Careers Week @Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur Careers Week - Day 4

Day 4 of IHG Career Week focused on Sales and Marketing Department. 
Ms. Susan Yap, Director of Sales and Marketing shared stories and experiences on how her team contributed to our financial returns through sales and marketing tactics which 'wow' and enhanced guest experiences.

On the left: Ms Susan Yap
On the right: Ms Carmen Teo with her success story

3 other success stories from Sales and Marketing Department:

Miss Neesha Visvirnathan joined the hotel as a waitress and thereafter moved on to a Crowne Meeting Planner. After 5 years, she decided to move on for a change in her career path. Inspired by the drive and passion to bringing in sales and meeting clients, she expressed her interest to join the Sales team. The opportunity was given to her and at present as a Sales Coordinator cum Loyalty Executive, she has acquired much knowledge and experience to perform and growth in her career aspect.


Ms Carmen Teo begun her career as a Sales Manager in 2004 and now her achievement as a Director of Business Development was accredited to her team's effort in supporting her throughout the years.


Miss Asher Choo started as a telephone operator and gradually she gained her experiences and confidence through different job scopes in Front Office and Catering Sales Departments. She thanked her Crowne Meeting Team for her current success as a Assistant Crowne Meetings Director, they have been supporting her through their dedication and commitment.

Miss Asher Choo (on the right) introduced by Ms. Susan Yap.

Second speaker for the day was Davidson Joseph, Front Office Manager. He spoke about the responsibilities as well as emphasizing the importance of the department. Front Office is the first point of contact to all guests and smiling is an important gesture. With a smile and the ability to address guests by first or last name and anticipate their needs will enhance the guest experiences. 

Front Office's success story came from Mr. Raymond Tan. He joined the Kitchen department as a Cook 3 and moved on to Front Office department as a butler. His next career path is to becoming a Front Office Supervisor. 

Mr Raymond Tan with Mr Davidson

GAME TIME:

Game 1

IQ Challenge (Sales and Marketing vs Front Office)

20 questions on the General knowledge of the hotel thrown onto the floor for who can raise their hand first.

Game 2

The Perfect Dinner Challenge (Banquet)
Criteria: Western dinner set up for 8 persons. 2 participants per team

The Winning Team and First Runner-up: (From Left to Right)
Harman, Azura, Zul, Shidi and Cheah

Careers Week @Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur Careers Week - Day 3

Day 3 of IHG Career Week is Money, Figures and Mathematical related. We are referring to our Finance and Business Department which is headed by Puan Hanita Haidar, Director of Finance and Business Support. She presented an overview of their responsibilities such as financial and management reporting, budget, forecast, safeguarding of hotel assets, handling of administrative functions; hotel legal matters and the list goes on for all 7 sections in the department. 

As she goes on with her presentation, she spoke about how her career which is one of the many success stories in IHG. In 2001,  Puan Hanita joined as a Assistant Financial Controller and 5 years later, she was  promoted to Director of Finance in Holiday Inn Glenmarie and finally in 2010, she returned back to Crowne Plaza Mutiara KL as Director of Finance and Business Support. Secret of her success, "It takes hard work, patience and making sacrifices to get to where I am today. Family's understanding and support are important and in order to achieve success, be determine, sacrifice necessarily and be patient, especially to the working ladies with families, keep the faith."  

Puan Hanita and Poh Chin together on the stage

Poh Chin who has been working in this hotel for the past 36 years shared her joy and experience in her success career story. She started her career in Accounts Receivable section dealing with credit cards, airlines and Travel Agent billings processing. In 1997, Poh Chin took up a new role as the hotel’s Credit Officer. 10 years later she was the Area Finance Secretary and until to date, she is holding the Income Auditor role. On why this was an interesting role for her, “In every section, I learned new skills and job tasks, meeting different people which helps me in every new role” says Poh Chin. She added that she hoped to continue working in her present position until her retirement day which is due next month. Her advice to everyone in order to grow with IHG is ‘Work hard and enjoy what you are doing as IHG provides you with Room To Grow'. 

