Courtyard by Marriott goes to Iloilo
Published May 15, 2018 00:00 am
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Updated May 15, 2018 00:00 am
By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Cleofe C. Albiso
General Manager
Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo Courtyard is part of Marriott International’s portfolio of select brands. It has arrived in the Philippines in Iloilo. With an international hotel coming to its shore, this historical and once impoverished province in the western Visayas is coming out big, in its grandest, so far. At the helm is a Cebuana native, who has been with the hotel business from the same Marriott Hotel Cebu, in the person of Ms. Cleofe C. Albiso. It is not only historical for Courtyard Iloilo, but also personally for Cleofe being the first woman GM of the first Courtyard Hotel in the Philippines and the first Filipino to have attained such prestigious position in the Marriott organization. Courtyard Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo has finally opened its doors in Iloilo City. Located on Megaworld Boulevard, Mandurriao Iloilo City, the Courtyard Hotel is owned by Megaworld Corporation and managed by Marriott International. As the first international hotel in western Visayas, Courtyard Iloilo is making quite historical for the province. It is also the first in the Philippines. The 15-storey Courtyard has 326 rooms and 3 F&B outlets, and an all-day dining runway kitchen. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard Iloilo offers guest’s convenient access to the district’s growing information technology industry and gateway to the province’s top tourist destinations. “It is the most upscale and the grandest in Iloilo,” says Cleofe, who became GM of Courtyard last year. Cleofe is the first woman GM and the first Filipino GM of a Marriott hotel brand. Cleofe attended the recent Marriott GM conference and found that indeed she was the lone Filipino in the group. Courtyard is a select brand of the Marriott portfolio. A select brand means the amenities are not full service, but the property is still within the standards of Marriott, very upscale and grand that it is almost full service. Rates begin at R6,000 per night inclusive of breakfast for two, subject to taxes and service charge. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard’s latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. The Courtyard Iloilo is proud of its room design that offers hybrid zones for working, sleeping, relaxing and getting ready. Indirect lighting and a neutral, tone-on-tone color palette makes for a soothing and calm environment. It also offers the Refreshing Business lobby environment, where guests can enjoy an open and bright area outside of their rooms. Along with media pods, complimentary Wi-Fi and a variety of seating zones, the redefined space is ideal for everything from pop-up meetings to social gatherings. More important, The Courtyard Iloilo features the Runway Kitchen, offering casual, flexible seating; easy access to food and high quality, healthy menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, cocktails, wine and beer so guests can unwind. Throughout the hotel, guests can connect with ample electrical outlets. The business library features several computer terminals, along with a printer and separate computer stations dedicated solely to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status. Green has been Courtyard’s signature color since Marriott launched the brand 30 years ago. Now it is even greener with the introduction of a guest recycling program for the environment. Receptacles for paper, glass, plastic and metal are conveniently located by side exits. The 15-story hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and guest laundry, and offers more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 180 people. Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo is among the latest in its portfolio of more than 1,000 locations in nearly 50 countries and territories. Marriott International, Inc. based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,000 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 122 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. Iloilo There are two factors being considered in the choice of Iloilo as the host location of Marriott’s latest brand in the Philippines. Foremost, Cleofe said, its investor Megaworld Corporation owns the 72-hectare mixed-use Mandurriao development in Iloilo. The establishment of Courtyard Hotel is part of the overall strategy in the development of the property. Having an upscale hotel will support the company’s Iloilo Convention Center. It will also entice the MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) and the international tourist market to converge in Iloilo because of the readily available facilities. There is also the thrust to develop the Chinese market. According to Cleofe, Iloilo is still an emerging tourist destination that’s why businessmen are now trying to put their money for the development of tourist-support facilities. Companies are also starting to establish their branches in this western Visayas province. Cleofe cited a lot of natural attractions in Iloilo such as the Islas de Gigantes as well as the historical Spanish colonial churches in Molo and of course the old mansions, which are all worth visiting. The