In addition to my earlier post, I want to share some of the experiences we’ve had when we visited Macau and Hong Kong during winter.
 
Our ever reliable planner, Gaye made the itinerary for the trip. She even called travel agencies, hotels, transportation companies, etc. to make sure that the spots we’re visiting will fit our schedules. As I recall, the trip actually started with a joke when Gaye asked Diego if he wanted to travel abroad. Surprisingly, we ended up booking one of our hotels on that same week, and our plane tickets for the 6-day trip a week after.
 
We rode a hotel bus from Macau airport, situated at the eastern end of Taipa island, to Macau Peninsula, then walked all the way to Ole London Hotel during the first night. Exploring a new city in a foreign country is awesome. You get to discover things, and meet friends while getting lost.

Hi everyone,
 
Hope you’re all doing well. I am excited for our flight next week! I even consulted my good friend, Gaye to help us plan. I’ll blog about it right after the trip.
 
Although I am glad that I will be packing lighter clothes this time, I can’t help but miss the outfits that I planned when we flew to Macau and Hong Kong.
 
As you would notice, I’m all for preppy clothes and layering. I love the challenge of creating multiple outfits with a limited number of clothing. You can build a mix-and-match wardrobe without worrying about your budget, as long as you check the quality of the garment that you’re buying.
 
For sweaters, go for items that are thick enough to give you warmth, but not enough to make you look bulky. Remember that you may also need to add a jacket or a coat on top of the sweater. Not to mention, that you might be wearing a shirt underneath it.
 
Pack shoes that you’re comfortable with, especially when your travel requires long walks. You don’t want to end up changing the entire look or missing the trip just because you brought a stiff pair.

Wearing a wide brim hat and a Mandarin collar shirt from H&M, matched with a biker’s jacket and dark skinny jeans from Forever 21, and a black pair of Dr. Martens.
 
Having an undershirt is an option, but I always do so as to protect the button-down shirt.

Black aviators from Sunnies, black sweater from H&M, skinny jeans and saddle brown clutch bag from Forever 21, Adidas sneakers, and a white collar shirt.
 
I like this sweater because of its square textures.

Dark turquoise sweater from Penshoppe.
 
I hope you like my first OOTD post. Enjoy the rest of the week!
 
#StayInspired

Read more about this trip here.

Unknown to most of my colleagues at The Lind, my career did not start as a Marketing and Communications Professional, but as a supplier. I was originally hired by the resort to revamp their branding, and to design their hotel and event collateral. Research became sketches, sketches turned into graphics, and finally developed into actual materials. From naming a restaurant to choosing colors and fonts, it was nice to see my ideas come alive. I will be forever grateful for the trust and creative freedom they’ve given me.
 
Designing with freedom is a bit tricky though. You have to remain focused in creating art with purpose rather than just art for art’s sake. You have to make sure that the design can take different forms while being able to resonate with the brand’s target market.

You can check my other designs for The Lind here.

How’s your week so far? Well, since Wednesdays are meant for Wayback Wednesdays, let’s recall the gorgeous wedding of Rolph Mariano and Stephanie Santos-Mariano.
 
I was lucky enough to be part of this celebration as a friend and as a designer. With the encouragement of my "fairy godsister", Angel, the couple asked me to design them a simple yet classy invitation. They wanted a black and white, text heavy layout. We matched the set with an almond-colored envelope with a rose quartz inlay, then sealed it with their rose quartz emblem. I’m just glad that the families were happy in the end.
 
Congratulations again, Rolph and Tipin! May your days be filled with love and laughter!

Traveling as a family has been a tradition ever since our parents were kids. As we grew older and schedules changed, the trips became less frequent. However, now that there is a new kid in the house, we try to restore the practice.
 
This year, our second trip brought us to the province of Lobo, Batangas. A 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Manila or 45 minutes from the provincial capital, Batangas City, Almalin Beach Resort is a private beachfront property that was originally built as a holiday-retirement house for the owners. Nestled behind the mountain ranges of Mount Calo and Mount Hebangao, it opens up to the quiet stretch of Verde Island Passage.

