Saturday Briefing

By The Human Resources Service Center

The Outrigger ‘ohana gathered at the OHANA Waikiki East on Tuesday, October 27, to honor and recognize Employees of the Quarter for the Third Quarter of 2009. David Carey, Barry Wallace, Dr. Chuck Kelley, and Department Heads extended their congratulations and offered words of praise to all of the distinguished honorees and nominees.

Keith Christy – Guest Service Representative and Concierge
Keith, who currently works at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, has two roles: Guest Service Representative and Concierge. Keith is always willing to share his time, talent, expertise, and knowledge. He took it upon himself to organize and improve the numerous checklists and forms used by the Front Desk. Keith is a hard worker; from the minute he arrives on property, he is ready to jump right in and start his day. His upbeat personality inspires everyone, and the Front Desk is a better place with him on our team!

Masako Sawyer - Operations Assistant
Masako, who currently works at the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber, is a great example of Kina‘ole (Flawlessness) and Accountability (Kuleana). Recently she received a comment card from a guest indicating that the taxi that the hotel had called for them, had overcharged them. Masako took the time to write them a letter, and the guest was very surprised and impressed with her follow-up. Masako addressed the issue with the taxi company, who reimbursed the guest for their taxi fare. Needless to say, the guest was extremely happy and promised to return to the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber.

Larry Pascua – Maintenance
Larry, who currently works at the OHANA Waikiki East, is known for his professionalism and pride in his work. He completes his work assignments in a timely manner and makes sure that everything gets done the first time, while treating both guests and coworkers with Aloha. In accordance with our value of A‘o (To Learn and to Share), Larry continues to improve his performance and gain knowledge in his field. He always takes positive action to meet the growing demands and responsibilities of the job, while keeping focused on his day-to-day work.

Charles Ursua – Guest Service Representative
Charles, who currently works at the Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk, is a role model of Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a! He respects everyone—guests, coworkers, and supervisors, at all times, in all situations. Even when it is busy, he keeps his composure and treats guests and coworkers with Aloha. Charles has a gift in connecting with people, and he never hesitates to offer assistance. A 17-year veteran of Outrigger, Charles has taken the opportunity to learn about the timeshare industry and is still progressing in learning and building his skills in everyday operations.

Franklin Sabugo Jr. – Housekeeper
Franklin, who is currently working at the Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff, always has a “can do” attitude. He recently worked with the Maintenance department in order to help them achieve 100 percent compliance with the quarterly A/C filter exchange. Franklin responds to guest requests professionally and punctually. He regularly performs additional duties in housekeeping by assisting in keeping on top of his storage inventories, making sure we don’t run out of any supplies or amenities. Franklin does all this while displaying a sense of humor that brings sunshine into what would otherwise be stressful situations.

Ruben Sarol - Housekeeper
Ruben, who is currently working at the Outrigger Palms at Wailea, always gives one hundred percent in everything he does. Ruben always treats others with respect and his positive attitude helps create a healthy work environment for everyone. He communicates well with his managers and constantly has a smile on his face. Ruben is always willing to take on additional work to meet operational needs. He has embraced a higher standard of ideals, as we work together to provide superior services to our guests during these challenging times.

Ricol Akana - Sales and Marketing Assistant
Ricol, who currently works at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, is known for “walking the talk” when it comes to Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a. She has received numerous comments from clients on how efficient, professional, proactive, and accommodating she is in meeting their needs and exceeding their expectations.  Ricol is consistent, accurate, and dependable in carrying out her responsibilities and meeting department deadlines. She has made a substantial contribution to the continued operations and growth of the Sales and Marketing department, and she has proven herself to be a key member of the department.

Yuet Chun Liang - Housekeeper
Yuet Chun, who currently works at the Embassy Suites® - Waikiki Beach Walk®, is highly-respected by team members and management alike. Yuet Chun is helpful and generous with her room supplies, sharing, and even delivering them to those in need. She is proactive in anticipating the needs of our guests and always makes sure they are happy. She has been known to leave handwritten notes to say goodbye to guests and one time, even played the part of the Tooth Fairy for a young guest who lost her tooth while staying at the hotel.

