PH Ambassador to Athens Visits Filipino Workers at City of Dreams Mediterranean Before Opening

Ambassador Giovanni Palec and Honorary Consul in Larnaca Charmagne Garcia-Laconico met with Mr. Melios Aristidou, Vice President of Human Resources of City Of Dreams and Mr. Nikolas Socratous, Assistant Manager-Corporate Sales of City Of Dreams. (Athens PE photo)

LIMASSOL, 05 June 2023  - Philippine Ambassador to Athens Giovanni Palec met with Mr. Melios Aristidou, Vice President of Human Resources of City Of Dreams Mediterranean or COD Med in Limassol, Cyprus, on 26 May 2023 to check on the status of the Filipinos working there. COD Med is Europe's first integrated resort and is set to hire around 750 or more Filipino workers once fully completed. There are now almost 400 Filipinos, many of whom arrived early this year.

Mr. Aristidou said that the management is pleased with its Filipino staff as they are always smiling and have shown a "can-do" attitude. He informed the undersigned that the hotel will be building accommodations for the staff. In the meantime, they are currently housed in two hotels and have been given bus cards for their commute to and from the COD Med. They plan to have shuttle buses for their workers in the near future to lessen the travel time.

Ambassador Palec expressed satisfaction about the plans for the workers. He then offered to have the Embassy conduct a briefing for the newly-arrived Filipinos as to the way of life in Cyprus and how to conduct themselves considering the already good reputation of Filipinos in Cyprus. The VP for HR replied that this would be helpful and could be arranged to be held at the accommodations of the staff.

Ambassador Palec, together with Ms. Charmagne Garcia-Laconico, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Larnaca, also met other executives of the City Of Dreams Mediterranean,including Mr. Nikolas Socratous, Assistant Manager-Corporate Sales, Ms. Elena Santos, HR Department-Force from City Of Dreams Philippines, and Ms. Shayne Tiuman, Executive Housekeeper-Hotels and F&B.

During the visit, Ms. Tiuman, being the first Filipino employee who arrived at COD Med, underscored that the Filipinos who are now part of COD Med have shown the type of hospitality that Filipinos are renowned for. This has redounded to the benefit of COD Med as it has elevated the standard of service among the employees.

Ambassador Palec, together with Mrs. Novelyn Palec and Honorary Consul Garcia-Laconico also had the opportunity to exchange greetings with the Filipino employees who will be working at the City Of Dreams Mediterranean. It was a mix of first-time workers abroad and experienced OFWs.

City Of Dreams Mediterranean is set to open on 12 June 2023. END

Ambassador Palec and Honorary Consul Garcia-Laconico with Mr. Melios Aristidou, Vice President of Human Resources, Ms. Elena Santos, HR Department-Force from City Of Dreams Philippines, and Ms. Shayne Tiuman, Executive Housekeeper-Hotels and F&B (left photo); Ambassador Palec with Filipino employees of City Of Dreams Mediterranean (right photo). (Athens PE photo)

For more information, visit  https://www.athenspe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinGreece/.