As global hospitality grapples with post-pandemic talent retention, City of Dreams Manila demonstrates that world-class guest experiences begin by empowering the people who deliver them.
The integrated resort recently took the top spot in the Travel and Leisure category of the Philippines’ Best Employers 2027 rankings.
The benchmark study, conducted jointly by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and global data research firm Statista, also placed the luxury destination at 53rd overall across 300 shortlisted organisations nationwide.
Determined via an independent survey encompassing over 700,000 employee recommendations, the evaluation examined critical parameters including workplace conditions, holistic well-being, diversity, and structured avenues for career progression.
People are the heart of the business
For property president Mark Tricano, the accolade serves as tangible validation of a management philosophy that treats staff welfare not as an ancillary human resources metric, but as an indispensable operational imperative.
Tricano declared: “We are honoured by this distinction as it reflects our long-standing commitment to investing in our more than 4,000 colleagues and creating an environment where they can thrive both professionally and personally. Hospitality is a people business. When we take care of our colleagues, they thrive personally, their talents flourish and they deliver the exceptional service our guests expect from City of Dreams Manila.”
He further noted that the backing of parent firm Melco Resorts & Entertainment has empowered the property to pursue welfare initiatives that go beyond the ordinary.
These operational provisions extend well past standard compliance, and team members benefit from two designated rest days per week, access to modern round-the-clock staff dining facilities with unlimited meals, dedicated rest lounges, shower amenities, and bespoke healthcare and financial protection schemes.
Keeping it human
Crucially, employee voices are channelled through Ugnayan, an active employee-management council that collaborates with human resources to orchestrate wellness programmes, family engagements, and vital family assistance during hardships.
These human-centric initiatives directly feed into broader service benchmarks across the property’s acclaimed hotel trio: Nüwa Manila, Nobu Hotel, and Hyatt Regency Manila.
The resort’s culinary division also recently clinched the Overall Championship in the Professional Division at the Philippine Culinary Cup 2026, while staff volunteerism remains robust, having generated over 232 corporate social responsibility projects involving nearly 6,500 volunteers.
