international second quarter 2007 travel to by jennifer...

Saturday Briefing

July 21, 2007

Employees of the Quarter HonoredSecond Quarter 2007

By Jennifer Peralta

The Outrigger ‘ohana gathered at the OHANA East Lobby Conference Room on July 17, 2007, to honor and recognize Employees of the Quarter for the Second Quarter 2007. David Carey, Barry Wallace, and Department Heads extended their congratulations and offered words of praise to all of the distinguished honorees and nominees.

Jolynn Nihipali Jimmar Manibog

Continued on page 4

Jolynn Nihipali Revenue Coodinator (Co. Services) Jolynn currently works in the OHANA Revenue Management department. Her knowledge of Front Desk operations has enabled her to make many contributions to the department. She is very detailed-oriented, thorough, and consistent. Jolynn is always eager to learn new things and willingly shares her knowledge when training new personnel. Willing to take risks, welcoming challenges, and having good communication skills and a creative mind, are just a few of many qualities a Revenue Management employee should have, and Jolynn possesses all of them.

Jimmar Manibog Housekeeping

Humble and dependable describes Jimmar, who currently works at the Outrigger at Lae Nani. As difficult as his job duties are, he always has a shy smile and a polite word for everyone. He takes pride in his work and goes above and beyond to get the job done right and in a timely manner. His professionalism has earned him the respect of his supervisors and coworkers. Jimmar’s Aloha Spirit makes him an invaluable asset to Outrigger.

Continued on page 8

International Travel to

U.S. Getting Some Needed

Attention Many in the Travel & Tourism Industry realize that the United States is not reaping all the potential benefits of inbound international travel. As with so many things in this world, there are many people who talk about problems and issues, but few leaders who implement needed improvements and reforms. Thankfully, that situation seems to be changing in at least one important area – recently a number of barriers to international travel have been getting attention by both business and government. There is general agreement that the U.S. has been losing market share in global travel. In a recent press release, the Travel Industry Association reports that since the attacks of 9/11, nearly 60 million fewer international travelers than projected have come to the U.S. That has translated into 194,000 fewer jobs, a $25.9 billion drop in payroll, a $94 billion decrease in spending by foreign visitors, and a $15.6 billion loss in tax revenue to federal, state, and local government, nationwide, over the past nearly six years.

Saturday Briefing

Saturday Briefing is published by and for employees of

Outrigger Enterprises Group.

Editor-In-Chief: Richard Kelley Senior Editor: Marie Casciato Assistant Editor: Lehua Kala‘i Contributing Writers: Employees of Outrigger Enterprises Group Circulation: Marie Casciato

Visit us online at:www.outrigger.com/sb

www.ohanahotels.com/sb

Submit suggestions, comments, and news tidbits to Marie Casciato at

[email protected] or via interoffice mail to OEH/Executive Office,

or contact her at (808) 921-6601.

© 2007 Outrigger Hotels Hawaii An Equal Opportunity Employer

Employment Opportunities If you are interested in the positions listed below and meet the qualifications, please submit an in-house application obtained from your Supervisor or Human Resources. If you have any questions, please call Eric Ishikawa at (808) 921-6989. Application deadline for the following positions is July 27, 2007.

Accounting Assistant (Full Time)

At least three years experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general accounting required. Must have excellent communication skills, be proficient in Microsoft Excel, and have 10-key by touch skills.

Accountant (Full Time)Will assist in all aspects of the general accounting function. Experience in accounting preferred. Must have excellent communication skills, be proficient in Microsoft Excel, and have 10-key by touch skills.

Business Systems Analyst (Full Time)Minimum five years systems analyst and project management experience with medium to large scale systems. Must be able to review, analyze, and develop systems to support corporate business needs. Experience with the following technologies required: MSSQL, Visual Basic, Citrix, DMPE, and EDMS. Knowledge of RPG a plus. Hospitality and financial systems experience preferred. Bachelor’s degree in ICS or MIS preferred.

Revenue Manager (Full Time)A minimum of two years revenue management experience required and must possess excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. Knowledge of basic property revenue, sales, and operational principles necessary. Must have supervisory/management experience in hospitality/customer service.

