Amanpulo, the leading and most exclusive resort in the Philippines invited HSPI President and CEO to speak to its front-line staff on service excellence. The workshop was conducted last February 4 to 6, 2007.

Amanpulo Executive Assistant Manager Lybanor Godio and HR Manager Dina Andres were present during the workshop. The pictures hereunder show the two batches that attended the workshops together with HSPI President and CEO Vic Alcuaz.

HSPI appointed exclusive recruitment agent by Global Franchise Architects Corporation

HSPI is in the look-out for several supervisory and managerial candidates for its new acquired job order from Global Franchise Architects (GFA) to be based in The United Arab Emirates (Dubai) and Thailand (Bangkok).

GFA is a Switzerland based group that specializes in building, operating, and franchising retail brands. Its current portfolio includes Coffee World, The Cream & Fudge Factory, Pizza Corner and New York Deli. In Thailand GFA has 85 stores among its brands.

Interested applicants may apply online at www.hspi.org or www.jobstreet.com

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HSPI Starts ISO 9001 Certification Process

HSPI has engaged the services of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) veteran consultant Mr. Luisito Indiongco of Mancom Manpower Consultants to conduct HSPI’s ISO 9001 certification effective April 2007.

ISO is the world's largest developer of standards that is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The process is expected to be completed by December 2007 and the certification by the ISO by the first quarter of 2008.

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Sodexho Singapore Pte. Ltd partners with HSPI

Sodexho Singapore, in partnership with HSPI is now offering apprenticeship slots starting April 2007 until September 2007. The program is open for students scheduled to graduate this year and are ready to undertake their practicum requirements beginning April.

HSPI sent the 1^st batch of 15 apprentices to Sodexho Singapore in November 2006 and these students are due back in the Philippines in April 2007 in time for their graduation.

Universities interested to participate in this year round program can email our account officer Ina Alcuaz at ina@hspi.org.

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HSPI President and CEO speaks before 200 hospitality educators

The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines, (COHREP), an association of colleges and universities throughout the Philippines that offer 4 year hotel and restaurant management courses held its annual convention at Hotel del Rio in Iloilo City last January 25, 2007.

HSPI President and CEO Vic Alcuaz, was invited to speak on the topic “Profiling the Hospitality Industry Requirements”. He was joined in this presentation by HSPI’s job portal provider and partner Jobstreet.com, represented by its country manager, Ms Grace Colet.

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16 New Deployments to the Shangri-la’s Barr Al Jissah Resort And Spa in Muscat, Oman

16 rank and file staff departed last January 3, 2007 to take up several positions in Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa showed here together with Recruitment Manager, Angie Blanco and Vice President for Operations Jeannie Pilapil. These staff were interviewed by the hotel’s Area Executive Chef, Paul Lenz and Director of Human Resources, Mr. Tariq Ali Al Sahlani during their last visit to Manila in November 2006.

Another batch of 15 is scheduled to depart between January and February 2007.

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Filipino Band to The Maldives

The Pedritos Band, a trio performing a variety of lively songs and sequenced tracks left for the beautiful resort island of The Maldives for a 6 month performing engagement at the Full Moon Resort in Male’ Maldives. PEDRITOS is composed of Pedrito Montaire, Dan Ijiran, and Maricris Vistatda.

Pedritos Band for the Maldives with VP for Operations Jeannie Pilapil and HSPI Staff Mavel Boa

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DUTCH HOTELIER TO MAKATI SHANGRI-LA

The Makati Shangri-la Hotel has appointed Dutch hotelier, LEON KAEESTRA, as Food and Beverage Trainer, effective January 2, 2007. Leon finished his hotel school in Amsterdam College for Hotel and Catering Management in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has worked as Marketing and Training Director in Magsaysay Institute for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Manila, The Philippines.

A true and fine gentleman of service. The Makati Shangri-la will definitely benefit from this new appointment.

HSPI is pleased in being given the opportunity to once again provide good executives to the Makati, Shangri-la. Among the other executives we have placed are the current Area Director of Security and the hotel’s Banquet Service Director.

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Technicians off to Australia

Two refrigeration mechanics, Ricardo Layug and Recky Bartolay and two automotive mechanics, Rico Sia Jr. and Aldwin Santos are off to Townsville and Cains, Australia under FNQ Auto Air Pty. Ltd. FNQ Auto Air is a well known automotive airconditioning company in Australia.

HSPI is searching for more automotive and refrigeration technicians for continuous deployment to Australia.

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Sous Chefs to Australia

4 of the Philippine’s finest chefs have been hired to work in Queensland, Australia beginning December 2006. These 4 chefs are Francis “kiko” Ramirez , Cesar Onrubia, Isagani Gonzales, Francis Tuganao. They will be deployed in various popular and well-established restaurants belonging to the SEABARR.

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Apprentices to Singapore

13 graduating students from Lyceum and Center for Hospitality Arts Management, Philippines (CHAMP) were selected for an apprenticeship program in Singapore thru SODEXHO, a “Total Support Services” company operating in 76 countries and employing over 300,00 staff. The intensive training for apprenticeship will last for 6 months. The group departed for Singapore last November 4, 2006 and is expected to return to Manila in time for their graduation in April 2007.