To get there, you may take the South Luzon Express Way (SLEX), continue to the Star Toll Gate, then take the Batangas City Exit. A faster option is taking the Ibaan Exit from the Toll Gate, which leads to a steeper road, and hence should only be taken during the dry season. Although some roads of the province are still underway, both routes showcase the sprawling greenery of the mountain ranges, giving you an insight of the agricultural and trade activities of the area.

The resort offers 5 different accommodations that range from Php 1,000 (22 USD) to Php 13,800 (294 USD), air-conditioned rooms, European-style bathrooms, a shower area, a kid’s and adult beach level pool, cable tv, gas ranges and grills, and complimentary WiFi. Should you wish to go rustic, you may opt for the Bahay Kubo, a traidional 4-unit nipa house with full-size beds.

We stayed at Pola, a beachfront bungalow that features a queen size bed on the first floor and two double beds on the second floor, a European-style bathroom and a furnished balcony which we used for dining.

In case you forgot to pack your kitchenware or just open to some exploring, there’s a nearby market where you can purchase inihaw na liempo (grilled pork belly), sweet potato, local fruits like atis (sugar apple) and mangoes, and other local food. The people are nice, and are ready for your haggling skills should you purchase more than a kilo of their products.

In addition to their facilities, Almalin also offers snorkeling, fishing lines, beach volleyball, frisbee, badminton, majhong tiles and table, chess, kayak, canoe and paddle board. You may also request for a full body massage, pedicure and manicure services, boat tours or rent a jet ski.
 
We were very lucky to have the entire resort to ourselves, since we left Manila during a thunderstorm. Not to mention that it was a little sunny when we arrived in the property. Prayers and taking risks do make the difference.

With over 15 years of hospitality experience, Almalin Beach Resort strives to develop their facilities for beach lovers and traveling groups alike.
 
You may visit www.almalinbeachresort.com or call (+63) 995 630 0442 for more information.

After years and years of using free blogs, I finally decided to buy my own domain! I'm ecstatic about this change, and the possibilities that it may bring into my life. I even started changing links online and my esignature.

On a serious note, this will mean that I will be using this site more often than my handy notebooks just to actually express my thoughts. My Instagram account will now have a "partner in crime".

So why did I make the change?

1. Why did I even wait this long? Seriously. I've been producing online content since Multiply was a trend. If I intend to get my thoughts across, what better way to do it than to actually make myself more credible.
2. Enough with the excuses. I promised myself years back that I will buy my own domain. A promise is a promise. Moving from free accounts to premium ones will allow me to fully experience the applications that I use. I think Spotify Premium was the first thing that I bought online. It was a late decision, but at least I'm now enjoying the music without the ads (sorry).
3. Practice writing. I always loved writing, may it be a poem or just a random daily thought. Flashback college days, I wrote poems for a local newspaper. If I want to be a writer, I better start writing, again.
4. Having my own domain may mean that I can do more collaborations. It may also push me to learn more things about the business.
5. This line convinced me "A goal without a plan is just a wish." I don't intend to inspire people without actually inspiring myself. As they say, practice what you preach.

So what change did you make recently? Let me know in the comment section.

#StayInspired

While photo shoots are exciting, especially when you see the products of your hard work, managing your first hotel shoot can be a little nerve-racking. But don’t worry, your resourcefulness will get you through the endeavor. Here are 7 things you need to remember in managing a successful hotel shoot.

1. It is a necessity.

First, recognize the fact that you need a Hotel Shoot. There’s a ton of stock photos to choose from, but nothing compares to having your own pool of images. In some cases, you may purchase or download a photo based on a certain promotion. The photo then becomes tied to that single purpose, after the grueling effort of finding the closest thing to the actualities.

Moreover, when you do your own shoot, you get to stretch creativity, test your management skills, meet and collaborate with other talented individuals, and present your spaces or offers in the manner that actually fits your style.

2. BUDGET

Allocate budget for the shoot. After recognizing the fact that you need it, you should be prepared to allocate a chunk of your marketing budget for the said effort. It may cost you a lot once you execute it, but it will save you money, time and effort in the future. Remember that in doing a shoot, the collective effort of talents will be used, and believe me when I tell you that it costs more than what you would normally assume.

