cake. They play such a significant role in how OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels has successfully grown over the years. Mahalo, Roy and Estelle Kelley; your legacy lives on.

OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel (OBC)

BY JAO GACUSAN — OBC celebrated Founders Day with a tasty waffle for breakfast for our property team specially made by Jennifer Yamada and Lauren Yamamoto. Why waffle you may ask? Estelle Kelley would treat her guests to her wonderful homemade waffles on Sundays, which brings us to the theme of this year’s event! 1947 A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. The team was taken back to the time when the first Aloha Shirt Festival was held, a time when the Aloha shirt was traditional office wear, a time when United Airlines began service to Honolulu and a time when the Polaroid camera (the first instant camera) was invented. While our team was enjoying the delicious waffles, Cecilia Hamao, general manager, led a fun game of trivia with prizes. The questions were all about 1947, OUTRIGGER and living The OUTRIGGER Way. Hosts received sweet treats for every correct answer. The team also took pictures with a Polaroid camera which were then posted on our Groovy Snapshots Board!

Such a fun and exciting time when we get to pay tribute and look back to where OUTRIGGER started and where OUTRIGGER is currently. Thank you to all who participated.

WAIPOULI Beach Resort & Spa by OUTRIGGER (WBR) and Lae Nani Resort by OUTRIGGER (LNR)

BY VICKI VALENCIANO — WBR and LNR hosts celebrated Founders Day with fancy donuts in hand and lots of smiles.

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International Housekeeping Week

OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort (FOR)

BY ASHNEEL CHAND — Housekeeping is one of the toughest jobs in hospitality and the OUTRIGGER Fiji management team sincerely appreciates our hosts’ hard work and genuine dedication to our guests.

The housekeeping team gathered for morning tea, certificate presentation, cutting of a specially baked cake and the opportunity to have their photo taken in their celebration T-shirts.

OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort (MAM)

Celebrating Cleanliness and Hospitality

Housekeeping Week is an annual event that shines a spotlight on the often-unsung heroes of the hospitality and service industry—housekeepers. This week-long celebration is a time to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work, dedication and attention to detail that housekeepers bring to their roles.

The importance of housekeepers in the hospitality sector cannot be overstated. They are the individuals responsible for ensuring that hotel rooms, restaurants and other establishments are not only spotless but also comfortable and inviting. Housekeepers meticulously clean, tidy and organize spaces, often working tirelessly behind the scenes to create a pleasant environment for guests.

During Housekeeping Week, OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru took the opportunity to recognize and reward our housekeeping staff for their exceptional efforts. We held a towel-making competition, bed-making competition, Volleyball (SPECIAL), Team BBQ in Lonubo and closing ceremony.

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National Hotel Employee Day

Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk (ESH)

September 1 was National Hotel Employee Day founded by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). On this day, we celebrated our wonderful hosts and provided fish and chips made by the food & beverage team. We decided on this fun treat because Embassy Suites had just finished our Catch Me at My Best program hosted by the Hilton brand. This program challenged all Hilton properties to submit “catches” for every host good deed. Catches could be submitted by fellow hosts as well as guests. Embassy Suites Waikiki hosts were caught with almost 18,000 catches in two months. With this great achievement, it was only fitting to reward our hospitality heroes with a savory catch. We truly are grateful to each of our hosts for exemplifying our high hospitality standards. Mahalo for all you do!

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Company Services

Host of the 2nd Quarter: MARIA ALAVARAS

Maria has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and outstanding performance in her role as director of sales at Outrigger Resorts & Hotels. Her recent achievement of securing the first buy-out from Australia to Hawai‘i in 2024 highlights (worth $3+ million) her remarkable efforts to live The Outrigger Way and drive revenue from Australia.

Maria successfully established and nurtured strong partnerships with key stakeholders in Australia. Her ability to cultivate these relationships and leverage them to secure this significant business opportunity is a testament to her exceptional skills as a sales professional.

Her commitment to upholding The Outrigger Way is truly commendable. She consistently exemplifies the core values of our organization, including exceptional customer service, teamwork and a genuine passion for creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. Maria consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that every interaction she has with clients and colleagues reflects the values and spirit of Outrigger Resorts & Hotels.

Beyond her professional achievements, Maria is a valued team member across the company. Her positive attitude, willingness to collaborate and strong work ethic create an uplifting and motivating work environment.