Students off to Singapore for Hospitality Internships

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FILIPINO Entertainers return after a successful stint in the 2006 SEA Games in Doha, Qatar

A group of talented entertainers led by the enthralling magician, Erik Mana, the very funny Tim Tayag and Allan Manalo, together with The Silk Band showed the whole world that Filipinos are not only great athletes but talented entertainers too. The group performed inside the athlete’s village in the 2006 SEA games in Doha, Qatar, from November 17, 2006 to December 17, 2006.

Entertainers to the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar

Erik Mana in the Asian Games Erik Mana working his magic with two athletes

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SEASONED HOTELIER JOINS HSPI

Jeanie Pilapil, a seasoned hotelier joins the dynamic team of HSPI as Vice President for Operations. A graduate of St. Paul’s College in Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s degree in Foods & Nutrition. Jeannie was a Sales Manager of the prestigious Hyatt Regency Manila, Marketing Director of Puerto Azul Beach Hotel and also was a Vice President of EUROMED Lab, Inc. in the Philippines before venturing into media & events management. In 2005, Jeanie was the Executive Producer for the first season of the popular show “Chefs on the Go” which aired on ABS-CBN, Studio 23. She is also an occasional contributing writer to Philippine News Today in Canada about diverse issues that delve with overseas Filipinos and Philippine lifestyle. She was also the Executive Producer and Project Director for the recently concluded “Kumustahan Worldwide Concert Tour 2006” held in various places in Europe and Middle East.

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First Batch of Pioneer Shangri-la’s Barr Al Jissah Staff depart for Oman

Twenty seven (27) Filipino staff hired from the various Shangri-la hotels in the Philippines departed for Oman, Oct. 19, 2005 to take up various posts in the soon to open resort hotel in Muscat. Seated in the center is Ms. Edwina Lema Beech, Chairperson of the Philippines Association of Service Exporters. Inc who conducted the pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS) and Victor Fabregas Alcuaz, President and CEO of Hospitality Staff Phils, Inc. (HSPI), the recruiting company in the Philippines.

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MALAYSIAN EXECUTIVE CHEF Placed in Tagaytay Highlands

SEE CHEONG YAN, a permanent resident of the Philippines with his Filipina wife and two sons, is now the Executive Chef of Tagaytay Highlands. As executive chef, Chef See will oversee the 32+ food and beverage outlets of the sprawling property in Cavite, catering to the Highlands’ very elite members.

Chef See brings with him 16 years of experience from various parts of Europe and Asia. With his exposure in kitchen management, menu planning and design as well as his hands on training in food and beverage service and front of the house operations, Chef See is the well rounded Executive Chef that higher management dreams of. This Malaysian first came to the Philippines in 1990 to join Hyatt Regency Manila as Executive Sous Chef. Then in 1992, he was one of the pre-opening team of EDSA Shangri-la Hotel and stayed until 2000. He went to Traders Hotel Shengyang in China and stayed there for 1 year before coming back to the Philippines to open the food court of the RCBC Plaza . In 2003, HSPI placed him as Executive chef of Tagaytay Highlands.

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HSPI Moves Top Hotel Managers to GLOBE TELECOM

9 seasoned hoteliers from various five star hotels in the metropolis were placed by HSPI to join the telecommunications industry. JAIME FRAGINAL, formerly of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, heads Globe, SM Sucat. MARY ANN SAMSON-REYES, who was the General Manager of Astoria Plaza until January, is now with the Globe Center in SM Southmall. VALERIE SANCHEZ and CELINE JIMENEZ, Front Office Manager and Head Concierge of the Heritage Hotel joined in March to head the business centers of GT Plaza and SM Centerpoint, respectively. MICHAEL ANIBAN, the Night Manager of The Manila Peninsula , is now in the Eastwood Business Center while CLARISSA CUADRADO of the Manila Diamond Hotel is in the Rockwell Hub. ANTONIO S.A. RODRIGUEZ and VICTOR SAN PEDRO, formerly of the Westin Philippine Plaza, head Tower I in Ayala Avenue and Park Square . JOSE ANTONIO MIJARES, the EAM of Pearl Manila, is now the Region Head of Southern Luzon.

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EXPATS PLACED BY HSPI

Two seasoned hoteliers from Belgium and South Africa were placed by HSPI as General Managers to 2 prime properties.

MR. PHILIPPE BARTHOLOMI was named General Manager of FRIDAY’S Boracay in March. Mr. Bartholomi brings with him 23 years of experience from various properties in Europe and Asia. Philippe started his career in the hospitality industry as a Sous Chef in Keerbergen, Belgium in 1980 and rose to become a Chef de Cuisine in 2 years. He first came to the Philippines in 1986 when he joined the Playboy Club as Club Manager and F&B Manager until 1990. He went to Australia for 1 year and then came back to open La Scala and Barbareeba, both in Makati. Then, Studebaker’s, an Asian up market chain of clubs took him in as corporate GM for its branches in Singapore, Australia and Manila. Before joining Friday’s, he stayed with The Manila Polo Club as Gm and COO.

WILHELM “BOLLIE” BOLTON from South Africa is now the Corporate GM of the Days Hotel chain. He brings with him 24 years of hotel experience derived from his stints in South Africa, Italy and London. He started as Front Office Manager, then shifted to become F&B Manager in London. Then he joined the Holiday Inn chain as Sales manager and was promoted to GM of Riverside Holiday Inn in South Africa from 1984 to 1987. He joined Livingston Holdings in 1987 to 1994 to head their Resort division. He came to the Philippines in 1996 to be a Consultant of various properties until 2000 when he became the GM of Fontana Resort in Clark Field, Pampanga.

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