Sheraton celebrates International Women's Day

By Vaelei Von Dincklage 09 March 2020, 12:00PM

The Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel & Bungalows marked the International Women’s Day on Sunday with an event acknowledging the contribution of its female employees. 

“Sheraton celebrates Women’s day every 8th of March,” said Taulesulu Matafeo Leiloa, the hotel’s Human Resource Manager. “On this day every woman working at Sheraton is required to come to this celebration, our housekeeping ladies, our women working in the kitchen and other different roles here at Sheraton”.

Mrs. Leilua says that the women are working tirelessly to make sure the Sheraton’s good name and image are upheld. 

“Women who are cooking the food and cleaning the rooms for the guests; these women’s work needs to be acknowledged and this is our way of showing them that we appreciate their work,” she said.

Sheraton is a female-dominated workplace, she said; the only sections where males outnumber women are in the kitchen and among engineers. 

The hotel says it has made it a priority to intervene should any of their colleagues become a victim of domestic violence.

“Our advice to women who are suffering out there due to domestic violence, they must take action immediately; at the Sheraton every employee has a special someone in which she can talk to or vent out on whatever they’re going through. 

“If any of our colleagues are being abused then we will take action.”

If an incident affecting an employee happens outside or inside work, the management and staff will investigate as soon as possible, she said. 

Elisapeta Ah Ken of Fasitoo Tai has been an employee of Sheraton Hotel for three years. She is 27 years of age.


“I have worked here as a housekeeper for three years, and now I am a Supervisor for attended rooms. I am responsible for looking after two or three ladies who are assigned to me by our Executive Manager for Housekeeping,” Ms. Ah Ken said.

She is a single mother to two children and the breadwinner for their family. Her dad and kids are her motivation for work every day. 

“I always think of them as they are the reason why I’m working tirelessly every day,” she said.

Ms. Ah Ken says that her family is not financially stable so she tries her very best to meet all their needs with her salary.

“Looking at the standard my family is in; it drives me to work hard because I don’t want my children to go hungry and especially my Dad,” she said. 

“I am ready to sacrifice everything just to make sure that there is food on the table to feed my family, clothes for my kids and also for their education.”


She also mentions that despite having one day off, she always makes time to bond with her children.

“I have grown up to be an independent woman. I have my family to thank for always supporting me in everything that I do. I want to advise all the young ladies and women out there to find that inspiration and strive to do their best so that they can make it in this world,” she added.

The celebration at Sheraton concluded with a prize giving on a speech competition.

By Vaelei Von Dincklage 09 March 2020, 12:00PM

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