As part of its 2022 Star Awards, Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”), the only independent global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, today announced that City of Dreams Manila won the Work Here, Work Happy accolade and is showcased with other honorees on ForbesTravelGuide.com. The award, the first ever to be presented by FTG in its annual awards to celebrate exemplary staff members and properties in the hospitality industry, was announced at the 2022 annual Best of the Year awards, alongside its yearly list of Five-Star, Four-Star and Recommended properties.
“We are honored by the accolade bestowed on us by the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide, for voting City of Dreams the winner for Work Here, Work Happy award in this year’s Best of the Year Awards. This recognition would not have been possible without the support of our owning company, Melco Resorts & Entertainment for enabling us to undertake measures beyond the ordinary to look after the welfare, personal and professional growth of our 4,000-strong colleagues,” City of Dreams Manila Property President Geoff Andres said. “We thank our colleagues for their amazing passion and dedication even through challenging times, as they always rise to the occasion to deliver exemplary service and support our goals.” He also gives credit to the unrelenting efforts of the resort’s Human Resources team that drives the resort’s “Employee Love” initiatives, that create an environment that fosters colleagues’ professional growth and work-life balance. The award also recognizes the resort’s commitment to 10 Core Promises making the resort “not just a place for work, but also where our colleagues feel genuinely cared for”.
Employee Programs
Among its numerous initiatives: the resort institutes the President’s Award, which annually recognizes and rewards the most outstanding colleagues from both front of the house and the heart of the house; encourages volunteerism in weekly CSR initiatives; works in partnership with Ugnayan, an employee-management council, offers 24/7 buffet and unlimited meals in a modern employees dining room; provides sleeping lounges and bathroom facilities replete with clean towels, and amenities; provides free shuttle bus service at pick-up and drop-off points; grants generous employee discounts in its hotels and restaurants, to name some initiatives. It enrolls qualified managers in eCornell courses for free under Melco’s educational program, offers continuous various skills training and webinars, and has promoted about 2,113 deserving employees and 1,910 transfers since 2013.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the integrated resort extended financial assistance through paid leaves from April 2020 to December 2021 to those unable to work, consisting of 100% of month’s salary for one month, 50% for three months, and 30% thereafter; advancing 50% of the 13th month pay in mid-year to help with the families’ school enrollments; granting of an unexpected 14th month/Loyalty Bonus; providing in-house accommodations, full meals and vitamins to colleagues who were required to work during restrictive community quarantines; and providing assistance for colleagues’ vaccination needs, including offering of two-way limo service for pregnant colleagues among others.
In winning the Work Here Work Happy award, the resort bested other nominated FTG Star-rated properties around the globe that have implemented creative ways to attract and retain staff, through efforts related to culture-building, employee recognition, inventive recruitment campaigns, meaningful compensation and work-life balance programs. City of Dreams Manila’s three hotels have through the years consistently merited Forbes Star ratings: Nüwa Manila and the Nüwa Spa (Five-Star), Nobu Hotel Manila and Hyatt Regency Manila (both Four-Star).
Apart from the Work Here, Work Happy Award, FTG, the world-renowned authority in genuine Five-Star service, also honored outstanding hospitality employees with the following accolades: Hotel Employee of the Year; Restaurant Employee of the Year; Spa Employee of the Year; and Hospitality Hero.
Properties in Forbes Travel Guide’s worldwide collection were asked to submit nominations for these industry awards. An executive panel then chose the winners among hundreds of entries.
“Forbes Travel Guide is committed to celebrating service excellence in the hospitality industry,” says Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “During a time of staffing shortages and other challenges, each of these winners represented the best of our community by demonstrating resiliency, ingenuity and graciousness. They are an inspiration to us all.”