Guimaras Island is one major attraction for its natural beaches and the sweet mangoes, which is unique only in the island. So far, Iloilo just receives a trickle of the tourist traffic in the country compared to the foot traffic of the more established tourist destinations in the country. But Cleofe said that the Department of Tourism has big plans to really drum up interest for Iloilo City and the entire province. There are plans to drive more Korean visitors into Iloilo. “It is a new place for Filipinos to explore because for now it is not really at the top of the list among the must visits in the country,” says Cleofe. Iloilo maybe more laidback, but it is even more satisfying because of the rich history of the province. It is also personally historical for Cleofe because this is her first hotel as a GM. With their mission, she is confident that Courtyard will really contribute to the community, provide work and help improve the standard of living. “We will be the next big thing in Iloilo and I am happy to be part of this project,” she adds. “It is not difficult to be in the tourism industry because Filipinos are naturally warm and genuinely hospitable. We love to serve, host and we love that others feel good,” says Cleofe. Investment Courtyard has an investment of R1.5 billion. “We have not yet gotten the star rating,” adds Cleofe. With 326 rooms in Courtyard, Cleofe said this will boost hotel rooms in Iloilo. “There is nothing like it in Iloilo, this is the best so far the city can offer. This is going to attract more visitors,” says Cleofe who once served as director of sales and marketing of Marriott Cebu. “There is also a side by side effort with the local government unit to attract tourists from the MICE and tourists from China. So, there is a complementary effort to attract local and international tourists, as well,” she adds. Iloilo will become a good option for those looking for new experience because it is not as pricey as the already developed destinations in the country. There are also day trips available for any of the attractions in the province. With the establishment of the Business Park in the Mandurriao development, Courtyard Iloilo is also expected to draw in corporate accounts of the VIPs from the firm locators. There are also plans for the opening of a casino in Iloilo in the 72-hectare development as a tourism zone with special IT Park. First woman GM One thing that makes Marriott special is its focus on its people, which is a critical component of its core value. This global hotel chain has always given their employees all the chances to grow and handle higher positions in the company, but there have been very few female associates given the opportunity to become GM. “Marriott GMs in the country have always been given to foreigners and there is a small percentage of female although the company has been trying to develop women leaders through our women leadership program, so we are grooming women for senior positions,” adds Cleofe, whose is balancing work and family having four kids. While still working with Marriott Cebu, Cleofe has witnessed how the company and its employees prioritize the core value of putting people or each associate first. “We can attest to that and we live by it. It is just amazing, there is non-like us with this focus on giving fair and equitable opportunity to all. If employees are top priority they will also take good care of the guests and then growth of the business follows,” she adds. “And you will really feel the pride and level of commitment of the people because of the way the company takes care of them. I am so proud to represent Marriott,” she adds. As a woman, Cleofe inspires others to know first their own strengths and weakness to be able to know what is the best career path to take. At Marriott, she said, the opportunities are endless, the only thing one has to do is work and deliver. For her part, Cleofe has to deliver an occupancy rate that should generate a positive gross operating profit. “It is a pressure,” she admits but Cleofe is confident given the fact that she is managing a very trusted global brand. “We are very positive to reach a high occupancy rate,” says Cleofe as she cited the already 159 bookings on the first day of selling alone or 11 days before actual opening day. The hands-on manager now spends most of her time in Iloilo, literally living in Iloilo at The Courtyard. Iloilo is just 25 minutes away by plane from her hometown in Cebu. There are also several daily flights from Manila and overnight boat trips from Cebu. Her work has also enabled her to undertake a lot of travelling like when she was Globe’s marketing director for Cebu and the Visayas. Being away from home has trained her kids to become independent and align with the opportunities provided to her. Responsibility According to Cleofe, landing the top post of the first Courtyard in the country is both a privilege and a responsibility because she is in a position to touch people’s lives and develop them to become the best they can be in their careers via the various opportunities within the company. “It is a privilege to be able to touch hearts and lives because you provide them with the push to create a journey for themselves, but it is also our responsibility to deliver the brand promise to each guest,” says Cleofe. This makes her job exciting. Most important is she gets the full support of