Another success career story came from Normah, Assistant Accounts Payable. She joined the company since 1975 and over the next 10 years, she gained many years of hotel experiences as she was a kitchen helper to a pantry maid in Planters' Inn; a Housekeeping maid; a Waitress; a clerk in Human Resources and finally in 1985 she was offered a position in Accounts department and from that moment, she faithfully reside in the department until to date. Next year is her retirement year and with this, she humbly said all, 'Love to do what you do'.

Puan Normah (on the left) who serves the hotel for 35 years

GAMES TIME:

Game 1 – Mental Numerical Challenge (Finance)

10 questions, 1 question to be answered in 10 seconds

Winners with Melissa Lim (Fourth from the left)
4 winners attaining a score of 100%
(from left: Carmen, Veronica, Rozee, and Anselm)

GAME 2 – Plates and Cutlery Storage Skills (Stewarding)

Criteria based on speed, neat arrangement and minimal breakages

WINNERS: Mek and Norsham from Finance with Mr. Gaurav Rai in the middle.

1st RUNNER UP: Kamarulzaman and Wan Eliany from Kitchen department

Careers Week @Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur Careers Week - Day 2

Today’s speaker was Executive Chef Alham from Kitchen Department. His presentation focused on the overview of the main responsibilities following the standard operation procedures, departmental organization chart and knowledge gained through actual experience from Kitchen Department.

Chef Alham with Chef Norhaily giving her success story

Next, was the career success story from Chef Norhaily, Section Chef from Pastry. Chef Norhaily has been with Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur for more than 14 years. She started as a Cook 3 in 1996 and after 4 years she was promoted to Cook 2. In 2008, Chef Norhaily was promoted to Cook 1 and later as a Section Chef. Her success in managing career is simply, ‘Dare to take the challenge. Love and put your heart to your job in order to be successful’.

The day ended with 2 fun engagement activities - "Battle of speed and skill" and "My Dream Wedding Cake". Demonstrations were given by Chef Sabri and Kannamah for both activities respectively.

Demonstration by Chef Sabri

1st Place Winner (Group A)
Faizah from Finance and Rozee from Engineering with the creation
during prize presentation by Mr. Charles Marshall, General Manager

2nd Place Winner (Group A)
Rozana and Kannamah from F&B Department with
Mr. Charles Marshall

1st Place Winner (Group B)
From left: Mr. Charles Marshall, Marleen and Jeannette



2nd Place Winner (Group B)

From left: Charles together with Larry and Anne



1st Place "Battle of speed and skill"
From left: Richard, Melissa, Hanita and Winnie



2nd Place "Battle of speed and skill"
From left: Veronica, Marleen, Anne and Caroline



Careers Week @Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur

 “What’s your next move”?

Here at Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur, we kicked off our Careers Week with a speech by Mr. Charles Marshall, Area General Manager of Malaysia and General Manager of Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur. Mr. Marshall started his speech with the vision of Crowne Plaza Mutiara, that is: “Through our people, be the most loved and admired hotel in KL”.  With this in mind, came along the objectives of Careers Week which are to support our commitment: “Room for a great start” and “Room to grow” for our internal population and also creating awareness of the career opportunities available both domestically and internationally. “In IHG, we have more than 4,500 hotels in 100 locations world-wide; career growth in IHG is boundless and with aspirations, The World is Your Oyster” said Mr. Marshall.

To further trigger employees’ involvement through a better understand of their strength and interest, a series of career talks by respective Department Heads, success stories about our  people growing their career at IHG  and exciting job challenges involving our daily tasks have been lined up for this week. Today’s speakers were Mr. Danny Ignatius from F&B Department and Mr. Prakash Kumaran from Housekeeping Department. Both presentations focused on the overview of their main responsibilities and departmental organization chart in their respective areas, so that employees were able to engage and explore other career opportunities apart from their own area which is within the hotel.

Today’s career succes story came from Zulhairi Mohamed, Restaurant Manager of Planters’ Inn. Zul has been with Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur for more than 20 years. He started as a waiter in 1990 and after 6 years he was promoted to Captain at Fine Dining Restaurant. 2 years later, promoted to Assistant Head Waiter and in 2006 as Head Waiter. In 2008, he was the Assistant Restaurant Manager and within 4 months, he was promoted to Restaurant Manager until to date. His success in managing career is simply, ‘Work hard for your goal, be honest and sincere to yourself and to the people around you’.

