OHANA Waikiki East by OUTRIGGER (OEH)
November Host of the Month: SHARI SOUZA
Shari Souza and Jessie Gruspe
Shari has consistently demonstrated The 4 Keys. During the overnight shift, she has many unexpected things that arise but we are confident Shari is proactively making the right decisions. She effectively communicates with the overnight shift in all departments and will forward any information for the next shift for follow-up. She is very proactive in reporting to security and the team any unusual incidents that she encounters during her shift. She demonstrates warmth by welcoming our guests with a smile and always asks how they are doing. Shari will ensure the check-in experience is seamless no matter what time. A guest completed a Unifocus survey with a perfect score and commented, “Comments on Arrival / Check-In Comment: Excellent at 11:30 at night.” Shari continues to receive shout-outs on TRIPADVISOR and UNIFOCUS. She is dedicated to her work and reviews the team’s work thoroughly. We can count on her to correct any errors and discrepancies that she comes across. We appreciate all that she does to set up our team for success. We are truly proud to nominate Shari for Host of the Month.
– Nominated by Jessie Gruspe, Guest Service Manager
OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort (FOR)
Annual Host Awards & Party
The annual end-of-year party and awards for FOR hosts were held on November 18. FOR managers and executives hosted the party starting from the emcees welcoming all, presenting awards and serving food. It was an enjoyable night, themed Wild Wild West, with a live band and DJ music. Hosts came out dressed in theme. The department entertainment on the day was a great success as hosts showcased their dance moves. Presentations were made for Hosts of the Year, plus special prizes and giveaways.
Management Year-End Awards & Party
On November 25, the FOR management team held their Year-End Awards and Party at Ramada Resort’s rooftop Club57 restaurant in Nadi. The team enjoyed the journey to a new resort and the awards and party. Presentations for Manager of the Year 2023 and runner-ups were made as well as a recap of 2023 achievements. It was a proud moment for Chef Navneet Reddy – Manager of the Year 2023.
OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort (MAM)
All-Host Meeting
BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — We held our All-Host Meeting on November 14 where Host of the 3rd Quarter, Host of the Month Service Provider and Host of the Month for October for both Heart of the House and Front of the House were revealed. The meeting was followed by a special tea party celebrating October birthdays.
October Host of the Month | Front of the House: MOOSA RAMEEZ
Moosa received an exceptional number of positive TripAdvisor reviews and recognitions. He was also mentioned numerous times on Unifocus and achieved a good score there as well. Moosa was recognized for having managed a large volume of guests without compromising on the guest experience. He was also recognized by most of the heads of departments for having worked well with their teams.
– Comments by Ibrahim Mubarak, Director of Rooms
October Host of the Month | Heart of the House: CHRISTO CHRISTUDHAS
Christo joined us as a newcomer to the field but promptly acquainted himself with the established systems and IT infrastructure. His rapid learning curve and proactive approach to understanding the intricacies of our operations showcased his aptitude for adapting to new challenges and environments. Moreover, Christo has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic. He approached every task assigned to him with enthusiasm and competence, showcasing his ability to handle responsibilities with diligence and attention to detail. His hard-working nature has been a valuable asset to our team, contributing positively to the overall productivity and efficiency of our operations.
– Comments by Maheswaran Biratheeban, IT Manager
October Host of the Month | Service Provider: MASLUDDIN MD
Masluddin has been working with us for nearly six months. He is very new to resort engineering operations and his major responsibility involves assisting the electrical and mechanical technical teams in daily operations, including the villa preventive maintenance program. Masluddin is an exceptionally fast learner; he needs only one demonstration and explanation. He has earned the respect from his teammates and other departments and has received positive feedback regarding his work ethic.
– Comments by Azim Shareef, Chief Engineer
Host of the 3rd Quarter | CHAMILA NIROSHAN
Chamila has consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in his role. His ability to manage tasks effectively and deliver results on time is impressive. His punctuality and reliability set a strong example for the team. He has an excellent attendance record. He shows initiative in taking on additional responsibility and supporting team members. Lots of guests have given very good feedback about him and his name is mentioned on social media platforms. He is a person who respects everyone and he is a strong team player who collaborates effectively with colleagues. He always provides courteous and professional service.
