Belmont Hotel Boracay, located at the Newcoast Drive, Boracay Newcoast, Brgy. Yapak, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines |
The best man for
the job is a woman! In the business of taking care of people, Filipinos will
always, if not majority, associate the word care to all the women specifically
moms who have tirelessly given all that they could to mold leaders and
contributing individuals starting at the confines of what we all call home.
Truly, times have changed and finally we celebrate more empowered women
embracing roles as decision makers in their chosen industries.
Megaworld Hotels
and Resorts, the Philippines’ largest hospitality management chain in the
country with 6 brands, 12 properties, and 4,500 room keys nationwide,
celebrates three smart-working ladies in their organization who’ve managed to
rise above copious challenges through different mindsets and rightfully taking
a seat in the table as they take on new leadership positions in the
organization.
Keep going
and learn to stand tall
Rowena Samonte, General
Manager of Twin Lakes Hotel
Rowena Samonte, General Manager of Twin Lakes Hotel |
On your next
visit to Twin Lakes Hotel, one of the most visited hilltop resorts in the south
of Luzon near Tagaytay, make sure to say hello to GM Samonte. Owen, as she is
dearly called by many, stepped up from being the property’s Director of Sales
and Marketing to now being the first lady General Manager of a 122-room hotel
at the center of a 1,200 hectare Twin Lakes estate of Megaworld. Contrary to
the title, she shares that as the world continues to evolve.
“I am positive that change will come naturally. In the future. I would like to be defined and seen as a leader alone, and not a woman leader. Keep going despite the times when the world fails to be kind. We must learn to stand tall and take care of ourselves. there is no point in beating yourself up over things that you cannot change. Ultimately, fall in love with the process, not the goal. Don’t be afraid to be too much and enjoy as you watch everything fall into place.” ~Owen Samonte, Director of Sales and Marketing
As society comes
to better terms with inclusivity, she sees it as a privilege and a
responsibility to part-take in the effort of eliminating prejudiced biases with
gender and preference as a primary basis.
The first-time
general manager has surely done much with almost three decades of humble
service in the industry under her belt. She has expanded her craft from
operations to sales until reaching an executive leadership rank. During her
early days, she remembers starting her career as an outlet cashier moving her
way up to Assistant Director of Events and Management in Edsa Shangri-La in
Manila. She also dabbled with other international brands like Mandarin
Oriental, Intercontinental Hotel and other local brands like B Hotel in Quezon
City and Robinsons Hotels and Resorts before joining the largest homegrown
hotel chain in the Philippines, Megaworld Hotels and Resorts starting the year
2020 until the present.
When asked about
the best advice she can give to the younger generation about becoming a better
version of themselves.
For the month
of March, in honor of Women’s Month, imagine quiet
moments with the cold gentle breeze over “Afternoon High Tea”. Enjoy this best
in the property’s high ceiling European Style lobby or al fresco, overseeing
the hotel’s vineyard and mesmerizing view of Taal lake. Make the month of
March memorable for you and the family,
for dining and room bookings visit www.twinlakeshotel.com.ph
or email reservations@twinlakeshotel.com.ph
Believe in
the good in everyone
Maia Israel, General
Manager of Belmont Hotel Boracay
Sweet and
loving. Promoted from resort manager to now the general manager of Belmont
Hotel Boracay in just a span of a year, Maia Israel, has always been well loved
for her nurturing approach to leadership.
“Mentorship is a tool I personally have benefited from the most and is my privilege and responsibility to pass it forward. You bet, and quite a lot! But if there’s one observed universal fact across cultures that ties us all in, is that you will never go wrong when you believe in the good in everyone. You can never tell how your day is going to end. You take things like how the shores welcome the waves of the sea. You can never control it, but you can always make the most out of it. What more from life can you ask for?” ~Maia Israel, General Manager of Belmont Hotel Boracay
Remembering the
days when she started her career in the hospitality industry way back as part
of the reservations team in Shangri-la Mactan in the 90’s up to her stint in
Maldives, Indonesia, Fiji, and Cambodia with brands like Marriott International
and Banyan Tree and everything else in between, she admits having been blessed
with leaders who took the ways of the heart to motivate outcome and positives
results.
Were there tough
days? With most of her experience
growing in the revenue, rooms operations and F&B of numerous beach resorts
all over the world.
