Monthly Archives: July 2010
Cheyenne, Wyoming, Where Tourism Really Is Everybody’s Business
By Richard Kelley
Those who have read Saturday Briefing for almost any period of time know that I strongly believe that “Tourism Is Everybody’s Business.” The benefits of Travel & Tourism go far beyond local airports, hotels, restaurants, and automobile rental companies. The income and job opportunities that visitors create are felt throughout any community where Travel & Tourism is part of the economy. Last week, I found a perfect example of this when I visited Cheyenne, Wyoming, to enjoy the many activities of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD). While there, I also discovered a surprising link between Cheyenne and Hawaii.
The U.S. Texas Girls Choir in Town!
By Una Murray
The U.S. Texas Girls Choir enjoyed their annual overseas trip at the Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji (FOR).
The Southern belles totaled 45 singers, including their Director Debbie Weir and Agent Ilse Roderick, representing only a small part of the 250-member, all-female choir. The jetsetters took the air to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand prior to visiting Fiji.
Join Us for the American Heart Association’s Start! Heart Walk
By Kaipo Ho
The Start! Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premier fundraising event and promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living that’s fun for the entire family. The money raised each year is used to fund the valuable research, education, and advocacy efforts of the American Heart Association.
Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas Conducts Lifeguard Training
By Khun Paew
- Ready to rescue! TLP hosts successfully complete lifeguard training to ensure guest safety
Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort & Villas (TLP) conducted Lifeguard training for selected Front Office, Activities, and Food and Beverage hosts.
The course content is designed to ensure appropriate Lifeguard behavior and that appropriate response skill levels are developed and strengthened. The lessons focused on the techniques of lifesaving and rescue and the knowledge needed to manage aquatic emergencies, as well as everyday accidents and injuries. Training also focused on Lifeguards and Pool Attendants learning how to perform the most current techniques in rescue, first aid, and resuscitation.
Trainer Khun Narongsak Buain, Activities Manager, successfully completed a refresher course for Lifeguard and Surf Lifesaving Training by a qualified and highly-experienced Lifeguard Trainer from Australia, David Field, and was able to pass along these important skills to our hosts.
More Flavors of the Reef
By Luana Maitland
Celebrating Where We Come From was this year’s theme for “Flavors of the Reef” at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. Here are more photos from the event, which took place on Wednesday, July 14, with employees sharing their many talents.
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- L to R: Leilani Adap, Nati Esta, Edmund Villanueva, Lilia Arca, Marilyn Cleopus, Erwin Pante, Thelma Fernandez, Myra Kuboyama, Pereza Baptista, Evelyn Coredon, and Ben Ranata Filipino Dancers: Mercy Valdez, Elizabeth Aquimaldo, and Mark Paz
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- Alohalani Alapa‘i shares a hula
And the Winner of the 2010 Ultimate Loco Moco Smack Down is…
By Conchita Malaqui
The wait is over! The quest for the best loco moco in Waikiki took six weeks; and many, many pounds, er…loco mocos later, the winner was announced on July 20, 2010.
- Christopher Cole, Breakfast Manager of Ocean House, accepts the honors from Conchita Malaqui, Retail General Manager
The delectable dishes were sampled and savored at the Ocean House at Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Cheeseburger Beachwalk, Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber at OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber, Giovanni Pastrami at Waikiki Beach Walk®, Keoni by Keo’s at the OHANA Waikiki East, and Hula Grill at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.
Our online followers cast their votes by tweeting their favorite loco moco restaurant to us, and on the final day, July 19, we had a tie between Giovanni Pastrami and Ocean House! No one thought this could happen! This was a big pickle that didn’t go well with loco moco at all. What to do? We had to call in a food expert, who had, in fact, tasted all of the loco mocos, to cast the deciding vote. This certainly was a tough one, but our secret expert selected Ocean House at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach as the Winner of the 2010 Ultimate Loco Moco Smack Down.
Christopher Cole, Breakfast Manager of Ocean House was on hand to accept the 2010 Ultimate Loco Moco Trophy on the plaza stage at Waikiki Beach Walk®. Congratulations to Ocean House, and huge mahalos to our participating restaurants!
Darren Shaw Gives the Gift of Life!
Never let it be said that Darren Shaw, GM of the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, doesn’t have compassion or a great sense of humor! Here he is at a recent Laguna blood drive.
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- Pulse…Good…Blood Pressure…Good… Piece of cake this blood-giving!
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- Needle seems a bit big, Doc? Are you sure I won’t feel a thing?
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- …Just a blur!
Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Celebrates Paddle Two at Kōloa Plantation Days Pā‘ani Games
By Marianne Thesken
More than 125 keiki gathered at Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation to participate in a cultural morning with the Outrigger ‘ohana. Coming together to share unique histories, cultures, and stories, the employees created a memorable day for visitors and locals alike.
Outrigger Receives Honors at PRSA Koa Anvil Awards
By Nancy Daniels
The Hawaii chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Hawaii) honored the best in public relations last week at its 27th annual PRSA Hawaii Koa Anvil Awards reception and dinner, and I’m proud to say that Outrigger Hotels & Resorts received three prestigious awards.
Outrigger Today: Many Brands, One ‘Ohana
By David Carey
Dr. Kelley is traveling. His column will return next week.
I am certain that in 1947, when our founders, Roy and Estelle Kelley, built their first hotel, they could not have possibly imagined that the seeds they planted would grow into such a robust and diverse a company just over six decades later.
