Fiji, 18 November, 2022: Cluster Human Resources team for the five Marriott International Fiji Resorts recently scooped awards at the Marriott International APEC (Asia Pacific Excluding China) Annual HR Awards and ANZP Human Resource Conference. The Fiji portfolio of resorts consists of Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, Sheraton Resort & Spa Tokoriki Island Fiji, Sheraton Denarau Villas and The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa.
Cluster Director of Human Resources – Fiji, Ms Farrah Shazleen is the recipient of the top award as Human Resource Leader of the Year at the prestigious Marriott International APEC (Asia Pacific Excluding China) Annual HR Awards held virtually on October 19th 2022. Ms Shazleen is the first HR leader in Fiji to receive this distinguished award, a testimony to the exceptional efforts executed during the most challenging times of COVID-19 in ensuring associates are well-taken care of, including continued support for existing and new associates throughout this year.
On November 7th 2022, the Cluster Human Resource team also achieved an additional award as Team Resilience of the Year – 2021 in the ANZP Human Resources Conference held at The Westin Brisbane, Australia. The team was up against the best within the Marriott International group
‘These awards are a great achievement for Fiji as it recognizes the calibre of our team and the quality of work undertaken that spearheads our People Strategy. It is a milestone accolade considering the unprecedented challenges presented by the global pandemic and the scenarios that had to be navigated behind the scenes to ensure that our Associates were taken care of,’ said Neeraj Chadha, Multi-Property Vice President Pacific Islands Marriott International, General Manager Westin and Sheraton Resorts.
‘I congratulate Farrah for her outstanding work and dedication along with her team to implement our People strategies across all our hotels.” continued Mr Chadha.
“Farrah is a high-performing leader and role model for the Marriott International Brand Values and Culture. She is a strong business partner and advocator of high ethical and compliance standards; demonstrating resilience throughout the pandemic she volunteered her time and expertise to ensure that the Marriott Fiji properties were able to reopen smoothly and deliver on the Marriott world-renown first-class service. She is truly deserving of this award for her outstanding HR Leadership and remains one of our highly valued Associates,” said Natasha Rasheed, Area Director of Human Resources, ANZP Marriott International.
A key initiative steered by the Management team from the respective Fiji cluster of resorts, Ms Shazleen and the Human Resources Team is the Fiji Marriott Training Academy. It is an intensive program that engages the local community and encourages local talent growth and upskilling as well as cross-skilling across a range of disciplines including the Management Operation Trainee Program. Participants who graduate from the program are provided employment pathways within the resorts as opportunities arise.
“This is a vital component of our People Strategy to encourage talent growth from our local community to be empowered with the right skills before they enter the workforce. We’ve seen tremendous success from the initiation of this program that will continue to grow,” said Neeraj Chadha, Multi-Property Vice President Pacific Islands, Marriott International and General Manager Westin and Sheraton Resorts, Fiji Complex.
The Human Resources Team also spearheads the Solia Lesu program which is the Marriott International Fiji Resorts’ local volunteer program led by Ms Shazleen and the senior leadership team to distribute hot meals and ration packs, shopping vouchers, school stationery, linen and beddings to health centres, hospitals and orphanages. Through the program, the HR team is inspired by the local Spirit to serve the communities.
Ms Shazleen is also the driving force for projects championed by the respective Human Resource team within all five resorts throughout the past 4 years through careful planning and execution. Multiple projects implemented include People Strategy, Alignment of Roles and Levels, One of a kind Collective Agreement for all Marriott Resorts in Fiji, Women in Leadership, Employee Journey including Revamped Recruitment strategy that suits the hotel operations, New Onboarding Plan, and New Employee Training Plan. These strategic projects have made the 3 hotel opening in 2022 a success.
Since the opening of the newly renovated Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort in March, along with the back-to-back opening of two other resorts (Sheraton Denarau Villas and Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island Fiji) earlier this year, more than 1,000 associates have been recruited across the cluster of resorts in Fiji and the HR team will undertake continuous training and onboarding program for Associates. Through innovation and local stakeholder partnerships, the team persists to focus on and support initiatives such as Pride Week, Blood Drive, Pinktober and Movember.
The team will be coordinating its annual program ‘Road To Give’ on Denarau Island on Saturday, November 19th, 2022.