As one of the
two MHR properties in Boracay Newcoast, one being Savoy Hotel Boracay, she
appreciates how unique one is from the other. She said Belmont takes a
straightforward and tranquil approach as opposed to the usual parties the
island is generally known for. The hotel
is most fitting for small to large family reunions, people vacationing with a
hint of business, and senescent guests who prefer peace and quiet while
enjoying the sun, sand, and sea of Boracay. With 442 rooms, 2 F&B outlets,
a pool, spa, and a dedicated beach front perfect to greet the golden sunrise.
Get treated to a
night or two and plan those private dinners by the beach with Belmont Hotel
Boracay. Email www.reserve@belmontboracay.com.ph
or visit www.belmonthotelboracay.com for
room reservations and other arrangements for a comfortable stay.
Bring the
good forward!
Claire del Rosario Bernabe,
Director of Customer Experience and New Ventures of Megaworld Hotels and
Resorts
Claire del Rosario Bernabe, Director of Customer Experience and New Ventures of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts |
It’s all about
the experience. Exactly 30 years in the hospitality industry with local and international experience. Waving the flagship of the largest homegrown hospitality management brand.
“More than the destination, picturesque scenery, and complete facilities is really the collection of memorable moments that builds connections and spark joy. A memorable authentic Filipino customer experience is constantly evolving and adequately adapts to the needs of the customer. We Filipinos are known to be hospitable and are a happy people. We are enablers, and we do so with warmth and a smile that doesn’t need to be taught or practiced. It is important to aim to constantly improve the overall experience of each investor or customer has with the brand. MHR has a transformational leader in the person of its very own Managing Director, Ms. Cleofe Albiso, who empowers key executives. MHR’s structural pillars are in place and steps are being taken to further improve and strengthen the organization to support further growth. Have the chance to greet another day with a smile, be able to make a difference in the lives of others as much as you inspire them to bring the good forward. We welcome and recognize our new leaders with so much pride and joy knowing that there’s so much instore for everyone who believes in what a homegrown brand like us can do.” ~Claire Bernabe, Megaworld Hotels and Resorts’ newest addition to the brand management team
Nothing is ever
perfect. No brand will ever have it all but there is always opportunity for its
enablers to learn and discover. With her new role as Megaworld Hotels and
Resorts’ (MHR) Director of Customer Experience and New Ventures, she is excited
about the projects in the pipeline.
Luckily with
MHR, Bernabe celebrates that the organization is anchored on faith, its
investors, and its people. As someone who hails from celebrated brands. In her line of experience, Bernabe has served leadership roles with brands like
Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Century International Hotels, Marco Polo Davao,
Novotel Garden Plaza Saigon, Movenpick Saigon, Discovery Shores and so much
more.
Looking into the
future, Cleofe Albiso, top executive of Megaworld hotels and Resorts announces
that “opportunities are endless with the organization”. Albiso believes in equal opportunities for everyone
as long as we stay humble and work hard for it. This year alone, MHR is poised
to open the largest hotel in the Philippines which is the Grand Westside Hotel
with more than 1,500 rooms strategically located at the Entertainment City in
Paranaque. With this, Albiso and her team aims find the right fit for the job
for the roles they have available.
To all the women
and allies joining in the cause to elevate other women and campaign for
inclusivity, trust that you are all welcome across all properties of Megaworld
Hotels and Resorts. Get a 20% discount for your next stay
whenever you go to Boracay, Cebu, Iloilo, Metro Manila, or near Tagaytay.
Stay in Belmont Hotel Manila or Savoy
Hotel Manila within Newport City in Pasay across NAIA terminal 3, Kingsford
Hotel Manila located in the Entertainment City of Paranaque, Hotel Lucky
Chinatown in Binondo, Twin Lakes Hotel near Tagaytay, Eastwood
Richmonde Hotel in Quezon City, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas in Pasig, Richmonde
Hotel Iloilo in Iloilo Business Park of Iloilo City, Belmont Hotel
Boracay or Savoy Hotel Boracay located at the Newcoast Boracay or
even in Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown in Cebu or in the newly opened Belmont
Hotel Mactan Newtown. Learn
more about it and visit www.megaworldhotels.com to plan your next hotel getaway. Travel more! For further information, visit the website, email salesinquiry@megaworldhotels.com or visit Megaworld Hotels & Resorts’ official facebook page.
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