If there is a place other than our home where J is comfortable rolling around the bed and hiding under the covers, it is the Avenue Plaza Hotel.
This four-star hotel sits in the heart of the lifestyle hub of Naga City. Being one of the classiest hotels in the metro, you can expect excellent service (and tropical welcome drinks, and fluffy white bath robes) from the always smiling staff. It also has of a state-of-the-art gym, a refreshing swimming pool and good food.
Perhaps another reason why J is so at home at the Avenue Plaza Hotel is because the heart of the hotel is close to our own.
The staff and management of the hotel will be forging a partnership with Gawad Kalinga, a community development foundation that aims to end poverty in the country. What started as a simple offer to showcase GK products at the Avenue Square has grown into something amazing. Actually, I knew it was going to be great when I saw Paul and Jerome (of Avenue’s marketing team) personally help Tom get the baskets (made in GK Ocampo) from the car, set up the tables and style the products. They did not have to – they already provided the venue – but they did. They went beyond what was necessary and took extra steps to make sure everything would be alright.
Now, together with Avenue Plaza Hotel’s competent staff, GK will be working on improving the bed and breakfasts in Camarines Sur. The GK Bed and Breakfasts in the province (we have one in Iriga and another in Libmanan) is a collaborative effort of the community and the ever-loyal, ever-loving and ever-giving volunteers (a big shout out to Tita Cecille, Tito Agoy and the care-taker team of GK Libmanan and Tito Benjie and his team in GK Iriga). Constructed by the provincial government several years ago, we believe the kapitbahayan (the residents of the community) are ready for this next step in improving the bed and breakfast. To be able to receive training and support from one of Bicol’s finest hotels is truly a blessing for them (and for the rest of us in the tourism industry).
Although our bed and breakfasts receive a few walk-in guests, it is mostly GK volunteers that truly seek us out and stay for a night or two. We look forward to serving those that serve our communities better because of this partnership. Our volunteers give the best of themselves for the country, so we ought to give them the best service as well. And I know we’ll be learning from the best.
When J starts learning the alphabet, he’ll know that A is for Avenue. And when he starts learning about service, I’d be proud if he learned it from Avenue as well. To serve the influential, the wealthy, the guests of Metro Naga and to serve the communities in the area with same dedication and heart – that is class A service.
For more information on the Avenue Plaza Hotel, visit: http://www.theavenueplazahotel.com/