GM Vanessa Suatengco refecting the intent to achieve

By Buddy G. Recio

It was a sparkling new beginning of the year 2023 for Diamond Hotel Philippines as Diamond Hotel Philippines General Manager Vanessa Suatengco was one of the awardees of the illustrious Asian CEO Awards 2022, where awards are given to individuals who have made a positive contribution to the development of the economic capabilities and international reputation of Philippines through their employment, business involvement or heritage.

Asia CEO Awards is one of the largest events of its kind in South East Asia. Vanessa Suatengco, GM of Diamond Hotel Manila, who received multiple prestigious awards in the tourism industry herself, was extremely proud to be selected as one of the awardees in the Global Filipino Executive of the Year Circle of Excellence category. The award was given during the Gala Night attended by around a thousand top level executives of diferent local and multinational corporations.

It is even more signifcant for CEOs and awardees, who are used to receive awards regularly in their professional career, to be recognized based on what they achieved in times of crisis. Suatengco was the only hotelier, and an independent hotel at that, was awarded among several respected organizations from industries such as banking, retail, real estate, manufacturing and transportation. To win an award that celebrates a collective impact was a proud achievement for Diamond Hotel, competing against the best who have toiled on during the pandemic.

When quarantine period became compulsory for returning Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Diamond Hotel supported the Department of Tourism in accepting and ofering hotel accommodations. The hotel was issued the Travel Safe Pass and Safe Stays badge.

The hotel pivoted their service and worked as a team to ensure the implementation of proper hygiene and sanitation protocols. Installed were flters for the air-con, the UV flters, chemicals for cleaning, separate garbage, including added equipment like ion-charged steam meant for the entire hotel, acrylic barriers and sanitation of other areas.

How did the hotel sustain operations and still make money?

According to Suatengco, it could be the way they kept the hotel afoat and remained in the black throughout the pandemic that could have impressed the judges because it was no mean feat even for the other hotels. “They looked at our fnancials and they saw that we did not lose money despite the situation, we were positive and able to manage our fnances,” she confded.

For the F&B, the team went creative online and conceptualized diferent menus to attract their regular patrons. Platters, rice bowls at the cheapest price were ofered, and they sold like hot cakes. They even made some proft from online sales because people had no places to eat.

The key was to ofer variety. Their Japanese was a hit like baked sushi. Another innovative dining ofer was the Park & Dine. Since senior citizens and children were not allowed to dine in then, through Park & Dine they were able to enjoy their favorite Diamond dishes at the comfort of their vehicles and they were given space at the front drive of the hotel.

For the quarantined guests, they capitalized on inexpensive, afordable, street food which they have missed—turon, lugaw, guinatan, etc. At one time, one of the corners of the hotel was transformed to a pasalubong corner for the time when quarantined guests especially the OFWs check out.

Even in the post pandemic that Suatengco believes is a recovery phase, Diamond Hotel continues its plans derailed by the pandemic. Refurbishing and improving with a priority on sustainability, ensuring that they adapt to any change and keeping their guests’ best interest at heart.