the company to live up to the promise and standards that the Marriott group stands for despite the challenges in the world. Courtyard Iloilo employs around 160 people on opening phase, but they may hire more depending on their occupancy rate factor. Some of those who joined Courtyard were associates from Dubai and Australia, creating an interesting mix that resonates the same passion to provide guest experience: the Marriott brand of service. “This is a very good combination, many in the senior leaderships are experienced Marriott associates. It is all run by Filipinos,” she adds. They have a young team with only one expat. The director for operations is also a Filipino but has been working for 20 years overseas under Marriott. She remembered that when they opened for hiring, a total 1,700 people lined up eager to join Courtyard, mostly from Iloilo and neighboring provinces as well, including Cebu. Those selected underwent rigid training. Majority of those hired are HRM and Tourism graduates. Working in a hotel business may look glamorous, but Cleofe warned it is not all that glamour. “Behind the scene is a lot of hardwork, there is the responsibility that I feel. A hotelier is satisfied only if the guests are satisfied. Imagine the level of preparation for emergency situation. For a hotelier, the top of mind is the guests and how to bring them to safety, not putting yourself a priority, but taking care of others,” says Cleofe. “You’re glammed up because you need to be presentable for your guests but the core responsibility is really the guests, but not all people know that what runs in the mind of a hotelier is the responsibilities towards the guests, making sure they are okay and safe. It is a noble job in itself, and a lot of patience and hardwork.” The teacher Cleofe was not really into the hospitality industry by profession. She is a teacher. She finished BEED major in Math. A consistent dean’s lister and academic awardee, Cleofe graduated Magna Cum Laude. “I am a teacher by heart and profession,” she says, but her work in the hotel has enabled her to continue teaching as she mentors other associates to do their job better to be able to avail of the many opportunities inside the company. As a manager, she is happy to mentor her staff by heart. But Cleofe does not like to treat her staff like kids. Associates are given responsibilities and if they work hard they would be able to deliver. There are several opportunities for growth, too, and she encourages all members to grab these. For her part, the company has enrolled her to Cornell University for a special program for GM. She has undergone immersion program where she visited other Marriott properties for GMs to be fully prepared for the task ahead. There are trainings and cross trainings exclusive to Marriott associates that any staff can enroll into and availed of to improve his or her position. These trainings are very good resources for enrichment of the staff and are very convenient because these can be taken online. There are 4 Marriott hotels already in the country thus, there are more opportunities await for those prepared to level up their careers. For her part, Cleofe did not expect to get this coveted position. In fact, somebody asked her how to apply for the GM post. Little did she know that she was already considered for the position as she was asked to apply for the same post. It was a competitive exam that she took for over three and half hours, covering all sections of operations of a hotel. Cleofe was only handling marketing then so she was not expert as to how the other sections operate. “I remember taking the exam with the Sto. Niño image in front of me and I really pray that I pass the exam,” she recalls. Despite her expertise covering only one section – sales and marketing, Cleofe did pretty well in the exam. “I was happy I got it. Personally, this is a testimony that possibilities are endless for us all because you have already the core knowledge that no one else can duplicate,” she adds. According to Cleofe, the more you share your knowledge to others the better you become. Others fear that people they mentored might become better than them, “But if you take time to help others become better person, you also become better also and people talk about how good your leadership is and that is a validation of your hard work.” Cleofe, who also taught for a while at a pre-school and loved the toddlers who looked up to her, said that she may not be teaching in a formal classroom setting, but she teaches in the actual workplace. “I teach every day because my work is pretty much aligned to teaching as I train people and I let them know that doing the right is the only way to go: teaching the right values to people and people management,” the very straightforward manager said. Cleofe always supports her people and prefers to be behind their back, but she readily comes up to the front when there are things to call out. She cares for their career development. She considers those under her tutelage and have moved up to better position as very good validation of how she is as a manager. “It becomes a reciprocal relationship because their success is also mine,” she adds. This is just the beginning for the first Filipina GM of Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo. More journeys await for Cleofe and Courtyard Iloilo, and more for this unassuming city.