Sales Coordinator (Full Time)A minimum of three years hospitality sales experience required. Must have strong computer skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Outrigger Kiahuna PlantationSecurity Officer (Full Time)

Must have security experience or experience in a related field. A valid driver’s license, a clean traffic abstract, and CPR, AED, and first aid certification required. Interested applicants may fax their in-house application to (808) 742-9015.

It’s a Girl! Congratulations to Riko Francis and Terna Auf on the birth of their baby daughter Rinret Riko Francis on July 3 at 9:14 a.m. Rinret weighed 6 lbs 11 ozs and was 19.5 inches long.

Rinret Riko Francis

JOBS

Saturday Briefing

Lifesaver ClubBy Dr. Chuck Kelley & Marie Miyahira

Blood Drive If you are interested in saving three lives, you can, in just about an hour. Here are the basic donor requirements:

S Be in good health (most medications are acceptable).

S Be 18 years of age or older (17-year-olds can donate with written parental consent).

S Have valid photo identification.S Weigh 110 pounds or more.S Wait eight weeks between donations (your

last donation was June 28).

Compassion and time is all it takes to help collect the 200 pints of blood needed every day to maintain an adequate supply for our patients here in Hawaii. It’s Safe. It’s Simple. It Saves Lives.

Thursday, August 23, 20079 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Embassy Suites® - Waikiki Beach Walk® Hotel4th Floor, Beach Walk Meeting Room 1

To make an appointment, please email [email protected] or call me at 921-6881. For more information on donating blood, visit www.bbh.org or call the Blood Bank of Hawaii at 845-9966. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Cocktails in the SkyBy Una Murray

The Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji’s (FOR) Sales and Marketing team hosts a special cocktail party for media and invited guests every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Known as the Sanctuary Cocktail Party, and held in the new Kalakalo Bar, this is the must-attend event of the week. Located high above the resort on Vakalomalagi Hill and overlooking the resort’s lush landscaping with a sweeping view of the azure Coral Coast, the Kalokalo Bar is the newest addition to the FOR’s dining and entertainment experience. Fiji has some of the most spectacular sunsets on the planet, and there is no better way to enjoy them than over cocktails in the relaxing atmosphere of the Kalokalo Bar. FOR’s Sales and Marketing team kept this in mind when planning this event—guests have front row seats to enjoy the glorious Fijian sunset.

Newlyweds Booken and Mark Arnold (seated) who were married at FOR’s Bure Ni Loloma Wedding Chapel are joined by Public Relations Manager Una Murray and Executive Sous

Chef Shailesh Naidu at the Sanctuary Cocktail Party

Aug 06: Clifford Olson, Mercedes C. Cabutaje, Kok Leong Shiu, Willy K. Shim, Nga A. Prieto, and Elvira L. Maluyo.

Aug 07: Irene S. H. Lee, Josefina Queypeo, Jo-Ann S. Yonamine, John K. Wong, Garrick T. Hiroe, Andres C. Ibe, Roberta N. Kinoshita, Susan B. S. So, and Wendy L. Ko.

Aug 08: Elmer D. Talledo, Janice S. Shizumura, Aldrin M. Carbonell, Elena B. Ballan, Robert K. Kanoa Jr., Marcelino Baguyo, and Li Yan Li.

Aug 09: Naida Navarro and Wai Kit Lee.

Aug 10: David P. Luedtke, Jae Sil Lee, Austin R. Lee, Poshu Cheng, Joshlenrose N. Weller, Lois T. Endo, and Deborah A. Ingalls.

Aug 11: Tyrell J. Takahashi, Mary Jackson, Rufina D. Cabacungan, and Leslie A. Tidwell.

Aug 12: Irenio C. Dumaslan, Marilou L. Agdinaoay, Lance A. Koerte, Troy K. Hiura, Crystal E. Sanders, Thelma B. Galigo, and Norman T. Taira Jr.

