By Jami Ledesma
Since temporarily halting its operations in compliance with the government’s enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) directive to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), it has been business as usual for luxury hotel Winford Manila Resort & Casino (WMRC)—albeit from the safety of management’s homes.
With the property closed since March 16, along with virtually all hotels and businesses in Luzon, WMRC’s executive committee found itself in unchartered waters, paddling against a strong current of challenges and crippled by the occasional undertow of uncertainty.
With business on hold for the time being, the safety of WMRC’s employees and third party contractors was first on the agenda. A “work from home” arrangement was quickly implemented for managers and directors, while an in-house skeletal workforce for security and engineering personnel was promptly effected to oversee the maintenance of the 22-story property.
Throughout the ECQ period, all WMRC employees continued to receive full compensation and healthcare benefits. Quite like an unwritten brand manifesto, the company implored its personnel to heed the advice of health authorities: Refrain from unnecessary outdoor exposure, and stay home at all times.
“I could not stress enough the importance of social distancing and wearing a face mask during a pandemic like this and made sure that the management team cascaded this to their subordinates before sending them to the safety of their homes,” said Jeff Evora, President & Chief Operating Officer, WMRC, during a phone interview.
“If you catch the virus from one person, it’s easier for your body to fight it than if you become infected from several people. That’s why it’s so important to not just stay at home, but to stay put. By keeping your viral load to a minimum should you become infected, you give your body a better chance of recovering, as long as you isolate. That said, temporarily closing the hotel was an obvious decision for everyone’s safety,” Evora added.
Although it has been more than a month since Winford’s close-knit family has assembled for their weekly meetings in Evora’s office, the wonders of technology have allowed them to continue running the business and planning for the future, remotely.
“We continue holding our regular operations and executive meetings online through video conferencing, not just to provide each other with updates and ideas, but also to keep the team spirit alive during these strange times. We even have an ongoing face mask challenge wherein all of us are invited to post a selfie wearing a mask on social media, just for fun and awareness,” said Evora.
“My team and I like to keep things light when we are physically together at the office and that hasn’t changed during our virtual meets these days. If we’re not discussing future sanitation plans or the risk of IT malware, we find ourselves joking about each other’s overgrown hair or weight gain as a result of this extended quarantine,” he said.
Speaking of sanitation, WMRC continues to thoroughly disinfect all areas of its property on a regular basis and is prepared to take things to the next level once it is safe for businesses to reopen. Much of its health practices are replicated from the Center for Disease Control guidelines of the United States. Even leftover garbage in the property that is due for collection is disinfected in an effort to prevent any bacteria from spreading.
Last April 18, Evora, sporting hazmat headgear and face mask, stepped out of his home to assist with the turnover of 9,000 food packs to residents of Manila which were received by Manila Mayor Isko Domagoso Moreno himself.
The donation was made by the Resorts World Philippines Cultural Heritage Foundation Inc. (RWPCHFI) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), with an additional 6,000 food pack donation on the way.
Although WMRC’s doors remain temporarily closed, one thing is certain: its management team continues to work around the clock, from home, so that when the time comes for business to return to normal, guests can rest assured that not just the warmest of welcomes await them, but a clean and safe experience as well.