Sustainable development is the current buzz-word of the hospitality sector and hotels the world over are executing it across different levels of their operations. The trend-setting hotel has always been extremely supportive of creating equal opportunity for women and men in the workplace. In fact, since 2015, the management at Le Méridien Dubai has steadily driven efforts to balance the overall manning of the hotel complex. The aim of any hotel is to deliver the finest hospitality to its guests and a lot of the magic happens behind the scene to ultimately offer a memorable stay. This year, in celebration of International Women’s, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre is honouring its unsung ‘sheroes’ who go unnoticed but deserve recognition for their tireless efforts.
The success-story of a hospitality address relies on the combined efforts of associates who go that extra mile to ensure the guests’ is the best it can be. A guests’ experience begins right from the reception desk, where a warm welcome and speedy check-in can make a lasting impression. However, one aspect that often goes unnoticed is housekeeping. Be it preparing the room to the guests’ specification or personally attending to their needs, the housekeeping team is responsible for upholding the foundation of the guest experience. Bringing her own unique brand of creativity is MA. Juvy Cordero Anida – Seamstress who’s been a part of the hotel’s housekeeping department since 1997. An expert on fabrics, her proficiency lies intending to a variety of apparels, be it altering a dress, repairing or restoring any piece of clothing to its original form. Known for her quick turnaround time and nifty tricks, most associates of the housekeeping department reach out to her for advice, especially for the best practices to care for bedding essentials.
Adding a literal rosy touch to the overall guest experience are Juana Pagcaliwagan Bagui & Romana Pagcaliwagan Bagui, the hotel’s resident florist duo. With almost 3 decades of combined experience, the sisters are extremely passionate about nature and are a huge hit with guests for their unique floral arrangements. “A bouquet is an extremely personal gift and my biggest source of inspiration is my conversation with the guest. It always helps to engage with the client and knowing a few details about the recipient. Over the past 3 decades, I must have made umpteen number of flower arrangements for guests, but even today a compliment from our guest truly warms my heart and keeps me motivated to channel all my creativity into my work,” says Juana Pagcaliwagan Bagui, Head florist, Le Meridien Dubai hotel.
The hotel’s Food and Beverage portfolio is among the few in Dubai to offer as many as 18 distinct cuisines under one roof and is home to the finest selection of cakes, pastries and its signature Eclairs. Backed by a dynamic team that excels in different skills, the hotel’s Food and Beverage success story is credited to the unwavering enthusiasm of its team, with over 50% of managerial roles handled by women. Lending a sweet finish to guests experience is Jonalyn Papillo, Demi Chef of the Pastry Kitchen, who is extremely passionate about all things chocolate. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve explored creative ways to decorate and make items more visually appealing. Growing up, I discovered my love for baking and thankfully, my profession allows me to combine both my passions. My strengths lie in moulding and manipulating chocolate into interesting, fun shapes and decorative forms. Since the past 7 years, Le Méridien Dubai hotel has given me a platform to express my creativity with decorative baked treats, making elaborate garnishes for cakes that not only fit our guests’ specifications but also makes the simple act of enjoying cake and baked goods a memorable celebration.”
As a part of the International Women’s Day 2020 celebration, the team at Le Meridien Dubai hotel has organized several themed events and festivities to honour these women along with all the sheroes that devotedly work at the hotel.
“Le Meridien Dubai hotel has always been a champion for encouraging gender balance. Every woman working at the hotel has a story to tell and has created a lasting impression on our guests, through their creativity and passion. This International Women’s Day is dedicated to all those unsung ‘sheroes’ who work tirelessly behind the screen to deliver stellar hospitality to our guests,” says Bharati Kejriwal, Complex Director of Human Resources, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Center and Le Méridien Fairway.
