Category Archives: Pacific News
New Panache Restaurant Opens at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas!
By Khun Paew
The Outrigger Laguna Phuket is proud to announce the opening of its new interactive dining experience called ‘Panache.’ The new restaurant, which opened its doors this week, presents innovative Asian and European flavors in a relaxed poolside or air-conditioned setting away from the crowds. Read the rest of this entry
Outrigger Guam Resort Helps Raise Funds
By Charlene Goo
On Friday, July 22, 2011, Outrigger Guam Resort presented a $3,210 check to Japan Club of Guam President, Mr. Yoneyama and Japan School of Guam Principal, Mr. Nakamura, in sponsorship of the Violin Benefit Concerts held at the Outrigger Guam Resort.
Japan Club of Guam and the Outrigger Guam Resort hosted benefit concerts on June 17 and 18, 2011 featuring world-renown Japanese Violinist, Antonio Takuya Takahashi. Mr. Takahashi was accompanied by Guam Territorial Band, Michael Provido Tan (Piano), Michelle Hamilton (Violin), and Ukulena (Ukulele Trio) during the 2-day concerts. Concerts were held to raise much needed funds for the Japan School of Guam’s Gymnasium project.
From left: Mr. Yasuhide Torigoe, Japan Club of Guam; Mr. Toyohito Yoneyama, President, Japan Club of Guam; Mr. Hiroshi Nakamura, Principal, Japan School of Guam; Ms. Charlene Goo, VP-Operations, Pacific Region, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts; Lisa Lenckowski, Marketing Manager, Outrigger Guam Resort; and Mr. Michiru Sato, Director of Sales, Outrigger Guam Resort.
Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji Hosts Australian Travel Agents
By Una Murray
Last week the Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji was honored to host sixteen Melbourne and Brisbane Matai Travel Agents who specialize in promoting Fiji globally. These agents were in Fiji to tour our famous holiday destination resorts and hotels. Jennifer Yip and Juliet Hudson hosted the group for lunch last Thursday at the Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji Resort before they were taken to the Shangri La Fijian Resort & Spa and the Australian Tradeshow. The show, sponsored by Tourism Fiji, hosted sixty-one Australian trade partners and is designed to impart the major key selling points when selling our island destination.
Many of the sixteen agents that we hosted were here in Fiji for the first time and were very impressed after doing their site here. Their clients have asked if they update themselves on all the products and amenities that the Resort offers.
Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji hosted sixteen Melbourne and Brisbane Matai Travel Agents who specialize in promoting Fiji
Outrigger Koh Samui Resort & Spa Starts Tours to the Big Buddha
By Leon Pink
Every Tuesday and Thursday the Outrigger Koh Samui Resort’s Activities Team introduces guests to a true cultural experience on a tour of Plai Liam Temple and Big Buddha. These two famous Koh Samui landmarks are located just a few minutes’ walk from the resort. Read the rest of this entry
Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji Family Fun Day
By Una Murray
The Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji (FOR) has set a benchmark as one of the best holiday destinations in Fiji as well as the South Pacific. General Manager Peter Hopgood says one of the contributing factors to the resort’s success is the dedication and the perseverance of the workers.
Acknowledging the efforts of the FOR vuvale (family), the resort management hosted family members over the weekend for a Family Fun Day. Mr. Hopgood said the resort has been running at 96 percent capacity since the beginning of May and hailed his staff for their hard work during this busy time. “When these things happen, it shows that your staff is working exceptionally hard. We have taken this opportunity to thank them and their families,” he said. The idea to host the workers and their families was the first of its kind to be introduced at the resort. We are having a very good year so far, so it’s important we acknowledge our workers and their families for their support and hard work. Mr. Hopgood added that the resort is all about delivering the Bula spirit and, with the commitment of its staff, the resort has what it takes to fulfill the desires of its guests.