Saturday Briefing


Continued from page 1

Reynaldo Orpilla ∆ Maintenance Rey currently works at the Outrigger Waikiki Shore Resort. Rey is very dependable, efficient, and dedicated. He has demonstrated his willingness to go above and beyond his work duties, and guests often ask for him by name. Besides working in Maintenance, he has assisted with some of the houseman’s duties when needed. He always has good ideas, and many of his suggestions are put to use. His outstanding performance, positive attitude, and

strong work ethic make him a valuable asset to the company.

Alohalani Alapai ∆ Front Desk Alohalani currently works at the OHANA Islander Waikiki. She is a strong believer in the Hawaiian spirit and hospitality. Alohalani takes pride in her work and is well respected by coworkers, guests, and employees in other departments. She is very versatile and is always willing to help whenever needed. She also participates in company events such as dancing hula for our May Day programs. Her hard work and perseverance

make her an invaluable asset to Outrigger.

Jacob Nohara ∆ Bell Person Jacob currently works at the OHANA East and is an asset to not only the department, but to the property. He understands the importance of taking care of our guests’ needs and expectations to ensure total satisfaction. Jacob can always be relied on to complete assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner. He is also a mentor to our newer team members and uses his knowledge and experience to help them execute their jobs in the most efficient way possible. Jacob is a valuable asset to the company.

Robin Zukeran ∆ Front Desk Robin currently works at the Wyland Waikiki Hotel. He is a wonderful example of what a Guest Service Representative should be. His strengths are his sense of humor, Aloha Spirit, good work ethic, and his ability to recognize what needs to be done. Guests always comment on Robin’s great customer service skills. His willingness to assist guests and coworkers whenever needed makes him a great team player. We are very fortunate to have Robin as part of our ‘ohana.

Rosalina Manzano ∆ Housekeeping A 20-year veteran, Rosalina currently works at the OHANA Maile Sky Court. She takes our mission of quality guest service very seriously. She ensures all guests are comfortable by always providing a clean, safe, and properly supplied room. She is very cooperative, flexible, and willing to change her days off if needed. Rosalina’s pleasant and energetic personality make her an enjoyable person to work with and helps to create a positive work environment.

Reynaldo Orpilla Alohalani Alapai

Jacob Nohara

Nancy “Kalani” Lumwan ∆ Front Desk Kalani currently works at Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff. She is a valuable team member who is always willing to go the extra mile to assist her coworkers and guests. Kalani took it upon herself to create a program involving calling each guest after check-in to ensure they are satisfied with their accommodations. She always greets each guest by name and with Aloha. We are proud to have Kalani on our team.

Nancy “Kalani” Lumwan

Rosalina Manzano

Robin Zukeran

Continued on page 5

Saturday Briefing

Albert Kahookaulana ∆ Front Desk Albert currently works at Outrigger Kona Hawaiian Village and provides guests with an outstanding level of customer service. He welcomes guests with a huge smile and warm words. Albert makes a lasting positive impression on guests by being friendly and personable. Guests will often ask for Albert upon their arrival. He works hard, is very considerate of others, and is a team player who can always be counted on to assist whenever

needed. Albert is truly the epitome of Aloha.


Continued from page 4Coral Castillo ∆ Front Desk

Coral currently works for Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort. Her quality of customer service is always outstanding and full of Aloha, as she consistently exceeds all expectations. Coral is extremely productive and often times looks for new and innovative ways to fulfill her responsibilities. In addition, she contributes ideas and recommends solutions to improve the process between all departments. She is a team player who is always willing to help others. Coral’s Aloha Spirit makes

her an invaluable asset to our company.

Donna Shimooka ∆ Front Desk Currently based at the OHANA West, Donna is known for her genuine smile and Aloha Spirit. She is always quick to assist the Front Desk whenever needed. Donna makes herself available to our guests and listens calmly and empathetically, taking quick action to assist them. We can always count on Donna to stand in as Manager on Duty. She has helped train all new hires throughout the years. We

appreciate Donna’s Aloha and hard work and are lucky to have her as part of our ‘ohana.

