A former international banker, Manny Gonzalez was the person principally responsible for the conceptualization, design, and construction of Plantation Bay. MBA Columbia University.

For Mr. Gonzalez’s full background, click here.

A graduate of BS Management Accounting from the University of San Carlos in 2003. He is currently taking up his MBA in the Ateneo Graduate School of Business MBA-Regis Program. He studied Basic Mandarin at Beijing Language and Culture University. He has 15 years experience of running a successful restaurant chain in Cebu and Manila. He also spearheaded a massive up-and-coming First Class Real Estate Development Project in Bukidnon.

Brian recently participated in the Professional Development Program: Becoming a Leader, Developing your Style and making Sound Decisions at Harvard University. He has completed the General Managers Program at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

A graduate of University of St. La Salle and has been with the hotel industry since 1996. Handled several operational departments of the resort and is currently the Human Resource Manager and Assistant General Manager. She completed her Certification for Strategic Management at Cornell University, New York from 2007-2008, finished her Spa Management Course at Chivasom Academy, Thailand in 2009, and recently attended Harvard University for a Leading Conflict Resolution in the Workplace and Building More Effective Teams course.

A Certified Public Accountant, formerly an external auditor with major exposure in external and internal audit, she previously worked in a bank. She completed her Certification on Financial Management for Hotels at the Cornell University, New York.

Lee joined the resort 15 years ago as Commis 3 and was first assigned in Kilimanjaro Kafe. He was then promoted to Commis1 after 2 years. Then assigned in Fiji restaurant, he was promoted to Demi Chef after 5 years. Chef de Partie came next to his cap. He handled all the kitchens in the resort as Sous Chef for 2 years and got the title as Executive Sous Chef a couple of years after.

Chef Lee honed his skills in the kitchen through further studies in prestigious culinary schools abroad. Exposed to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York for 3 consecutive years, he earned his certifications on Techniques in Healthy Cooking, Food and Wine Pairing and Bistros and Brasseries. He also joined CIA- Hyde Park’s Food Boot Camp of 2015 where he met celebrated chefs all over the world and shared knowledge and expertise.

He studied Intense Professional Spanish Cooking in BCN Kitchen in Barcelona, Spain and in Ritz Ecole Escoffier, Paris for French Cuisine- Advance Level in 2017. And in 2019, as Executive Chef, he went back to the same school for French Cuisine – Superior Level. He also attended VAKUUM by Martin Lippo for his certification on Master in New Culinary Techniques and Technologies in Barcelona, Spain. Lee has also visited countries like Germany, Switzerland and the USA for more exposure on food and culture.

Yehl graduated from the University of San Carlos with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She earned her Strategic Hospitality Management and Negotiations in the Service Industry Certification from Cornell University. She has been with the hotel since 2014, working her way up from Training Officer to Training Manager to Front Office Manager.

Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), ITIL V3 Certified.

Graduated with a degree of BS Computer Engineering and has completed her Certification on Strategic Hospitality Management at Cornell University in New York and Microsoft Certification in New Delhi.

A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and has 21 years of hospitality experience. Airen has supervised the resort’s Mogambo Springs and has moved her way to the executive office as a Duty Manager. She has been the Assistant Executive Houskeeper since six years now. Airen has participated in the Professional Development Program at Cornell University, New York, USA and has completed her Spa Management Course at Chivasom Academy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Milai graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman and earned her Strategic Management certification from Cornell University. She has been with the hotel since 2007, working her way up from Account Executive to Duty Manager to Online Marketing Manager to Front Office Manager to Marketing And Promotions Manager.

Participated in the Professional Education Program of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA. He also completed the Facilities Management Professional Course in Operations and Maintenance with the International Facilities Management Association in San Diego, CA, USA. He has over 10 years of experience in Project Management and Maintenance.

Marnelli participated in the Professional Development Program at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. She graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

She has been with the hotel, in purchasing since 2006. She has more than 17 years of purchasing experience. She used to be the purchaser of a construction firm and hardware company and now she handles the Purchasing Section.

In addition to courses at Cornell University and other institutions as diverse as Torre del Tartufo Tuscookany, Espai Boisà, Ecole Ritz Escoffier, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all Plantation Bay managers regularly travel in order to have first-hand experience of top hotels around the world. Plantation Bay managers and staff have stayed as paying guests at such hotels as the Four Seasons in Washington DC., the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, and the St. Regis in New York. Under the company’s sponsorship, aside from the US, our managers have also traveled all over Europe and Asia – London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Vienna, Barcelona, Moscow, Berlin, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Bali, New Delhi, and Singapore. Not many hotels, of any price category, have a management as well-educated and well-traveled as ours!