Cleofe C. AlbisoGeneral Manager
Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo Courtyard is part of Marriott International’s portfolio of select brands. It has arrived in the Philippines in Iloilo. With an international hotel coming to its shore, this historical and once impoverished province in the western Visayas is coming out big, in its grandest, so far. At the helm is a Cebuana native, who has been with the hotel business from the same Marriott Hotel Cebu, in the person of Ms. Cleofe C. Albiso. It is not only historical for Courtyard Iloilo, but also personally for Cleofe being the first woman GM of the first Courtyard Hotel in the Philippines and the first Filipino to have attained such prestigious position in the Marriott organization. Courtyard Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo has finally opened its doors in Iloilo City. Located on Megaworld Boulevard, Mandurriao Iloilo City, the Courtyard Hotel is owned by Megaworld Corporation and managed by Marriott International. As the first international hotel in western Visayas, Courtyard Iloilo is making quite historical for the province. It is also the first in the Philippines. The 15-storey Courtyard has 326 rooms and 3 F&B outlets, and an all-day dining runway kitchen. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard Iloilo offers guest’s convenient access to the district’s growing information technology industry and gateway to the province’s top tourist destinations. “It is the most upscale and the grandest in Iloilo,” says Cleofe, who became GM of Courtyard last year. Cleofe is the first woman GM and the first Filipino GM of a Marriott hotel brand. Cleofe attended the recent Marriott GM conference and found that indeed she was the lone Filipino in the group. Courtyard is a select brand of the Marriott portfolio. A select brand means the amenities are not full service, but the property is still within the standards of Marriott, very upscale and grand that it is almost full service. Rates begin at R6,000 per night inclusive of breakfast for two, subject to taxes and service charge. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard’s latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. The Courtyard Iloilo is proud of its room design that offers hybrid zones for working, sleeping, relaxing and getting ready. Indirect lighting and a neutral, tone-on-tone color palette makes for a soothing and calm environment. It also offers the Refreshing Business lobby environment, where guests can enjoy an open and bright area outside of their rooms. Along with media pods, complimentary Wi-Fi and a variety of seating zones, the redefined space is ideal for everything from pop-up meetings to social gatherings. More important, The Courtyard Iloilo features the Runway Kitchen, offering casual, flexible seating; easy access to food and high quality, healthy menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, cocktails, wine and beer so guests can unwind. Throughout the hotel, guests can connect with ample electrical outlets. The business library features several computer terminals, along with a printer and separate computer stations dedicated solely to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status. Green has been Courtyard’s signature color since Marriott launched the brand 30 years ago. Now it is even greener with the introduction of a guest recycling program for the environment. Receptacles for paper, glass, plastic and metal are conveniently located by side exits. The 15-story hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and guest laundry, and offers more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 180 people. Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo is among the latest in its portfolio of more than 1,000 locations in nearly 50 countries and territories. Marriott International, Inc. based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,000 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 122 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. Iloilo There are two factors being considered in the choice of Iloilo as the host location of Marriott’s latest brand in the Philippines. Foremost, Cleofe said, its investor Megaworld Corporation owns the 72-hectare mixed-use Mandurriao development in Iloilo. The establishment of Courtyard Hotel is part of the overall strategy in the development of the property. Having an upscale hotel will support the company’s Iloilo Convention Center. It will also entice the MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) and the international tourist market to converge in Iloilo because of the readily available facilities. There is also the thrust to develop the Chinese market. According to Cleofe, Iloilo is still an emerging tourist destination that’s why businessmen are now trying to put their money for the development of tourist-support facilities. Companies are also starting to establish their branches in this western Visayas province. Cleofe cited a lot of natural attractions in Iloilo such as the Islas de Gigantes as well as the historical Spanish colonial churches in Molo and of course the old mansions, which are all worth visiting. The Guimaras Island is one major attraction for its natural beaches and the sweet mangoes, which is unique only in the island. So far, Iloilo just