The stiff competition among the industry’s workforce, brought about by the continued increase in tourist arrivals, has revealed outstanding personalities in the field of hospitality who need to be recognized for their exemplary job performance. Over a recent one-week period, two of the leading industry organizations in the country gave out awards to carefully selected individuals who, in every measure, represent the best of our hospitality industry.
The Association of Human Resources Managers in the Hospitality Industry (AHRM) hosted the 20th edition of the Mabuhay Awards, the Oscars of the industry, honoring the best of the workforce. It is also meant to promote a culture of excellence in the workplace, further boosting the Filipino brand of hospitality.
A total of 51 finalists went through the rigorous judging process several months earlier: nine for the Heart of the House, 14 for the Front of the House, 15 for the Supervisor, and 13 for the Manager.
My esteemed colleagues from various sectors of the Tourism industry were asked to judge and choose the winner for each category. I was one of those who selected the best in the Front of the House category. The winners were: Ivan Camasura, Purchasing Assistant of Radisson Blu Cebu, in the Heart of the House Category; Kim Aldrin Sarimo, Guest Service Agent of Century Park Hotel, in the Front of the House Category; Rodel Angeles, Room Service Supervisor of Sofitel Philippine Plaza, in the Supervisor Category; and Mark Panerio, Director of Security of Sofitel Philippine Plaza, in the Manager Category.
Of course, the most coveted award for the evening was the Mabuhay Gold Award, given to an individual who has made a significant impact in the Hospitality industry. This year, the distinct honor went to Atty. Roberto P. Laurel, owner of The Bayleaf Intramuros which has enhanced the tourism value of The Walled City, and the soon-to-open The Bayleaf Cavite. Atty. Laurel is also president of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)-Manila, Cavite and Makati campuses. The College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management of the LPU-Manila campus is the biggest Tourism and Hospitality Education school in Asia.
AHRM was founded in 1974 by four Human Resource officers from the then Manila Hilton, Hyatt Regency Manila, Hotel Intercontinental Manila and the Philippine Village Hotel. Today, it has 64 corporate members, four individual members and six lifetime members.
Two days after the AHRM event, the prestigious Virtus Awards of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) reeled off for the first time. It is a multi-category initiative that recognizes and rewards sales and marketing professionals in the hotel industry for their transformative power of creativity, innovation and excellence.
Thirty-two finalists competed for three individual and one team awards. The individual awards covered positions within the Sales and Marketing Department of the hotel while the team award cited the Marketing Campaign of the Year which is built around a single, unified theme, and uses at least two different types of media.
Senior leaders of the Travel and Tourism industry served as judges and I was one of those who chose Reynoso Intertas Jr., Public Relations Assistant for Digital Media and Graphics, as the winner for the Marketing Associate Category. Melissa Villamayor, Senior Sales Manager of Sofitel Philippine Plaza, won for the Supervisor category, while Cielo Reboredo, Director of Sales and Marketing of Midas Hotel and Casino, won for the Manager category. EDSA Shangri-La’s “Total Wellness at EDSA Shangri-La, Manila” was chosen as the Marketing Campaign of the Year.
YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:
Maria, a devout Catholic, got married and had 10 children. After her first husband died, she remarried and had 10 more children. A few weeks after her second husband died, Maria also passed away. At Maria’s funeral, the priest looked skyward and said, “At last, they’re finally together.” Maria’s sister sitting in the front row said, “Excuse me, Father, who do you mean? She and her first husband, or she and her second husband?”
The priest replied, “I mean her legs.”
For feedback, I’m at [email protected]