GM Peter Hopgood with the Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji Nadroga Stallion Rugby Union Football Club at the Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji Family Fun Day
Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas’ Host of the Month
By Darren Shaw
The Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas is proud to honor our July Host of the Month honoree, Khun Ton. Khun Ton had resigned earlier in the year and departed for “greener pastures” however, fortunately for Outrigger, he returned in time for the heavy work of the Suites openings! One of our “behind the scenes” stars, Khun Ton displays many outstanding traits, however helpfulness is the most talked about and he is continuously complimented for his guest focus during their stay in our villas. Being service-minded is not only for the guests but also for his co-workers. For this Khun Ton really deserves this award! Congratulations again Khun Ton!
Executive Housekeeper Khun Nok, Honoree Khun Ton, and General Manager Darren Shaw
The Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji Bula Spirit Hits Suva
By Una Murray
The Sales Team vuvale (family) from the Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji (FOR) attended an event with corporate partners at the Suva Holiday Inn. General Manager Peter Hopgood addressed the crowd and relayed that the increase in occupancy at the FOR led to the recruitment of 120 additional staff, bringing the total number of employees to 440. Of those just employed, over 90 are youth from the nearby Coral Coast villages who had previously received training from the hotel. “This increase in manning levels makes an enormous impact on our local communities,” said Peter.
The Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji Supports Pacific Games 2011
By Una Murray
The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) is responsible for entering Fiji representatives in the Pacific Games (formerly known as the South Pacific Games). A multi-sport event, much like the Olympics (on a smaller scale), participation is exclusively from countries around the South Pacific. It is held every four years and began in 1963.
OMR Hosts Hawaii Agents
Eighteen people, including representatives of JTB, Kintetsu, NTA, Kailua Travel, Kauai Travel and Iolani School were hosted by Aloha Airlines, the Outrigger Marshall Islands Resorts and the Marshall Islands Visitors Authority this past weekend.
Robert McConnell and his team outdid themselves with an action-packed itinerary for this 16-hour familiarization trip. Upon arriving in Majuro, the group was met at Amata Kabua International Airport’s VIP Lounge with fresh wut (head leis), marmar (necklaces) and ice cold coconuts. They departed the airport to enjoy an evening filled with Marshallese music, song and dance and to attend a mini tradeshow. The group also dined on delectable food, including platters of sashimi, shrimp and lamb chops prepared by Bill Weza and his staff. Community leaders and representatives of the US and Japan Embassies joined the group in the fesitivities. At 10 p.m., when the tide was right, the group went on a Majuro moonlight shelling expedition.
At 7 a.m., the following morning, with only hours left on Majuro, the group enjoyed a Sunrise Lagoon Cruise to Calalan with time for a brief snorkel to enjoy the underwater marine life at Enamenit Island. Laden with kili bags, black pearls, stick charts, marmar, shells and ekkol (sennit) the tired but still enthusiastic group boarded the Aloha Airlines plane for a five- hour flight to Honolulu.
They all agreed there was not enough time in Majuro. Many are planning to return for the Outrigger Marshall Islands Cup on May 6 and to fish, dive, kayak, windsail or just to relax in the Marshall Islands.
Two OOTB @ OGM
What does all that mean? Well, it means there were two “Out Of The Box” awards made at the Outrigger Guam Resort this month. We encourage our taotao guma (hosts) to think out of the box and come up with new and different methods in our workplace. This month, we were pleased to present two awards, one to Rico Evangelista, Guest Services Manager, and the other to Franklin Sablan, Hospitality Administrative Assistant.
Rico noticed that a lot of the challenges we were facing with the Ving Card locks was due to dust accumulating on the key card reader. He thought if he could find a way to brush off the dust, we would not have to call the repairman to fix the locks, and our guests would be taken care of more quickly. The challenge was to find something that could fit into the key slot and clean the reader. Rico’s simple idea was to attach a strip of Velcro (fuzzy side) onto a key card. With a little rubbing alcohol applied, this proved to be a good cleaner and has since reduced the need for us to call for outside repairmen.
Franklin’s award was for his ongoing out of the box thinking in his work on the Sinisedi Kada Dia (Daily Happenings) calendar of activities for our guests, as well as his work on our nightly torch lighting ceremony.
We congratulate these two fine taotao guma for thinking out of the box and enhancing the productivity in our workplace.