receives a trickle of the tourist traffic in the country compared to the foot traffic of the more established tourist destinations in the country. But Cleofe said that the Department of Tourism has big plans to really drum up interest for Iloilo City and the entire province. There are plans to drive more Korean visitors into Iloilo. “It is a new place for Filipinos to explore because for now it is not really at the top of the list among the must visits in the country,” says Cleofe. Iloilo maybe more laidback, but it is even more satisfying because of the rich history of the province. It is also personally historical for Cleofe because this is her first hotel as a GM. With their mission, she is confident that Courtyard will really contribute to the community, provide work and help improve the standard of living. “We will be the next big thing in Iloilo and I am happy to be part of this project,” she adds. “It is not difficult to be in the tourism industry because Filipinos are naturally warm and genuinely hospitable. We love to serve, host and we love that others feel good,” says Cleofe. Investment Courtyard has an investment of R1.5 billion. “We have not yet gotten the star rating,” adds Cleofe. With 326 rooms in Courtyard, Cleofe said this will boost hotel rooms in Iloilo. “There is nothing like it in Iloilo, this is the best so far the city can offer. This is going to attract more visitors,” says Cleofe who once served as director of sales and marketing of Marriott Cebu. “There is also a side by side effort with the local government unit to attract tourists from the MICE and tourists from China. So, there is a complementary effort to attract local and international tourists, as well,” she adds. Iloilo will become a good option for those looking for new experience because it is not as pricey as the already developed destinations in the country. There are also day trips available for any of the attractions in the province. With the establishment of the Business Park in the Mandurriao development, Courtyard Iloilo is also expected to draw in corporate accounts of the VIPs from the firm locators. There are also plans for the opening of a casino in Iloilo in the 72-hectare development as a tourism zone with special IT Park. First woman GM One thing that makes Marriott special is its focus on its people, which is a critical component of its core value. This global hotel chain has always given their employees all the chances to grow and handle higher positions in the company, but there have been very few female associates given the opportunity to become GM. “Marriott GMs in the country have always been given to foreigners and there is a small percentage of female although the company has been trying to develop women leaders through our women leadership program, so we are grooming women for senior positions,” adds Cleofe, whose is balancing work and family having four kids. While still working with Marriott Cebu, Cleofe has witnessed how the company and its employees prioritize the core value of putting people or each associate first. “We can attest to that and we live by it. It is just amazing, there is non-like us with this focus on giving fair and equitable opportunity to all. If employees are top priority they will also take good care of the guests and then growth of the business follows,” she adds. “And you will really feel the pride and level of commitment of the people because of the way the company takes care of them. I am so proud to represent Marriott,” she adds. As a woman, Cleofe inspires others to know first their own strengths and weakness to be able to know what is the best career path to take. At Marriott, she said, the opportunities are endless, the only thing one has to do is work and deliver. For her part, Cleofe has to deliver an occupancy rate that should generate a positive gross operating profit. “It is a pressure,” she admits but Cleofe is confident given the fact that she is managing a very trusted global brand. “We are very positive to reach a high occupancy rate,” says Cleofe as she cited the already 159 bookings on the first day of selling alone or 11 days before actual opening day. The hands-on manager now spends most of her time in Iloilo, literally living in Iloilo at The Courtyard. Iloilo is just 25 minutes away by plane from her hometown in Cebu. There are also several daily flights from Manila and overnight boat trips from Cebu. Her work has also enabled her to undertake a lot of travelling like when she was Globe’s marketing director for Cebu and the Visayas. Being away from home has trained her kids to become independent and align with the opportunities provided to her. Responsibility According to Cleofe, landing the top post of the first Courtyard in the country is both a privilege and a responsibility because she is in a position to touch people’s lives and develop them to become the best they can be in their careers via the various opportunities within the company. “It is a privilege to be able to touch hearts and lives because you provide them with the push to create a journey for themselves, but it is also our responsibility to deliver the brand promise to each guest,” says Cleofe. This makes her job exciting. Most important is she gets the full support of the company to live up to the promise and standards that the Marriott