Diane Cox ∆ Housekeeping Diane currently works for Outrigger Fairway Villas Resort. She always shows good behavior and a good work ethic day in and day out. She takes pride in her work and goes above and beyond her everyday duties to keep our owners and guests happy. Diane is prepared to pitch in and help her fellow workers in times of need, and still manages to get her own work done by the end of the day. Diane fulfills our Outrigger values through her daily actions and is a

very valuable asset to our operation on the Kohala Coast.

Oliver DeLeon ∆ Maintenance Oliver currently works for Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Resort. Oliver takes Kuleana (Accountability) to heart and accepts responsibility for taking care of our resort. On more than one occasion, he has put his safety training to use with great results. He gets along well with his coworkers and is always willing to help out whenever needed. Besides being our local “hero,” Oliver can be counted on to consistently do a great job. Our ‘ohana is proud to work with Oliver.

Marina Cajudoy ∆ Housekeeping A 13-year veteran, Marina currently works at the Outrigger Napili Shores Resort. Her positive attitude, professionalism, and dedication have earned her the respect of her coworkers and guests. She takes pride in her work and can always be counted on to get the job done right—the first time—and to the highest standards. She is always willing to help out where needed and goes the extra mile to ensure guest satisfaction. Her dedication and loyalty make her an invaluable asset to the company.

Coral Castillo Donna Shimooka

Diane Cox Albert Kahookaulana

Oliver DeLeon Marina Cajudoy

Continued on page 6

Saturday Briefing

Dwayne “Skip” Boyce ∆ Door Attendant A 25-year veteran, Skip currently works at the Outrigger Waikiki and is an asset to his department and the property. His professionalism and dedication are evident in the excellent customer service he provides our guests. He has received many positive guest comment cards on his outstanding and pleasant service and constant smile. He has befriended many of our return guests. Skip is very helpful to coworkers and creates a great working relationship with

our Valet services. He is a true asset to the company.

Employees of the Quarter Honored Second Quarter 2007


Matthew Sproat ∆ Front Office Matt currently works at the Outrigger Reef. He demonstrates a positive and professional attitude at work and is well liked by his co-workers. Through his sharing of stories and beliefs of the Hawaiian culture, Matt helps everyone else to become a better host. He uses his knowledge to turn every unexpected situation into a win-win situation for the guest and the hotel. Matt was the Outrigger Reef front desk nominee for the Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana award four times and was the first place winner

in 2006. One of Matt’s dreams is to open a Performing Arts school, where kids will learn how to become performers.

Shirlynne “Lala” Ka‘alake ∆ Front Desk Currently based at Outrigger Palms at Wailea, Lala as she is known, has taken our company’s values to heart and exemplifies them in all that she does. She easily accepts all responsibilities given to her. She is a team player who willingly assists her coworkers whenever needed. Her outstanding skills, combined with her genuine attitude, results in our guests commenting on her friendliness. LaLa is an outstanding employee who is truly

deserving of this honor—we are fortunate to have her as part of our ‘ohana.

Christian Ross ∆ F&B Christian currently works at the Embassy Suites® - Waikiki Beach Walk® Hotel. Christian is a happy-go-lucky person who is always smiling. He welcomes our guests with Aloha and generosity. He converses with guests with such warmth that they keep coming back every time he is working. He takes pride in everything he does and is an awesome team player. Christian’s Aloha towards his job, coworkers, and guests makeshim a true Na Mea Ho‘okipa.

Laura Ring ∆ Reservations Sales Agent Laura currently works for our Outrigger Worldwide Reservations Center. Laura has been employed as a Reservation Agent for one year and in that time, has shown stellar performance, customer service, and work ethic. Hired from a temporary to regular employee, Laura quickly proved her abilities. In time, Laura was selected to become the Reservation Center’s primary contact for the Lion King ticket reservations project. In addition, Laura has been trained in many

specialty areas of the Reservations Center. Laura has earned this recognition, and we congratulate her!