In conclusion, Maria Alaveras has exemplified the true spirit of The Outrigger Way through her exceptional performance, strong relationships and outstanding results. This is why I am delighted to nominate Maria for the Q2 Host of the Quarter.

– Nominated by Angela Murphy, Vice President Sales – The Americas

Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk (ESH)

Q3 Host Luncheon 

BY KA‘IMI KALEI — Embassy Super Stars was the theme for our Q3 Host Luncheon. Recognizing our hosts as Super Stars was the perfect way to reward our hosts after the busy summer and for finishing in third place out of all Embassy Suites for the Catch Me at My Best program hosted by the Hilton Brand. Our hosts were served delicious Filipino treats and sweets; the crowd favorite being Halo Halo with ube or matcha ice cream. We reviewed hotel updates and rewards for review name recognition winners, Hosts of the Month and Leader of the Quarter. We had a blast singing and dancing to Karaoke aiming to beat the previous host’s score and a few games of cornhole. Mahalo to our Super Stars who live The OUTRIGGER Way by caring for one another, our guests and our property.

 

August Host of the Month: ALDRIN ORTALEZA

Aldrin is an exceptional host and is commended for his leadership and willingness to do good for others. During a very busy August, he stepped up to ensure that our property was well taken care of. As one of the leaders of our breakfast team, he goes the extra mile to ensure that all of our guests are well taken care of each day.

He is one of our model hosts who cares for others. As one of the leaders in the department, he understands the intensity of the busy season and how we need to prepare. In the summer and especially in August, Aldrin went above and beyond to ensure that our department was staffed for each breakfast shift. During a time when staffing was short, Aldrin would come into work on his days off to anchor our busy breakfast. He was one of our go-to guys, especially during the pre-arrival process of American Assets Trust. He is highly regarded by his fellow hosts for his excellent guest service and consistent acts of kindness to others.

Aldrin is one of our many “Ambassadors of Aloha” in the food & beverage department. He receives many positive reviews from our guests via SALT and TripAdvisor. During our Annual Hilton Catch Me at My Best program, Aldrin placed 3rd in our property for the number of catches. His 188 catches are a small example of what he does for our guests and hosts at ESH. His consistent effort to take care of our guests is the reason why many return each year.

Aldrin is a  catalyst when it comes to taking great care of our place. During the tragic Lahaina fires, he was the first to come to me stating that we not only as a property but as an island need to do something to send our Aloha to those who are in need. For a host to go above and beyond in such a crucial time for the island of Maui, really shows the love and passion has for others.

Aldrin truly exemplifies the meaning of “Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a.” His way of life resembles what it is to live in The OUTRIGGER Way. His passion for hospitality shines here at ESH.

– Nominated by Justyn Wee, Food and Beverage Manager

September Host of the Month: JUSTIN RAMOS 

Justin is a hard worker and continuously provides great service to our guests. He is unique to our team as he is a full-time bell person and also works for Elite as a valet. He is frequently stationed at our property, as well as our sister OUTRIGGER properties. Sometimes he jokes that he lives at the hotel, but this is something we are lucky to have, as no matter what shift or what role, there is no denying how much Justin does to take care of our guests and support his team. His various roles provide much value to the hotel as he is knowledgeable of what each department is responsible for and ensures operations are running smoothly between the front services team. He is eager to jump in and assist in any way he can with a positive attitude. During the summer months, we challenged our team to go above and beyond even though it was one of the busiest times of the year for us. And, Justin stepped up to the plate. He consistently receives great feedback on TripAdvisor and hotel surveys with Justin’s name mentioned 5 times, earning him the #1 spot on the leaderboard amongst the bell department. Even so, Justin is humble and comes to work to do a good job and deliver memorable experiences for our guests.

Justin lives The Outrigger Way by greeting all guests warmly with a smile and acknowledgment. Justin finds ways to personalize each experience by finding out more about our guests and recommending and sharing O‘ahu’s unique hidden gems that guests appreciate. He has done an excellent job of being aware of guests’ needs and always thinking one step ahead. Additionally, he demonstrates proactivity. As one example, a guest had accidentally left their luggage at our entrance. Justin quickly noticed this and contacted the guest. The guest did not have time to come back to the hotel, so Justin worked quickly to arrange a taxi to safely deliver the luggage directly to the guest’s departure gate. The guest was so thankful as this quick and caring action allowed them to board their flight right on time. All in all, Justin is a top-notch host and an all-around Team Player. Lastly, Justin is charitable as he participates in all activities and volunteers with our OUTRIGGER Cares programs.