Approximately you would need the help of the following, especially when you’re doing the first official shoot of the property:

a. Photographer – Remember that photographers also have their fortes. Do your research, check their portfolios and talk to them. For base shoots, choose someone who has a keen eye for details like a fold on the bed sheet or a finger print on your glassware. Checking their portfolio will give you a preview of their style and editing skills. See if the photographer’s artistry fits the mood of your property.

b. Photographer’s Assistant(s) – Professional photographers will usually bring their editor(s) to discuss outputs play-by-play, and an actual assistant to manage lighting systems and coordinate during setups. Although smaller scale shoots like a new campaign for a restaurant may not require an assistant, hotel facilities are more complex and will need additional manning.

c. Stylist for the spaces - This could be you, but in case it’s your first time to manage a shoot, it wouldn’t hurt to add another expert on the field.

d. Model Manager / Coordinator - This would depend on the agency you’re working with. If you’re shooting a resort, an agency would normally ask someone to fly with their talents if they don’t personally know you or if your property is homegrown, as compared to an international chain.

e. Models - The number of models will also depend on your concept, purpose and spaces. Most cases, you will only require 1 male and 1 female model. Remember that you can also ask your colleagues to act different roles, but not all the time.

As a rule of thumb, it’s better to hire a professional model with a fee than a good looking person without an experience. Professional models understand angles, emotions, and lighting systems, allowing them to deliver what is needed in one or two takes compared to a good looking friend who will hit-and-miss.

f. Hairstylist - For lifestyle shoots, your hairstylist must be prepared to comb, clip, and spray repeatedly. Models may be asked to stay active (dive into a pool, do an actual workout, etc.) to get the required shot, depending on the layout, setup, spaces and other external factors.

g. Makeup Artist – Don’t go overboard with the kind of makeup that you want the models to wear. Remember that you’re trying to imply actual hotel experience in your photo. Similar to the hairstylists, retouch and concealing impertinent details are done frequently. Although photos have become more “casual” and natural-looking, you can always enhance a canvas with a little touch of paint.

h. Wardrobe Stylist (and assistant) - Depending on how extensive your shoot is, wardrobe requirements range from one rack to two or three or four; uniforms included, unless you plan to shoot beautiful views and facilities without people to experience them and colleagues to deliver signature service.

As mentioned, colleagues can act roles different from their actual jobs. A Sales Executive can dress as your Guest Services Manager, depending on the look that you want your property to evoke. Although I’m pretty sure that every department involved in your layouts has someone who can deliver a genuine warm smile in front of the camera.

Stylists should be briefed with the other members of the crew, especially with your photographer. Discuss details with your stylist at least two weeks before the start of the shoot, then check everything a week before the starting date.

A certain garment (e.g. wedding gowns, swimwear, etc.) may look good on its own, but it may not work with a certain layout. Remember that the focus should always be your property or the product and service for that matter.

Although stylists bring extra clothing, always ask them to prepare one or two more per layout. One cannot be always lucky to have a perfect match just across the street.

i. Florist – The allocation for plants and flowers will depend on the number of spaces you want to shoot. It is advisable to coordinate with your in-house gardener to lower your cost. Occasionally, leaves can actually suffice.

Not so sensitive plants should be stored in the hotel before the starting day of the shoot, especially if you’re doing a resort. Otherwise, setup should start hours (and I mean hours) and end an hour before the schedule. Storage should be air conditioned or well ventilated at the very least, as high temperature will hasten the aging process of plants.

Some florists may go over than what is needed, as they would love to highlight the kinds of plants that they have in stock or can order. Just be present when they’re setting up. Be involved and learn how to edit. The concept of less is more will sometimes apply.

As for the accessories, check your inventory. What you already have in the hotel or purchased for some other purpose can potentially lower your rent.

Although they are creative individuals, it’s better to discuss pegs so both parties can be on the same page.

In addition to the talented individuals that you need to hire, you may also need to allocate budget for items not found in the property like accessories, card boards, etc.. Do ask the assistance of the Purchasing Department, as they may have a wider pool of suppliers.
 
In creating your budget, include room allocations, meals, other hotel services like spa treatments, and modes of transportation. Working closely with your Director of Revenue or Revenue Manager is important.