THEY came in black -- all in formal -- and walked on a red carpet as they entered a well-designed venue at one of Davao City's premier hotels, the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao that treated them to an evening of glamour, fashion and awards during an Appreciation Night last July 31.
They are the hotel's loyal clients, its business partners, whom Waterfront Davao general manager Bryan Yves Lasala described as basically the reason for what the hotel has so far achieved in the hospitality business.
It was also an evening of lavish and sumptuous food and free-flowing cocktails, specially prepared by the hotel's, in-house chefs, as guests, joined by the hotel's management team partied the night away.
The event was also highlighted by a fashion show that showcased the latest collections of homegrown designers John Ryan Ayala and Mark Joseph Sayad.
"Tonight's affair is indeed very special, as this is a celebration of our long and fruitful relationship. Your trust in us truly warms our hearts and gives us the drive to excel in each of our responsibilities," Lasala told some 400 guests from the government, non-government and the business sectors.
He expressed gratitude to the hotel's growing loyal clientele "because you chose to have your meetings and seminars here at the hotel."
"It is because you chose to dine here. It is because you chose to stay here. You chose us. Without that choice, that preference, we would not be where we are today. And for that, I would like to personally extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation," Lasala said.
Also present at the event were top executives from Waterfront Davao's sister properties and corporate offices, including Jim Boyles, general manager of Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel; Grant Raymond Jefferies, general manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino; Rex Benhur Caballes, manager of Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino; Priscilla Toriano, corporate director of finance; Ma. Theresa Fernandez, corporate director of sales and marketing; Jefrie Mendoza, sales manager of the Manila Sales & Reservations Office; Antoniette Alburo-Elmido, group sales mManager For VisMin, and Jennifer Romero, sales and marketing manager for Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.
This year, the hotel gave recognition to the following:
Top Corporate Account -- Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc.; Steel Asia Manufacturing, Inc., and Energy Development Corp.
Top Government Account -- Department of Health-Armm; Department of Environment & Natural Resources XII; Office of the Regional Governor-Armm
Top Non-Government Account -- Bangsamoro Development Agency; Education Development Center-MyDev Program; Development Alternative Inc.
Top Travel Agency Account -- Fast Pass Tours; Gangnam Tours; Travel Advantage TOurs Davao
Top Event Suppliers -- Goldern Touch; Floral Pink Design; Pinktouche
Special Citation Award -- Barangay Vicente Hizon Sr.; Philippine Information Agency XII; Task Force Davao