• “Hands down the BEST customer service I believe I may have ever experienced in my life! 3 1/2 years ago, Justin Ramos serviced us when we moved to Hawai‘i. We are now on our way moving back to the mainland and Justin remembered us. It felt good to know he remembered us. Doesn’t everybody want to go “where everybody knows their name?”(That’s from an old TV show lol). Anyway, Justin’s excellent service is still top-notch almost 4 years later. He goes above and beyond to make sure we are comfortable and treated well. OUTSTANDING!! 5 stars from us to Justin Ramos. – Stephanie P (TripAdvisor)
• Had a pleasant week’s stay. Justin with valet service. Above and beyond service.
• Everyone was very nice. Justin, one of the people who brought up our luggage and he does the valet parking was very friendly and went above and beyond to help us out. We had a lot of luggage and he happily helped us out with it. He also gave us advice on different activities we can do and where to eat. He made us feel welcome.
• The bellhop on Saturday [Justin] evening was amazing! I forgot my bad and he was able to get it to the airport very quickly in plenty of time for me to make my flight. Awesome service. Above and beyond!!!
• Bellman Justin Ramos was extremely helpful in helping us unload, check-in and find our way to the room. He went above and beyond, in my opinion.

These are just a few of the words our guests have shared to show the amazing light Justin shines on our hotel. He is humble, caring and an amazing worker who everyone on our team is appreciative of. Our hotel, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk, is honored to nominate Justin as the September Host of the Month.

– Nominated by Kaiana Lee, Front Office Manager

Leader of the 3^rd Quarter: SUSIE FUJIKAWA

Susie has been with Embassy Suites for 2 years and brings a vast amount of experience to the Embassy team having worked for many years throughout various positions in the travel industry. She is an accomplished leader who has consistently shown her ability to build strong relationships with our hotel partners across all markets, as well as with our hosts. She is always thinking big picture, focusing on tapping into the right segments and market mix to drive ADR, while also keeping the team aligned and delivering a high-quality experience. Even though her focus is on securing business amongst our competitors, Susie is always willing to jump into any situation to support the team. Whether checking rooms for housekeeping, serving food at a banquet event, or even moving furniture, there is no task that she will say no to if it means being a team player. Outside of work, Susie is on the boards for Woman in Lodging, PATA and much more – always committed to supporting our community and mentoring the next generation in the industry. Thank you, Susie, for the professional and proven leadership you bring to work every single day.

– Nominated by Hotel Manager, Roland Kam

OHANA Waikiki East by OUTRIGGER (OEH)

BY KATHERINE ALLEN — On September 22, we held our 3rd Quarter All-Host Meeting in the Princess Kaiulani Ballroom. Our meeting included updates on the property, social media scores and endless laughter. We had a pie-eating contest, apple bobbing, turkey in your trunk and donut-eating contest. Congratulations to Sasha Huang (pie-eating winner), Shu Wen Chen (apple-bobbing winner), Joyce Su (turkey-in-your-trunk winner) and Andy Lam (donut-eating winner). The meeting was filled with tears of laughter and overall family bonding. Additionally, we announced and congratulated our Manager of the Quarter.

Manager of the Quarter: DENISE TORRES

Denise has been a pillar of the OHANA Waikiki East by OUTRIGGER for 27 years. She remains a dedicated leader for her team and an inspiration to her fellow management team.

As many remember, our beloved sister island and properties of Maui were devastated by the wildfires of August 8. In response to this catastrophic event, Denise wasted no time coordinating, promoting and executing a fundraiser. She single-handedly created a menu and flier for various food items to be sold out of the OEH Lobby Retail Room on August 25. Hot dogs, burgers, lihing lollipops, cookies and beverages were purchased by hosts and friends of Denise. She worked hard to get the word out to as many peers as possible and ultimately far exceeded our hopes to help by raising over $1,800! Her care, diligence and delicious cooking all contributed to making a massive impact for our Maui brothers and sisters.

Denise is also recognized for her exceptional guest service and personalization:

• Denise.. is my contact and go-to person… she is always amazing…ensuring our stay is memorable. She came back from vacation a day before our departure…great to catch up with her.
• We have always received the very best of service from Denise and the staff from Ohana East. Our last stay was no different; great welcoming staff.

