Maria Grace Palapala
Pearl City,USA
Summary
Detail-oriented hospitality professional with extensive experience in multi-property operations both hospitality and janitorial.Proficient in recruiting and developing teams, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with service standards. Strong background in enhancing housekeeping quality and operational efficiency to optimize guest experiences.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
DIRECTOR OF HOUSEKEEPING
Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki
10.2025 - Current
- Supported hotel's management and operational transition as an opening team member, ensuring seamless integration of housekeeping standards.
- Led a major housekeeping quality turnaround, helping move the property out of the Marriott Brand Standards audit Red Zone after approximately seven years; the property bypassed the Yellow Zone and achieved Clear Zone status.
- Improved housekeeping quality and guest satisfaction survey performance through stronger standards, inspections, accountability, training, and team coaching.
- Led housekeeping operations, staffing, training, quality standards, budgeting, and daily room readiness.
- Recruit, interview, onboard, train, coach, and develop housekeeping team members.
- Managed payroll, scheduled labor needs, coordinated vendor and supplier relationships, oversaw purchasing and inventory.
SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER - MULTIPLE PROPERTIES
Hospitality & Janitorial Operations
06.2023 - Current
- Oversaw multiple hospitality and janitorial properties, coordinating staffing, scheduling, payroll, budgeting, quality control, and client service.
- Supervised large teams across multiple sites, ensuring compliance with safety, cleanliness, and service standards.
- Monitor budgets, labor costs, supply expenses, workforce planning, and operational performance.
- Managed vendor and supplier relationships, streamlining purchasing, inventory, and operational supply processes.
- Recruit, interview, hire, train, coach, and retain employees across multiple properties.
SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER
Waikiki Marina Resort
06.2023 - Current
- Oversaw hospitality operations, including housekeeping, staffing, scheduling, inventory, payroll, and budgeting, ensuring high guest-service standards.
- Lead and develop a large team while maintaining service quality and operational performance.
- Prepare and manage budgets while monitoring labor, supply, and operating expenses.
- Recruit and hire employees; manage onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management.
- Managed vendor and supplier relationships, coordinating purchasing and service needs to ensure consistent supply availability.
HOUSEKEEPING DISPATCHER
Straub Medical Center (Sodexo)
04.2021 - 06.2023
- Coordinated housekeeping dispatch operations, ensuring timely communication of daily service needs across facility.
- Coordinated daily housekeeping schedules for efficient staff deployment.
- Managed supply inventory and ordered necessary cleaning materials.
- Communicated service requests to housekeeping staff promptly and clearly.
FIELD MANAGER
Servitek Janitorial Services
10.2019 - 01.2020
- Oversaw field operations for janitorial services at multiple client sites, ensuring efficient service delivery.
- Led a team of over 100, upholding quality and service standards to enhance client satisfaction.
- Streamlined coordination of supply inventory, staff schedules, site needs, and client service requirements.
- Managed field operations for janitorial services across multiple client sites.
HOUSEKEEPER
Park Lane Ala Moana Units
- Provided housekeeping services for residential units, ensuring cleanliness and guest satisfaction.
- Managed cleaning supply inventory, reported maintenance issues, and assisted with special requests.
- Residential Concierge Services
CASHIER
McDonald's
Waipio, USA
- Managed cash transactions and customer service.
HOUSEKEEPER
Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park and Hotel Rome
Wisconsin Dells, USA
- Provided housekeeping services at a major theme park and hotel.
CASHIER, FOOD AND BEVERAGE STAFF
MNEG Concessions
Wisconsin Dells, USA
- Managed cash transactions and food service operations.
Education
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ADMINISTRATION
University of Northern Philippines
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, PhilippinesHIGH SCHOOL -
Ilocos National High School
Pagburnayan, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, PhilippinesCOLLEGE COURSEWORK -
Divine Word College of Vigan
Skills
- Housekeeping Operations
- Multi-Property Operations
- Budgeting
- Vendor & Supplier Relations
- Purchasing
- Payroll Processing
- Recruiting & Hiring
- Scheduling
- Inventory Control
- Training
- Coaching
- Guest Satisfaction
- MS Office
- MS Excel
- Fosse
Relocation
10/01/26, Washington, WA
Additional Information - Awards Honors Certifications
- Academic Proficiency Awardee, University of Northern Philippines, Class 2017
- School Spirit Awardee, University of Northern Philippines, Class 2017
- Service Awardee, University of Northern Philippines, Class 2017
- Academic University Scholar, University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City
- Gold Medalist, Waiters Relay, Kusina Ilocandia 2016, San Fernando, La Union
- Silver Medalist, Ilocano Top Chef, Supreme Culinary Showdown 2016, University of Northern Philippines
- Silver Medalist, Ilocano Inspired Fine Dining Set-up, Supreme Culinary Showdown 2016, University of Northern Philippines
- Certificate of Completion in Housekeeping Training 2016, Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park and Hotel Rome, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- International Educational and Cultural Exchange Program (IECEP)-Spring Season 2016 Work and Travel
- 2nd Placer, Vigan Longganisa Cooking Competition, Vigan City Longganisa Fiesta 2016
- Bronze Medalist, AQN Agulat Luto Tayo, Kusina Ilocandia 2015, San Fernando, La Union
- Gold Medalist, Essay Bagnet Category, Supreme Culinary Showdown 2015, University of Northern Philippines
- Bronze Medalist, Soup Showdown Category, Supreme Culinary Showdown 2015
- 3rd Placer, Longganisa Fusion, Supreme Culinary Showdown 2014, University of Northern Philippines
Timeline
DIRECTOR OF HOUSEKEEPING
Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki
10.2025 - Current
SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER - MULTIPLE PROPERTIES
Hospitality & Janitorial Operations
06.2023 - Current
SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER
Waikiki Marina Resort
06.2023 - Current
HOUSEKEEPING DISPATCHER
Straub Medical Center (Sodexo)
04.2021 - 06.2023
FIELD MANAGER
Servitek Janitorial Services
10.2019 - 01.2020
CASHIER, FOOD AND BEVERAGE STAFF
MNEG Concessions
HOUSEKEEPER
Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park and Hotel Rome
CASHIER
McDonald's
HOUSEKEEPER
Park Lane Ala Moana Units
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ADMINISTRATION
University of Northern Philippines
HIGH SCHOOL -
Ilocos National High School
COLLEGE COURSEWORK -
Divine Word College of Vigan