Hotel worker turns over $3.4K left by guest

was in the middle of the afternoon last week when housekeeping attendant Maricel Beltran, while doing her rounds, came across a large amount of money left by a guest at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

Rather than keep it for herself—as someone unscrupulous would probably do under the circumstances—Beltran did the right thing and handed the cash found at Room 809 to management.

For her honesty, Beltran was saluted by her peers and was given a plaque of recognition during simple rites yesterday at the Fiesta Resort staff cafeteria.

General manager Jackson Yang personally handed the plaque to a teary-eyed Beltran. Other hotel officials who took part in the ceremony were human resources manager Maggie Sablan, housekeeping acting manager Ronel Sunga, and rooms divisions manager Abner Acosta.

The plaque read: “This award is granted in honor of your exceptional spirit of honesty. We hereby acknowledge the integrity and virtues you exude which inspires us all to emulate your special life values. Your spirit of honesty is beyond measure.”

Beltran, who has been with the hotel for the past nine years, broke into tears when she was asked how she felt about the recognition given her.

She said she would never break the trust of the management, which has trusted her for almost a decade.

“For others, they might have kept the money. But I love my work. I won’t replace it with that money. I could earn that money myself in this company through time,” she said.

The money is temporarily being kept by the hotel management, while they try to get in touch with its owner, a Japanese national, who has already left the island. The hotel has already communicated with the tour agency that handled the vacation of the Japanese tourist.

Apart from the plaque, the hotel management also provided Beltran a two-night stay with her family at the hotel’s Junior Suite, a family of four dinner show, Whimsy tokens for her children, and a gift bag of goodies.

Sunga said Beltran was nervous and pale when she first reported that she had found a black belt bag containing over $3,000 in the top closet.

“I remember that she was so pale and tense when she reported the cash to me,” he said. Sunga and housekeeping supervisor Myrna Santos counted the cash inside the belt bag, which had two compartments. The first one had $2,100 cash in it, while the other one had $1,300 for a total of $3,400.

Beltran said she was shaking terribly when she found the money.

“I immediately called my supervisor,” said Beltran, adding that all she could think of was to alert the management that one of their guests left a large sum of money.

During the event held yesterday, Fiesta’s human resources, F&B, and rooms divisions also presented awards to its employees.

Matthew Quiatchon, Irene Caberos and Lalaine Reyes received certificates for the hotel’s internship program. F&B’s Vic Villasin won the hotel’s Beat the Heat Cocktail of the Month, and Haidee Navarro received recognition for brining in the Highest Sales of the Cocktail in April. Rooms division staff Donovan Sablan was recognized for the Highest Upseller in April. May celebrants among the hotel staff were also recognized during the event.