Management is so appreciative of Denise’s innate desire to help others and give back. Furthermore, we are beyond proud to call her ‘ohana, as she is often referred to as “Mama D.” As OEH gears up for our renovation project, we know that we will be able to get through any and all obstacles with Denise’s sincere heart and resilient spirit on our side.

Congratulations on earning the “OEH Manager of the 3^rd Quarter 2023” award, Denise! OHANA BEAST is so blessed to have you.

– Nominated by Kiana Beimes, General Manager

September Host of the Month: SHU WEN CHEN

Recognized for her beautiful smile, CAN DO attitude and now, thee ‘GOAT,’ Shu Wen continues to shine as a great host, team member and friend. She demonstrates warmth, personalization, awareness and proactivity every day. She not only shares The 4 Keys with guests but with her team members as well. If you see the housekeeping team drinking tea with goji berries and cassia, it is because Shu Wen shared with us. Fun fact: This tea is good for your immune health and eyesight. This is only one instance of many that Shu Wen shows her warmth and care. She continues to represent our team well and inspires us to live Ke Ano Waa. Mahalo nui, Shu Wen, for all that you continue to do.

– Nominated by Keala Raza, Housekeeping Manager

September ICare Card Recipients

Congratulations and thank you to Marilou Agdinaoay (front office), Ferdinand Obille (housekeeping), Roy Quiamno (engineering) and Kalani Yap (bell desk).

OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort (FOR)

FOR Vuvale Get Together

OUTRIGGER Kauai Beach Resort & Spa (KBR)

BY ASHLEY BLACKSTAD — Mahalo and congratulations to our standout hosts at KBR.

July Front of House Host of the Month: CHELSEA OMO (Food & Beverage Server)

Chelsea is such a fun, joyful and loveable person to be around. She makes work not feel like work but true team vibes. She will do her duties/job as well as help her fellow team members when she can. She pre-busses her tables to help the bussers out and helps carry out trays of food to help the runners out. When they are super busy, she even drops the toast in the toaster and cuts it if she sees it building up or if the runner can’t get to it right away. She cleans thoroughly when her shift is over and restocks orders as well. She is very positive and engaging whether with her coworkers or guests; she always brings a good attitude. We are so blessed to have her on our team.

– Nominated by Todd DeSilva, Director of Food & Beverage

July Back of House Host of the Month: EDDIE COLOMA (Kitchen Supervisor)

Eddie always willing to do whatever it takes to keep the kitchen running smoothly. Willing to work any station in the kitchen, any shift. Eddie never complains, is always early for his shift and never calls in sick. He willingly helps others to learn, while still hungry to learn himself. He works very hard and accepts no less from the rest of the kitchen staff. I can’t imagine running this culinary department without him.

– Nominated by Mark Sassone, Executive Chef

August Front of House Host of the Month: JASMINE HUTCHINSON (Guest Service Agent)

Jasmine works independently of others, thinks quickly and finds the best possible solution to challenges she may be faced with. She believes the best solutions are found by working hand-in-hand with others. She works well under pressure, is able to adjust to the needs of the department at a moment’s notice and offers suggestions to work smarter and not harder. She adjusts her schedules as needed, works overtime if necessary, never complains and gets the job done in a timely manner. She’s devoted to authentic human connection and personalizes her approach to the guests, owners and management team. She has always given the best of herself and ensures she makes a connection with our guests. Her actions exceed what is required or expected – especially those done to help or serve someone else. She goes above and beyond the call of duty; she has always been a team player, a friend to everyone, and never speaks an unkind word – takes every customer’s expectation to heart and owns problem resolution. Jasmine has a good work ethic and values quality and hard work.

– Nominated by Chris Simon, Director of Front Services

August Back of House Host of the Month: DESIREE FAGARANG (Director of Finance)

Front of House Department: Front Office/Food and Beverage/Pool

Desiree has been working here for a little over a year now. She has taken full control of her staff accountant duties. She always offers herself to assist in any extra work I may need help with. She completes all her tasks without any issues.

– Nominated by Ashley Blackstad, Director of Finance

OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort (MAM)

BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — We are delighted to share that we held our All-Host Meeting for September where we revealed our Host of the Month Service Provider and Host of the Month for August for both Heart of the House and Front of the House. The meeting was followed by a special tea party celebrating September birthdays.