Tiffani Saunders ∆ Activity Desk Tiffani currently works for Wyndham Waikiki Beach Walk. She is definitely our Guest Experience Creator! With her knowledge of the Hawaiian Culture and hospitality business, Tiffani creates the most amazing experiences for our guests and employees. She is passionate about sharing our Hawaiian culture and professionally integrates that energy and knowledge into our resort activities and in her interactions with our guests

and employees. Tiffani is more than a team player; she is a valuable member of our ‘ohana.

Matt Sproat Laura Ring

Shirlynne “Lala” Ka‘alake Dwayne “Skip” Boyce

Christian Ross Tiffani Saunders

Continued on page 7

Saturday Briefing


Continued from page 6Feng Zhen Chen ∆ Housekeeping

Currently based at the OHANA Waikiki Malia, Feng Zhen is always willing to try new ideas and is helpful in implementing these changes. Her professionalism and “can do” attitude have earned her the respect of her coworkers. Feng Zhen is very flexible with her schedule and is willing to change it on short notice. She is always willing to help out where needed and often goes the extra mile. Feng Zhen is well respected by her

coworkers and supervisors for her hard work and dedication.

Skye Litsey ∆ Front Desk Skye, currently works at the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber as an Auditor. She is a true professional who handles all situations with Aloha. Her quality of customer service is outstanding, and she exceeds guest expectations. She is known for being patient and always having a positive attitude. Skye can often be found joking and laughing, even after a long and difficult night. She not only shares her Aloha Spirit with our guests, but also with her fellow coworkers. Skye’s Aloha when dealing with guests and

coworkers truly exemplifies the values of our company.Feng Zhen Skye Litsey

Congratulations also to the following Employee of the Quarter nomineeswho have been outstanding in their performance during the 2nd Quarter, 2007.

Xili Liu, Mai Lee Eusebio, Feny Vidad, Jeffery Luahiawa, Sherri Thomas, Eddie Pancipanci, Cha Yol Yi, Leo Dela Cruz, Alex Sheen, Miriam Karratti, Lance Kobashigawa, Ferdinand Llamas, Dave Hasegawa, Errol Yanuaria, Mauricia Cabato, Lodrigo Lapitan, Jenny Lu, Olledan Balleros, Jason Fujimoto, Lilia Domingsil, Shannon Kaahanui, Roy Beppu, Abe K-Aloha, Pepito

Quijano, Stephanie Miwa, Ambrosio Peralta, Alfredo Encomienda, Kenny Quach, Kay Lee, Mary Ann Andrade, Dean Hashimoto, Mich Ota, Daniel Tagawa, Lynn Tran, Marilou Agdinaoay, Xin Jiang Zhou, Marivic Gushikuma, Charlene Luning,

Colleen Harada, and Donnella Frantz.

Outrigger Waikiki“I am writing to congratulate you [Jim Heather] on your wonderful hotel and fantastic staff. Way back in the 1960s my mother’s aunt and uncle (Doll and Wally Wilson) frequented Hawaii on business and were staying on one of their many trips to the islands, next door at the Surfrider. They watched the Outrigger Waikiki being built, and on their next trip stayed for the first time at your beautiful hotel. From that time on, they were frequent visitors to the Outrigger Waikiki, and were wonderfully looked after by Alice Walters for their subsequent visits over the next 15 years until their retirement. When I was a teenager in 1981, my aunt and uncle reserved my mother, father, and myself a wonderful suite at the Outrigger for our first trip to Hawaii. Since that first visit, my family (husband and two children) has visited as many times as we could afford too (even sometimes when we couldn’t). This time, since Alice’s retirement, we were looked after very efficiently by Marion Beverly, and are very grateful for her help and attention. It has been about five years since our last visit, and I cannot tell you how impressed we were with the entire staff at the Outrigger Waikiki. Everyone was extremely helpful and above all friendly. My husband says that ‘anyone in the hospitality industry should pay a visit

to your hotel for a lesson in customer service.’ I would like to make special mention of the wonderful housekeeping staff, who were always super courteous, helpful, and above all happy and friendly. It is indeed a credit to yourself and your management team that your entire hotel staff is obviously very happy to be going to work. It has always been a great experience to stay at the Outrigger Waikiki, but especially on this visit, the staff was outstanding. We really appreciated the beautiful flowers and gifts on arrival, and were very impressed with the extra bathroom in the suite. It is a real luxury for us to come, even just for a week. I just felt that I should take the time to write and let you know how much we enjoyed our stay, and to pass on our thanks to your staff for their attention to detail and great attitudes. Looking forward to our next visit, when possible. (Hopefully, it won’t be another five years!)”Julie RyanVia email

