AN INVITATION TO EXCEL
Hernando O. Castillo | Mindanao Times | March 04, 2015
IN MY FORMER favorite restaurant for crispy pata, my friends and I told the manager that the crispy pata was far from crispy and the imbao soup served had plenty of shells but many meat parts were missing. Her reaction? She just asked if the service was good. Ouch. She neither offered an apology nor replacement for the awful things they call food in that resto in a mall. It’s the same restaurant where we found a dead insect in the pinakbet last year (at least, the then manager replaced it).
How come that the pretty manager insinuated that the service was good despite the bungling in the kitchen? For patient and forgiving customers like us, vowing to never set foot again in that place was enough. We didn’t demand for an explanation, apology, or replacement.
If that beautiful manager is reading this, I’m inviting her and the owner of the restaurant to improve their skills by attending relevant training programs and conferences.
On 23 March 2015, there is an opportunity for serious players in the hospitality industry to level up by participating in the 3rd Tourism Human Resource Development Congress at SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premiere, Davao City. A project of the Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI), the congress is designed to be a venue of discussion for the representatives from relevant government agencies, various tourism associations, the academe, the labor sector, human resource directors of tourism subsectors, tourism training institutions, public organizations, and other entities involved in tourism human resource development. The planners aim to harmonize all efforts and programs of stakeholders in the development of quality human resources.
The theme of the event is “Achieving Service Excellence for ASEAN.” The line-up of expert speakers there include Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Secretary Ramon Jimenez, ASEC Art Boncato, TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva, Mr. Ryan Sebastain, Indonesian Educator Pa Putu Laksaguna, Prof. Eric Zerrudo, international tourism and hospitality consultant Kevin Moriarty, TV personality Drew Arellano, Mr. Kennedy Kapulong of SEDA Hotel, topnotch tour guide Gene Rose Tecson, MICE expert and PACEOS President Monette Hamlin, and Department of Tourism RD Robbie.
TIBFI Chair Anabelle Ochoa and Joji Ilagan Career Foundation President Joji Bian are inviting all interested people to join this rare gathering of experts.
Source: Mindanao Times