August Heart of the House: IBRAHIM ALI
Ibrahim is a very experienced supervisor in the engineering department. He plays an important role in the day-to-day operations. He always completes tasks within the given timeline and has a wonderful attitude that puts everyone in a good mood. Ibrahim shares great ideas that speed up task completion and is open to accepting any assigned task. We are extremely proud to have Ibrahim in the engineering department.

– Comments by Azim Shareef, Chief Engineer

August Front of the House: NIM DEM

Nim Den is a host who interacts with guests with a friendly, warm and welcoming smile. Her keen attention to detail, unwavering dedication and warm demeanor have rightfully earned her the title of Host of the Month. A true gem on our team, her efforts ensure guests leave with smiles, making every dining experience truly memorable. We are proud to have her on our team and look forward to many more moments of excellence.

– Comments by Ali Arif Jameel, Food & Beverage Manager

August Service Provider: IBRAHIM RUSHDHEE 

Ibrahim joined Silversands and Coral Operations as a boat captain, He immediately demonstrated leadership for the entire team with his attitude, commitment and perseverance. After a year of hard work and excellent results obtained in the operations, he was promoted to senior boat captain. In this new role, he autonomously manages all activities and maintenance of the coral fleet.

– Comments by Matteo Serale, Director of Operations (Coral Dive & Water Sports)

We are delighted to announce that we held our All-Host Meeting of October. In this meeting, Host of the Month Service Provider and Host of the Month for September for both Heart of the House and Front of the House were revealed. The meeting started with a special message from Guillaume de Lasteyrie, resort manager, and ended with a special tea party celebrating September birthdays. Executive Housekeeper Mohamed Riyaz handed out the recognition certificates.

September Heart of the House: MOHAMED SHANOOZ
Shanooz is a very hardworking member of the engineering team. He works as a powerhouse operator, one of the most important roles at the heart of the resort. Shanooz is a very disciplined host and makes sure that all assigned tasks are completed before the end of duty. He sets a good example for all the engineering hosts.

– Comments by Ismail Aseel, Maintenance Manager

September Front of the House: CHAMILA NIROSHAN

Chamila was outstanding in her performance last month. What particularly stands out is his incredible flexibility regarding his duty hours. Not only has he consistently shown adaptability during his scheduled shifts, but he has also been extremely responsive to calls and needs beyond his regular duty hours. He always gets excellent feedback from guests for his kindness and most importantly for remembering guest names. It’s always surprising to hear guests greet him by his name. He is an example for other team members and positively influences the work environment, fostering a culture of commitment and teamwork.

– Comments by Ali Arif Jameel, Food & Beverage Manager

September Service Provider: ABHAY KUMAR RAI

Abhay is nominated for the host of the month for his excellent performance during the month of September. His main duty is taking care of the garden plants and watering the walkways. He is very interested in gardening works.

– Comments by Ismail Aseel, Maintenance Manager

OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (ORF)

September Host of the Month: KOK LEONG SHIU

Kok Leong, general maintenance, is a tremendously hard worker. He gets things done quickly. He will always find something to work on and find better solutions. He constantly lives our value of Accountability by being responsible for his actions and focusing on achieving results. Kok Leong totally understands and has fully embraced what we are to achieve as a department, which is to provide the finest facilities and service to our guests.

This month he celebrates 35 years with the company, even so, he still continuously seeks opportunities to learn and grow. For me it’s seeing what he does with his newfound knowledge; he strengthens our team by sharing it with others.

We are so fortunate to have Kok Leong on our resort team; he makes sure that our property is the best in Waikīkī.

– Nominated by Vic Sotelo, Engineering Manager

Congratulations and mahalo to our Host of the Month nominees Christine Salaga, Ferdinand Rafanan, Jun Cho and Sean Arakaki.

Manager of the 3rd Quarter: SANDY LAM 

Sandy came to the OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort two years ago with a wealth of experience and knowledge from her extensive housekeeping career and has been instrumental in helping to lead the housekeeping team to high standards as we opened up areas at the resort after renovations.

Opening up new public spaces on schedule from renovations is always a challenge and Sandy always made sure we met opening deadlines. Major areas opened in the 3rd Quarter were the fitness center and Monkeypod Kitchen. Although housekeeping was not responsible for the inside of Monkeypod Kitchen, there were many changes to the outside surrounding areas once the hoarding walls came down and there was increased traffic in the area. In addition to opening the new areas, Sandy continuously monitored the areas, ensuring they were maintained and put on the most efficient maintenance schedule.