Next, was a time for fun engagement – today’s challenges of the day are: “Do up your dream bed” and “Batlle of speed and skill”. Both challenges involve skills and speed; demonstrations were given by our very own experts from Housekeeping and F&B departments and the contestants from other departments had an awesome experience in performing other colleagues’ work for a change. When asked, Julian Arthur from Reservation Department said, ‘Making bed looks easy, but it is surely not easy to be fast and done it neatly especially when you have to lift up such a heavy bed’. 

Winner of Round 1 "Do up your dream bed"
Jampi from Engineering Department with Melissa Lim, Director of HR & Talent Development

Winner of Round 1 "Do up your dream bed"
Rozana from F&B Department with Mr. Gaurav Rai, Hotel Manager

Winning Team for "Battle of speed and skill" - Human Resources Department
From left: Rashidi, Melissa, Charles, Gaurav and Khartina

For 1,000 years of happiness - The Star Online.com

Another article in STAR newspaper on Friday, 24 September 2010. 

 

Love Pick Bridal Fair - 24 October 2010

Please click to view

The Making of 1,000 Origami Cranes: Part Five @ Banquet Operations Team

Wedding wishes on the other side

Folding in action

Our soundman Sooria did his part as well

A group photo to end the session
From the left: Zul, Sooria, Cammie, Fahmy and Mataa

Hari Raya Cake For His Majestic, The King Of Malaysia

In conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur has presented a 25kg cake to His Majestic, The King of Malaysia, SPB Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Syed Sirajuddin ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail at his palace.

Themed ‘Santapan Di Aidil Fitri’, this honey dates cake measured 32” by 26” were elegantly decorated with traditional gourmet Malay delicacies: Ketupat, Bamboo, Lightings, Moon & Star – all made from Pastilles & Sugar, as well as dodol, assorted cookies and dates – all of which symbolizes the celebrations of Hari Raya. This yearly affair is participated by various hotels in Malaysia and Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur takes great pride in participating.

This year, the Hotel was represented by Mr. Danny Ignatius (Director of Food & Beverage), Ms. Jacqueline Wong (Marketing & Communications Manager) and En. Mohd Sabri Aziz (Pastry Chef De Partie).

The Making of 1,000 Origami Cranes: Part Four @ Kitchen Artist Workshop

Although he was busy with the preparations for Raya decoration, 

John, our Kitchen Artist managed to slot in his free time to be part of our "adventure".

As of today, we've achieved a total of 400 paper cranes!

Crowne Plaza Mutiara Lighting Up Home This Raya Season With The Spirit of 1Malaysia

Tasputra Perkim houses about 50 children (age from 2 to 18 years old) who are physically, visually and mentally disabled. There were SMILES on the faces of these under privileged recipients when their home was cleaned up and nicely decorated to get ready for the Raya celebration.

Their joyous festive cheer was made possible by a multi-racial team of 9 volunteers from Crowne Plaza Mutiara KL; departments involved were: Housekeeping, Sales & Marketing, Engineering, Front Office, IT, Kitchen. The windows and playground area were cleaned, long grasses were neatly lawn, faulty and festive light bulbs were fixed and the main hall was beautifully decorated with Raya ornaments.

Kumaresan and Mahendran from Engineering,
were helping to fix a faulty fan.

Folding a pledge for marital bliss - NSTonline.com

Check this out - an article on our 'Trails of Love Pick Bridal Fair' on Thursday, 09 September 2010.  

Folding a pledge for marital bliss

The Making of 1,000 Origami Cranes: Part Three @ Reservation Department

Step by step tutorial session by Connie 
(From the left: Rudi, Zahara, Farra and Connie)

(From left): Ayuni and Farra doing their part

Tadaa... Sweet!

The Making of 1,000 Origami Cranes: Part Two @ Art Studio

Colourful Paper Cranes

Shidi and his full bag of paper cranes. *wow*

It wasn't easy for a start but Cheah managed to get it through.
Well done!