Nancy Brunner – Corporate Receptionist
As the Corporate Receptionist, Nancy is a wonderful example of a Nā Mea Ho‘okipa (Hosts). Always cheerful and helpful to guests, vendors, and employees alike, Nancy is a team player who is very conscientious about her responsibilities. Recently, she researched and developed procedures for the new International Mail requirements and then trained several Managers on these procedures, as well as developed and updated reference material for the Corporate Reception Desk. Nancy is a dedicated member of our ‘ohana who is known for her smile and warm welcome.

Siu Lan Fong – Housekeeper
Siu Lan, who currently works at the OHANA Waikiki Malia, is a fine example of our value of Kina‘ole (Flawlessness)—doing the right thing with a professional and positive attitude. She was able to multi-task during renovations and was always willing to adapt to change. Siu Lan is a great Host to our guests, as well as coworkers. She is accountable when it comes to her responsibilities, and she is always responsive to guest requests. Siu Lan takes pride in maintaining our standards of cleanliness and is a great asset to the property.

Rhonda Zarychta – Reservations Sales Agent
Rhonda, a Reservations Sales Agent currently working for the Outrigger Worldwide Contact Center, is known for her attention to detail in her everyday work and for being a team player. Given that the Reservations department is now “virtual,” teamwork is very important. Rhonda has been extremely helpful by being flexible with her schedule and covering last-minute business needs. She also consistently displays her excellent teamwork skills by taking the initiative to learn new tasks and skills in other areas.

Juhn Hwan Lee – Maintenance
Juhn Hwan, who currently works at the Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach, is respected and well-liked by everyone at the property. He is always willing to share his knowledge and experience with others, and even on a busy day, Juhn will take on special projects. Juhn always takes pride in his work, and he’ll make sure that the work is done right the first time. He always seeks ways to improve his skills. Juhn was an important part of the great team that helped with the Courtyard conversion this past June.

Gilbert Cui - Maintenance
Gilbert, who currently works at the OHANA Waikiki West, lives our value of A‘o (To Learn and to Share). Gilbert has become a well-rounded maintenance employee and is now able to work on various projects because of his ability to pick up new skills very quickly. He is always flexible with his work schedule to accommodate the needs of operations, and Gilbert never fails to follow through on his assignments. Gilbert’s pleasant disposition, along with his good work ethic, has helped him form positive relationships with all the departments.

Michael Zampaga - Housekeeper
Michael, who currently works at the Outrigger Luana Waikiki, shares his Aloha with everyone he meets. He has a pleasant personality and a winning smile. Michael practices our value of Accountability (Kuleana) by completing his work in a timely and efficient manner. He takes the initiative to look for things that need to be taken care of and follows through to ensure they are done. Michael loves to share his knowledge with others, and he always keeps an open mind to learn new techniques.

Khun Nawarat Rabiedee - Cafeteria Chef
Khun Nawarat, a Cafeteria Chef currently working at the Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort and Spa, takes great pride in her cooking. She is well-liked by everyone at the property, as they always look forward to their daily meals Khun Nawarat prepares for them. With many years of experience, Khun Nawarat portrays our value of A‘o (To Learn and to Share), as she is willing to share her time, talent, expertise, and knowledge. Khun Nawarat is a hardworking Mea Ho‘okipa (Host), who is known for her smile and cooking skills.

Congratulations also to the following Employee of the Quarter nominees recognized for their outstanding performance during the Third Quarter of 2009: John Henry Acosta, Estefania Angeles, Salvador Antonio, Junko Austin, Teresita Bugal, Irene Cabulera, Makamae Cacho, RC Callorina, Florence Corrales, Richard Fernando, Renato Garingo, Alyssa Johnson, Kevin Kamakaiwi Sr., Min Hong Kang, Les La’a, Xorda Laurin, Ji Qiao Liang, Ricardo Lumaban, Brian Miyamoto, Kevin Nakamichi, Ronald Ogata, Derrick Terada, Donnalu Shimooka, and Renato Yanit.