group stands for despite the challenges in the world. Courtyard Iloilo employs around 160 people on opening phase, but they may hire more depending on their occupancy rate factor. Some of those who joined Courtyard were associates from Dubai and Australia, creating an interesting mix that resonates the same passion to provide guest experience: the Marriott brand of service. “This is a very good combination, many in the senior leaderships are experienced Marriott associates. It is all run by Filipinos,” she adds. They have a young team with only one expat. The director for operations is also a Filipino but has been working for 20 years overseas under Marriott. She remembered that when they opened for hiring, a total 1,700 people lined up eager to join Courtyard, mostly from Iloilo and neighboring provinces as well, including Cebu. Those selected underwent rigid training. Majority of those hired are HRM and Tourism graduates. Working in a hotel business may look glamorous, but Cleofe warned it is not all that glamour. “Behind the scene is a lot of hardwork, there is the responsibility that I feel. A hotelier is satisfied only if the guests are satisfied. Imagine the level of preparation for emergency situation. For a hotelier, the top of mind is the guests and how to bring them to safety, not putting yourself a priority, but taking care of others,” says Cleofe. “You’re glammed up because you need to be presentable for your guests but the core responsibility is really the guests, but not all people know that what runs in the mind of a hotelier is the responsibilities towards the guests, making sure they are okay and safe. It is a noble job in itself, and a lot of patience and hardwork.” The teacher Cleofe was not really into the hospitality industry by profession. She is a teacher. She finished BEED major in Math. A consistent dean’s lister and academic awardee, Cleofe graduated Magna Cum Laude. “I am a teacher by heart and profession,” she says, but her work in the hotel has enabled her to continue teaching as she mentors other associates to do their job better to be able to avail of the many opportunities inside the company. As a manager, she is happy to mentor her staff by heart. But Cleofe does not like to treat her staff like kids. Associates are given responsibilities and if they work hard they would be able to deliver. There are several opportunities for growth, too, and she encourages all members to grab these. For her part, the company has enrolled her to Cornell University for a special program for GM. She has undergone immersion program where she visited other Marriott properties for GMs to be fully prepared for the task ahead. There are trainings and cross trainings exclusive to Marriott associates that any staff can enroll into and availed of to improve his or her position. These trainings are very good resources for enrichment of the staff and are very convenient because these can be taken online. There are 4 Marriott hotels already in the country thus, there are more opportunities await for those prepared to level up their careers. For her part, Cleofe did not expect to get this coveted position. In fact, somebody asked her how to apply for the GM post. Little did she know that she was already considered for the position as she was asked to apply for the same post. It was a competitive exam that she took for over three and half hours, covering all sections of operations of a hotel. Cleofe was only handling marketing then so she was not expert as to how the other sections operate. “I remember taking the exam with the Sto. Niño image in front of me and I really pray that I pass the exam,” she recalls. Despite her expertise covering only one section – sales and marketing, Cleofe did pretty well in the exam. “I was happy I got it. Personally, this is a testimony that possibilities are endless for us all because you have already the core knowledge that no one else can duplicate,” she adds. According to Cleofe, the more you share your knowledge to others the better you become. Others fear that people they mentored might become better than them, “But if you take time to help others become better person, you also become better also and people talk about how good your leadership is and that is a validation of your hard work.” Cleofe, who also taught for a while at a pre-school and loved the toddlers who looked up to her, said that she may not be teaching in a formal classroom setting, but she teaches in the actual workplace. “I teach every day because my work is pretty much aligned to teaching as I train people and I let them know that doing the right is the only way to go: teaching the right values to people and people management,” the very straightforward manager said. Cleofe always supports her people and prefers to be behind their back, but she readily comes up to the front when there are things to call out. She cares for their career development. She considers those under her tutelage and have moved up to better position as very good validation of how she is as a manager. “It becomes a reciprocal relationship because their success is also mine,” she adds. This is just the beginning for the first Filipina GM of Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo. More journeys await for Cleofe and Courtyard Iloilo, and more for this unassuming city.