Embassy Suites by Hilton – Waikiki Beach Walk (ESH)
Malama our Hosts
BY KA’IMI KALEI – We care for our hosts, care for our guests and care for our place, but we don’t always recognize these genuine acts of kindness. For this issue, we give thanks to all those who live The OUTRIGGER Way every day and make ESH such a special place.
July 20 – Mahalo OUTRIGGER for providing us with the Specialty Host Lunch program each month! For the month of July, we packed Korean BBQ plates filled with Meat Jun, Korean BBQ Chicken, bean sprouts and Kimchee from Pearls Korean BBQ.
July 25 – Mahalo Sandra Sakka for visiting the Embassy Suites property to malama our hosts with SPAM Musubis & Waikīkī SPAM Jam Water Bottles. Our hosts definitely loved the SPAM Jam merch!
August 2 – The Embassy Suites ‘Ohana welcomed our intern Dante in late June 2024 and he worked with us for seven weeks. Dante spent his time rotating through our various departments on property and took the opportunity to spend time with our corporate office and the Waikiki Beach Walk team as well. We couldn’t have asked for a better intern, as Dante showed up eager to learn everything he could. He was always ready to help, jump into projects, understand operational decisions, and always had critical questions for every leader he encountered. It was a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to Dante. We wish him the best of luck with his career, and we are all sure to see him in the future doing great things! Dante will always be part of the Embassy ‘Ohana!
August 13 – Thank you to our Director of Engineering, Scott Kazunaga, and Engineering Coordinator, Tyler Castro, for always surprising your team with small treats, it truly makes a difference. Scott and Tyler bought raw shrimp for their Engineering and Loading Dock team to enjoy on this day.
August 15 – Mahalo to our Executive Housekeeper, Carol Lopes, for cooking up some delicious chicken long rice for the entire hotel to enjoy! Carol’s chicken long rice is a famous hit for the ESH ‘Ohana. We appreciate all his time and efforts, your kindness does not go unnoticed.
August 17 – With the graveyard team always missing our host parties and getting the leftover malama items, we wanted to ensure that we showed our true appreciation for them. We allowed our hosts to pick a hot entrée from one of our partner restaurants, The Yard House. Thank you to our Front Office Manager, Kaiana Lee, and Guest Services Manager, Maya Jenkins, for arranging the food orders and making our graveyard team feel appreciated!
August 17 – Mahalo to everyone who joined us at the Makalauna Festival at Waikiki Beach Walk to honor the legendary Gabby Pahinui, aka “Pops.” The night was filled with unforgettable Hawaiian music from Bobby Moderow Jr., Del Beazley, Greg Sardinha and more, all capturing the true spirit of aloha.
OHANA Waikiki East by OUTRIGGER (OEH)
July Host of the Month (HOM): MELISSA SAO
Melissa has a way of connecting with guests no matter where they are from. She talks to them and makes them feel welcome from the start and we receive numerous comments on our social media platforms from guests who say Melissa made them feel welcome from the start. She comes to work ahead of her start time so she can prepare before she starts her day. To “get her day started” she is making sure rooms are blocked, will look at various guests accounts to make sure routing, blocks, travel-with’s are all blocked accordingly.
Melissa is instrumental in achieving our upgrade goals monthly with our Upsell program. She’s the ultimate Front Desk Supervisor who takes her position seriously and makes sure all aspects of her workday are completed each and every day. She continually looks for ways to help the front services department run smoothly and works hand in hand with other departments during her shift to help where needed.
– Nominated by Denise Pina Torres, Guest Services Manager
OEH Eases its Way into National Relaxation Day
BY KATHERINE ALLEN – Of all the great days on the calendar, few are as soothing to the soul as National Relaxation Day and on August 19, and our OEH ‘Ohana took full advantage of the opportunity to just … relax. Soothing essential oils, mindful prompts and relaxation movements brought a welcome aura of calmness and positivity to the crew.
OUTRIGGER Kāʻanapali Beach Resort (OKB)
Ka’a Kō’ono Cart Stacked with Spam Musubi’s
BY MELODY THOMAS – In recognition of SPAM Musubi day the Ka’a Kō’ono cart made a special “snack attack” delivery to our hard-working hosts. The infamous cart cruised around property with music and bubbles galore, delivering the delicious treat. Mahalo to Aunty Louise Aloy, F&B/Culinary, Housekeeping and everyone that had a hand in making this day so special and Happy SPAM Musubi Day to all!
The gallery was not found!OUTRIGGER Kaua’i Beach Resort & Spa (KBR)
KBR Hosts Celebrate “One Wild Year” and New GM
BY VENUS YI – Thursday, August 22, 2024 was the one-year anniversary of Kaua’i Beach Resort joining the OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group. It was a day of celebration, camaraderie, and appreciation, dedicated to the heart and soul of the resort—its hosts. Aptly themed “One WILD Year,” the event embraced a vibrant “Paniolo” spirit, where employees and special guests donned Hawaiian cowboy attire, immersing themselves in a festive atmosphere that featured roping games, corn-hole, and the signature OUTRIGGER blue bandanas.
The Jasmine Ballroom came alive with the tantalizing aroma of a buffet luncheon prepared by Chef Mark Sassone and his culinary team, setting the stage for an afternoon of joy and reflection. Among the esteemed guests were corporate leaders like Darin Matsuda, Angela Murphy and the newly appointed General Manager, Christine “Chris” San Nicolas. Chris, a seasoned leader with over 25 years at OUTRIGGER, shared her vision of leadership rooted in the “OUTRIGGER Way,” inspiring all with her commitment to the resort’s bright future.
