The ASEAN Business Award for Skills Development, Mid Tier Category was awarded recently to Acuatico Beach Resort general manager Simonette Gusi, for her company’s skills development activities. This prestigious award is being given annually to outstanding businesses which has demonstrated a significant contribution to human capital development.
Innovation is growth, and this has always been paramount to Acuatico Beach Resort’s General Manager, Ms. Simonette Gusi. It was never enough to build a structure, call it a beach resort and make money from it. For Ms. Gusi, the operation’s heart has always been her employees.
Acuatico advocates a training culture within the company. Its Continuing Education Program provides an opportunity for employees to upgrade their knowledge and skills through training. Each employee needs to undergo at least 40 hours of training per year in various subjects pertinent to their function in the company.
Going a step beyond, Simonette initiated the K-12 Plus Project in collaboration with seventeen resort members of the Association of Laiya Resort Owners, Laiya National High School, Department of Education, GIZ, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Human Resource Development Foundation and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
K-12 Plus Project aims to promote dual education and training for senior high school students to ensure that they are trained and immersed in the workforce. This program also provides them sustainable jobs that will help them grow as professionals with marketable skills in the hotel industry.
With the help of partner resorts, each student will have at least 800 training hours and National & Chamber Certificates in Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Front Office Operation and Tourism Promotion by the time they graduate.
Simonette’s relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation and her undying passion for human resource development certainly paid off. Acuatico Beach Resort has been branded as one of the most beautiful resorts locally and internationally and awarded with Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame as well as the Traveler’s Choice Award for consistently receiving great reviews.