Sandy always displays a positive, “Can Do” attitude with any changes that come about. She ensures hosts thoroughly understand the purpose of the changes, answers any questions or concerns, implements the changes and then follows up to ensure successful results. Sandy always displays her positive attitude to our guests as she consistently goes the extra mile to make them comfortable with their special requests and concerns.

A busy 3rd Quarter brought staffing and supply challenges and Sandy stretched her capabilities with “creative” scheduling, ensuring the most efficient use of our available labor and resources.

– Nominated by Markus Krebs, General Manager

Congratulations to ICare Card recipients Joanna Lee, Verlyn Aguon and Violet Tanaka for creating memorable experiences for our guests.

Congratulations to our TripAdvisor September Name Mention winners Rosalina Saclayan and Joenny Banez; Rosalina also won 3rd Quarter TripAdvisor Name Mention!

Malama Our Hosts

Our executive team treated everyone to cupcakes!

OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel (OBC)

Host of the Month: BRITTANY “KC” CRONIN

Kiana is a relatively new host at OBC; however, even though her time here has not been long, the qualities that she has shown have proven to me that she is deserving of this award. Kiana is a part-time host, as she is a full-time student, studying the hotel and traveling industry. Even though she’s a full-time student, she still shows up to work energized and ready to accommodate our guests. This can be seen by how she interacts with our guests. She’s friendly and very cheerful, which provides a very comfortable experience for them. In a recent TripAdvisor review, a guest described her as “friendly, understanding, and of course, very helpful!” In another incident, a guest’s rental vehicle battery died and needed to be jump-started by another vehicle. Kiana, with no hesitation, offered to jump-start their vehicle. All in all, Kiana embodies The 4 Keys of our hotel and she has great potential to further excel during her career here. Congratulations, Kiana, and keep up the good work!

– Nominated by Daniel Guittu, Guest Services Manager

Congratulations and mahalo to Host of the Month nominees Anita Cabulera (housekeeping) and Steve Hasegawa (bell) and to TripAdvisor Name Mention recipients Kristina Arola and Yoshi Takamura.

Manager of the Quarter: EVELYN GARCIA

Evelyn is a key member of our housekeeping team. She works hard to ensure that daily operations are running smoothly. She does all the supply ordering/invoicing and weekly schedules for the largest department in the hotel. We had a lot of VIPs, site inspections, HR team and  JTB/HIS FAM sites in the third quarter. Evelyn and team always prepped the rooms properly and on schedule. September was a busy month filled with events like Maui Relief, a full week of fundraising activities and our annual Housekeeper’s Week celebration. Evelyn committed her time and effort to help with every single project and activity. She is a caring and hardworking leader and does so by example, regardless of how busy or how heavy her workload. She always tries her best and does so with a smile.

– Nominated by Janice Ng, Area Director of Housekeeping

Congratulations also to ICare card recipients: Angelica Arao (guest services), AJ Yanit (housekeeping) and Rey De Peralta (engineering). Shout out to Ashley Agustin – Nor1 Upgrade Leader and Ana Marie Castella – Safety Reporting.

OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort (OWK)

August Host of the Month: VICTORIA TAPICIERA

When news broke about the devastating fires in Lahaina, Victoria led the charge for the property in ensuring that all hosts and partners were informed about the opportunity to contribute to the donations being sent to Maui. Victoria arranged and organized all donated products brought in as well as came in on her day off to ensure that all donated products were ready to ship that next day Monday (the deadline). Victoria’s passion is not only tied to our property and hosts but also to our community. Thank you, Victoria, for your leadership in this and for ensuring that OWK had the best communication in getting these donated products to Maui!

– Nominated by Cassie Simpson, Area Director of Sales

Mahalo and congratulations to Host of the Month nominees: Eric Acio, Junwei Gan, Mae Lampitoc and Peter Mercado.

September Host of the Month: JIN MIN GAN

Jin Min has worked at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort for 12 years. In that time, she has proven to be a dedicated host by demonstrating a strong work ethic. She is assigned to high-maintenance rooms and quietly completes her work assignments on time and is often complimented by guests for her service. She always has a friendly smile and warm greetings. Jin Min is not only an exceptional housekeeper, she’s a fantastic human; we are more than lucky to have her as part of our team.

– Nominated by Mechael Tapanan, Housekeeping Manager

Congratulations and mahalo to Host of the Month nominees Sharon Kim and Calvin Xian.