The celebration was capped with heartfelt performances by talented hosts and a generous array of prizes, from branded gear to luxurious stays at sister properties. As the event closed, the sense of unity and excitement for the future was palpable, making this milestone a memorable chapter in the OUTRIGGER Kaua’i Beach Resort & Spa story.
We encourage all OUTRIGGER hosts to visit OUTRIGGER Kaua’i Beach Resort & Spa: click HERE
OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort (MAM)
MAM Celebrates Hosts of the Month for July
AYAASHA ISHAAQ – We are delighted to announce that we held our All-Host Meeting on August 12 recognizing July honorees for Heart of the House, Front of the House and Service Provider. The meeting started with a special message from resort manager, Guillaume Charles Anne De Lasteyrie Du Saillant, and certificates were handed over by safety and security manager, Fareed Abbas Mohamed Nizar. The meeting was followed with a special tea party celebrating birthdays of July.
Host of the Quarter, Q2: MOHAMMED AMINUL ISLAM
Aminul (pictured above) takes pride in his work, and he shows significant interest in his job. Aminul is a detail-oriented individual, which reflects positively in his work. His punctuality and reliability set a strong example for the team. He has an excellent attendance record. He shows initiative in taking on responsibilities and supporting team members. He always gets positive feedback from guests and his colleagues and is consistent in what he does. He always provides courteous and professional services. Aminul always goes above and beyond his job requirements to satisfy the customers.
– Nominated by Ali Arif Jameel, F&B Manager
July Host of the Month, Front of the House: YESHEY TSHOMO
Ms. Yeshey has consistently demonstrated exceptional therapeutic skills, helping guests achieve relaxation. Her dedication to her guests is evident in the positive feedback and improved outcomes reported by those she serves. Her contributions have significantly enhanced the quality of care within our department and positively impacted the lives of many guests. Ms. Yeshey was also the highest revenue generated therapist, in both categories in terms of treatment as well as retail, for the month of July 2024.
– Nominated by Rohit Justa, Director of Wellness.
July Host of the Month, Heart of the House: PRASHANT RANA
Prashant outstanding performance and unwavering commitment to our team earned him Heart of the House honors this month. Although Prashant’s primary role is in the bakery, he consistently goes above and beyond by supporting the team in preparing the breakfast and dinner buffets. Prashant has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills during our busiest meal periods, seamlessly coordinating with his colleagues to ensure smooth operations and exceptional guest experiences. His ability to adapt to changing demands and prioritize tasks is truly admirable. Moreover, Prashant is an invaluable team player who is always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed. His positive attitude and willingness to take on additional responsibilities have not gone unnoticed. Prasad’s dedication to his work and his colleagues is truly inspiring.
– Nominated by Chinthaka Nayajith, Executive Sous Chef
July Host of the Month, Service Provider: SAJAN KUMAR SINGH
Fahim is a great asset to the engineering department. He is doing an excellent job to maintain and clean the villa sea access ladders. To clean and maintain a total of 60 ladders on the island is a critical task for our resort. For each arrival, he checks and cleans the ladders to ensure the safety of our guests. He is very proactive if he notices any issues during cleaning and always reports them right away to his supervisor. We are extremely proud to have him on our team.
– Nominated by Azim Shareef, Chief Engineer
A Letter to Remember
BY ALI RASHEED – The OUTRIGGER Way of caring for our hosts, caring for our guests and caring for our place rewards us everyday in so many ways and sometimes it takes a beautiful note from a guest to truly understand how special it is.
OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel (OBC)
Fun & Games at The Inaugural OBC Olympics
BY JENNIFER YAMADA – Inspired by the spirit of the real Olympic Games in Paris, we organized our first-ever “OBC Olympics” – challenging hosts to a variety of events including ball toss, grab ’em, basketball and golf. The friendly competition allowed our hosts to showcase their talents and brought about a whole lot of laughter and some fun prizes too!
Celebrating National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
August 2nd was National Ice Cream Sandwich Day and OBC hosts seized the opportunity to recognize this delightful holiday and celebrate one of the world’s favorite frozen desserts – a perfect combination of creamy ice cream nestled between two cookies or wafers.
The gallery was not found!Next-Level Fried Chicken & Palabok Fiesta from Jollibee’s Highlights August ‘Ohana Meal
Good work deserves good food, and Jollibee delivered with the tastiest of combos – Palabook, Spaghetti and Fried Chicken too – as we gathered for our montly OBC ‘Ohana Meal. We even got to share some stories with a special guest, our beloved colleague Edwin Torres, who is now the GM at OUTRIGGER Kāʻanapali Beach Resort in Maui.
Commercial Team “Pops In” to Say Thank You
A special mahalo to our friends on the commercial team who rolled up with a roller cart stuffed with candied popcorn and sodas. Kudos, too, to those who started the day at our morning Zumba dance party!
Hawaii Vacation Condos by OUTRIGGER
Remembering 8/8/23
BY JULIE COHEN – As we look back on the tragic events of August 8, 2023, we remember the lives lost, their families, the homes and businesses lost, memories of all the time spent in our amazing little Lahaina Town. We think of you, our special Aina Nalu Ohana and all you have lost. Our hearts will always be with you. Mahalo to our First Responders and Maui Nui for the support to our brothers and sisters who lost everything. It was a beautiful moment of remembrance.