Moments of Aloha

Jim Heather

Saturday Briefing

The causes of the decline are many, but the main culprits seem to be: • Difficultyinobtaininga

U.S. visa• Cumbersome,slow

and demeaning entry procedures

•Thelackofanationalmarketing organization with a budget adequate to persuade significant numbers of international travelers to visit the U.S.

“Whether realities or perceptions, our country’s

cumbersome visa policies and unwelcoming entry procedures are deterring would-be travelers from choosing to visit America,” says Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels and chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has stepped up to help improve international tourism, which is vital to Hawaii’s Visitor Industry. Recently he shared with me three resolutions on international travel that he introduced at last month’s annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, held in Los Angeles. The first resolution calls for the federal government to implement common-sense visa policy reforms to make it easier and faster for foreign travelers to get a U.S. visa. Particularly important in this effort would be the use of technology and teleconferencing so that visa applicants living in smaller cities would not have to endure hundreds of miles of travel to a major city in their country for a face-to-face interview by a State Department representative at an American embassy or consulate. The resolution also calls for improvements in America’s welcome at ports of entry through enhanced customer service training of Customs officials, implementation of an international registered traveler program, etc. The second resolution asks the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delay implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which would mandate stricter rules for identification and proof of citizenship for Canadian travelers by January 31, 2008. Canadian visitors have always been a very important part of travel to Hawaii, and the proposed DHS regulations would drive a significant part of that business to Caribbean countries and Mexico next year. The third resolution urges the Bush administration to enter into a bilateral agreement to expand leisure group travel from China and to make it easier for Chinese citizens to get U.S. visas. Over the past decade, the growth of Chinese international travel has been phenomenal – 31 million Chinese citizens

International Travel to U.S. Getting Some Needed Attention


Mayor Mufi Hannemann

traveled abroad in 2005, with an increase of 10 percent predicted for 2006, once the numbers are tallied, according to People’s Daily Online. That is nearly twice the current level of Japanese international travel of about 17 million. Predictions for future years are even more breathtaking. The New York Times cites unnamed Chinese and international travel industry experts who forecast that 50 million Chinese tourists will travel overseas annually by 2010 and 100 million by 2020, very possibly making China the world’s biggest source of outbound tourism. Yet, unbelievably, the U.S. is one of the world’s few major countries, if not the only one, that does not have “approved-destination status” from China. That means the U.S. government cannot open tourism offices, run promotional travel ads, or market group tours in the country with the world’s largest population and fastest-growing economy. Further, the U.S. makes it very difficult for a Chinese citizen to get a visitor visa. According to Stephen Agins writing for HMSAI Marketing Review, visa applicants must post a bond of 100,000 yuan, or about $12,000 – per person; imagine the cost for a family of four! – to ensure they will not remain in America illegally, but return to China! The attendees at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting unanimously approved all three of Mayor Hannemann’s resolutions. And, thankfully, Congress is paying attention. A Senate panel approved language in the recently debated immigration bill that would reform the current system of issuing U.S. visitor visas abroad and the process of screening arriving international travelers. The immigration bill died, but the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation did approve S. 1661, the “Travel Promotion Act of 2007.” This would create an independent Corporation for Travel Promotion, an Office of Travel Promotion within the State Department, and a Travel Promotion Fund. Jonathan Tisch recognized Hawaii’s Senator Daniel Inouye for his work and leadership in getting this legislation moving. Congratulations and thanks to Mayor Hannemann and Senator Inouye for their efforts to promote and facilitate international travel. There is a lot more to do before these initiatives are enacted, but this is a great start.

international second quarter 2007 travel to by jennifer...

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