– Comments by Abdulla Azleef, Assistant Food & Beverage Manager
Opening of Live Badhige
BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — At OUTRIGGER Maldives, we introduced a live cooking station, Live Badhige, in our host canteen. Live Badhige is open every day except Fridays and serves a variety of cuisines and dishes daily.
Saima Lounge Opening
BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — OUTRIGGER Maldives renovated and opened the now air-conditioned Saima Lounge in November. A microwave and kettle are also available in the lounge, equipped with a Playstation 5 and two TVs.
Host Movie Night
BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — Hindi Movie Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan 2023, an action comedy movie, was shown in our Saima Lounge. Hosts enjoyed a variety of popcorn while taking in the movie.
Fishing Trip
BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — Ten hosts set out on an evening fishing trip and a friendly competition of who could catch the biggest fish. It was a successful trip with 25 fish caught.
Games Day in Lonubo
BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — Ten hosts enjoyed a day of Maldivian games and beach volleyball on Lonubo.
Badminton Tournament
BY AYAASHA ISHAAQ — A badminton men’s singles tournament was held in November. After some very competitive matches, Rohit Justa and Manjula Duminda made the finals with Rohit winning the match. Trophies and certificates were presented at the closing ceremony.
OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (ORF)
November Host of the Month: TOM SHIROMA
Tomo Hikichi, Tom Shiroma and Dean Kamiya
Thomas Shiroma has been a dedicated food & beverage host since April 2021. While he has worked at various outlets throughout the OUTRIGGER Reef, he currently services guests in our Voyager 47 Club lounge.
Tom is a very dependable host with a stellar attendance record. The kitchen has gone through staffing challenges lately and Tom has been accommodating in fulfilling necessary shifts. He is not only a valued host, but a well-respected co-worker. He has a terrific work ethic and is always available to assist his co-workers.
Last week while we were particularly busy, Tom showed his dedication to his job and fellow hosts. A couple of the Voyager front-of-house staff were out sick so they were extra shorthanded. Without asking him to assist, Tom automatically stepped in to help. Besides taking care of his regular duties, Tom helped take care of guests in the dining areas. He cleared dirty dishes, wiped up spills and interacted with the Voyager guests.
Tom’s knowledge and experience also extend well beyond his cooking abilities. He understands the safety and health standards we expect everyone to work toward. This includes knowing where the eyewash equipment is for the safety audit. This knowledge helped us get through the safety inspection and Tom’s persistence made sure it got to its proper location.
Congratulations, Tom!
– Nominated by Dean Kamiya, Executive Chef
Congratulations and mahalo to our Host of the Month nominees: Joenny Banez, Randy Freitas, Alana Lum, Mary Peavy, Renee Spear and John Wong.
Joenny Banez, Randy Freitas, Alana Lum, Mary Peavy, Renee Spear and John Wong
TripAdvisor Name Mentions + 20-Year Anniversary
Congratulations to Mary Calimbas for receiving the most name mentions on TripAdvisor and to Myra Kuboyama on her 20th anniversary with OUTRIGGER.
Mary Calimbas | Myra Kuboyama and Team
Mahalo to our ICare Card Recipients
Erlinda Barredo, Deemer Denning and Jason Han
Malama Our Hosts
ORF front office hosts surprised everyone with pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving to express their gratitude for the ‘ohana that they are.
OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel (OBC)
November Host of the Month: JONATHAN GELACIO
Jonathan is known as “Mr. Aloha” downstairs handling all the movement at the street level. He has a can-do attitude and nothing is ever a bother when requested of him. This is apparent with some recent TripAdvisor mentions. When referring to Jonathan, one guest said he was fantastic, the best and friendliest I’ve ever experienced. Jonathan gives the same friendly, warm and welcoming vibe to everyone he comes across whether it’s guests, co-workers or just somebody walking by. I am so thankful to have a guy like Jonathan with us in the bell department. Way to go Jonathan!
– Kyle Kawabata, Bell Captain
Photo left: Jonathan Gelacio and Angelica Arao
Mahalo and congratulations to Host of the Month nominees Kristina Arola (front desk) and Ryan Palacay (housekeeping).
Kristina Arola and Ryan Palacay
Congratulations to our ICare card recipients:
Kharry Domingo, Evan Leung and James Pascual
And congratulations to Kristina Arola for most name mentions on TripAdvisor and Yoshi Takamura for being a NOR1 Upgrade Leader.
Kristina Arola and Yoshi Takamura