Manager of the Quarter: SO’O TANA

So’ has been with Outrigger for almost 24 years and in his current leadership position for almost 1-1/2 years. He has led our team in our key initiatives of Upsells, GHA Discovery, Unifocus and Tripadvisor and we are currently exceeding our goals in each of these areas. As you know, TripAdvisor is the #1 website that guests use to find out about both hotel rankings and reviews. So’o lives, breathes and sleeps TripAdvisor!

• Total number of surveys increased by 330%
• Total number of 5s and 4s have increased by 23%
• Total number of 1s, 2s and 3s have decreased by 32%

We all appreciate all of the things that So’o does to ensure that we all know where we stand as we continue to achieve higher results and he does so with his calm demeanor and bright smile!

ICare Card Recipients

Congratulations to our ICare Card recipients Sharon Mae Lampitoc, Oli Palenapa and Malamalama Suyat.

TripAdvisor Recipients

Congratulations to Ricky Kuga, our Q3 TripAdvisor recipient, and to Brenda Chen for September. Ricky and Brenda received the most name mentions on TripAdvisor!

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Celebrating Milestones

We recognize and thank hosts for their milestone years of service reached in the 3rd Quarter of 2023 and for all you do to contribute to OUTRIGGER’s success.

40 Years of Service: Mon Lacuata, Jason Lee and Luz Mariano-Redoble.

35 Years of Service: Jenny Hong, Janice Ng, Ann Peng, Gary Tachino and Kok Leong Shiu.

30 Years of Service: Terri-Ann Chew.

25 Years of Service: Dayle Hoopai, Jill Lottie, Genaro Natividad, Debora Rios and Trina Tory.

20 Years of Service: Philomena Betham and Anselmo Dolormente.

15 Years of Service: Marites Ancheta, Teresita Cabrito, Chris Fujimoto, Annabella Hermoso and Liberato Valdez.

10 Years of Service:  Demi Carson, Brenda Chen, Randolph Freitas, Myrna Ibay, Kimiko Theus and Anchalee Yenwattana.

5 Years of Service: Kathryn Agdeppa, Claudio Andrade, Roulie Andres, Elizabeth-Anne Azbille, Cyrus Bauzon, Claudine Daguro, Kailey Flores, Loren Ganoy, Guillermo Garcia, Lehua Hough, Stephanie Hsu, Adriana Hussey, Jeramiah Kamaunu, Candace Kim, Brenda Ramirez, Jhamil Reparejo, Jenny Ballesteros, Deannalynn Tafiti, Melchor Tomboc, Kristelle Vasquez and Martha Wolfe.

1 Year of Service: Eric Acio, April Agustin, Florence Alo, Nita Alo, Alexandra Alvarez, Boyce Aoki, Andrew Archer, Rain Bogac, Malinee Buajun, Nichole Castro, Erik Clark, Carly Clement, Clayton Cobb-Adams, Michael Dalope, Blake De Leon, Charles Dennis, Aurvin Dimapilis, Arsenio Dolor, Arlene Duldulao, Iosua Fasavalu, Neena Fetu, Junwei Gan, Marie Hernandez, Kunying Huang, Corazon Ibay, Marin Ikeda, Kanchana Inthasone, Dauko Ittu, Nicholas Johnson, Dustin Kahihikolo, Henry Kaholi, Almina Kajle, Nathakamol Kanpieng, Elona Keanini-Gomes, Alisha Kearns, Chonlada Krawlek, Austin Labanon, Haylee Lang, Margaret Langinbelik, Likwor Langrine, Hang To Louie, Yasuhiro Maeda, Zenaida Manganaan, Mark Markson, Jessie Marria, Laureto Mina Jr, Shayze Montero, Angela Murphy, Meldrick Navarro, Setai Nedlic, Greatia Nenam, Belinda Ordonez, Lana Pajimola, Joshua Pangayan, Lovelyn Pasa, Alexandria Pence, Tulpe Penrose, Jose Perez, Israel Ponteras, Sahara Rabago, Thomas Raub, Reah Lyne Real, Andrea Reff, Casimiro Roque, Melissa Sao, Mari Sawamukai, Frances Schmidt, Erma Simeon, Victor Sotelo, Denver Souza, Jirawat Suden, Melissa Swinson, Barbara Tago, Charlie Talbo, Liberato Valdez, Cynde Vannatta, Katevan Velasco, Erick Wang, Mark Wong, Wilbur Wong and William Wong.