International Chefs Day spotlights Newport World Resorts’ commitment to young talent

The country’s premier leisure and entertainment destination marks International Chefs Day by recognizing the chefs who sustain the profession and prepare its next generation. At the center of this commitment is Newport World Resorts Director of Kitchen Operations Chef Neil Abrahams, whose leadership connects professional kitchens with opportunities for aspiring culinary talent.

Observed globally every October 20, International Chefs Day was established in 2004 by the late Chef Dr. Bill Gallagher. The occasion celebrates the culinary profession and encourages chefs to share their knowledge, educate future practitioners, and use their expertise to support their communities.

Ahead of this year’s observance, Newport World Resorts welcomed members of LTB Philippines Chefs Association to Casa Buenas on October 12 for the International Chefs Table Dinner. The annual gathering brought together culinary professionals, industry partners, and officers of the Philippine Young Chefs Club to raise support for the LTB Culinary Scholarship Program.

During the evening, LTB Philippines recognized Chef Neil’s Honorary Life Membership for his contribution to culinary development. The distinction follows his leadership in extending Newport World Resorts’ support to the three finalists of the Michael Strautmanis Culinary Arts Scholarship Grant during the 2026 Philippine Culinary Cup.

Through the initiative, all three finalists undertake 12-month paid internships across the kitchens of Newport World Resorts. Their training covers 12 culinary focus areas, providing practical experience under chefs working across restaurants, hotels, banquets, and large-scale hospitality operations.

For Chef Neil, the development of young talent requires more than introducing students to professional kitchens. It calls for experienced chefs to pass on their discipline, technical knowledge, and understanding of hospitality, giving the next generation a foundation from which to develop its own culinary voice.

This commitment to people is reflected across the food and beverage portfolio of Newport World Resorts. Behind its Filipino and international cuisines, casual and fine-dining restaurants, bars, and banquet operations are chefs who bring distinct expertise to each experience. Their work allows guests to encounter different culinary traditions across one destination and strengthens the role of food in the overall hospitality experience.

The portfolio includes four MICHELIN Selected restaurants: Yamazato at Hotel Okura Manila at Newport World Resorts; Man Ho and CRU Steakhouse at Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts; and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill. Each distinction reflects the work of its respective culinary and service teams, contributing to the breadth of dining experiences that positions the Philippines’ pioneer integrated resort within Manila’s evolving gastronomy landscape.

Newport World Resorts advances the same long-term commitment through the Academy for Leisure and Tourism, its education arm for aspiring hospitality professionals. Its culinary and hospitality programs combine classroom instruction with exposure to operating environments, creating pathways into industries that contribute to the country’s tourism economy.

Through Chef Neil’s advocacy and the expertise of culinary teams across the destination, Newport World Resorts approaches gastronomy as both a guest experience and a profession sustained by people. International Chefs Day brings these responsibilities together: creating dining experiences worthy of travel and developing the chefs who will carry Philippine hospitality forward.

For more information on Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Join Newport World Resorts Viber Community at https://newportwr.com/nwrvibercommunity for exclusive updates. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership, download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Discover Newport World Resorts.

First established as the pioneer integrated resort in the Philippines in 2009, Newport World Resorts encompasses a newer and bigger world of epic experiences within the bustling Newport City community. It is a premier leisure and entertainment complex comprising two main wings, Newport Grand Wing and Newport Garden Wing that feature a wide array of gaming positions and an innovative EPIC REWARDS program for members.

Centrally located within a prime tourism spot, right across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, Newport World Resorts boasts of the highest hotel room key count in a single property with five international hotel brands: Hotel Okura Manila at Newport World Resorts and Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts, both recognized among MICHELIN Hotels, Sheraton Manila Hotel at Newport World Resorts, Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts, and Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts. Four of its signature restaurants, CRU Steakhouse, Man Ho, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines, and Yamazato, also earned a place in the prestigious MICHELIN Guide. The sprawling property features a wide range of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) venues, including a three-story convention center that houses the country’s largest hotel ballroom, the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

At Newport World Resorts, entertainment and lifestyle options abound. The award-winning Newport Performing Arts Theater seats over 1,700 audiences for live entertainment from plays and musicals to concerts and amazing performances. Likewise, the Newport Grand Wing’s The Grand Bar and Lounge and the Newport Garden Wing’s Bar 360 and El Calle Food and Music Hall provide nightly live entertainment for guests and patrons. The Newport Mall features international luxury brands and the state-of-the-art Newport Cinemas. Also within Newport City, are over 70 restaurants and dining outlets offering a diverse selection of local and international cuisine, prepared by top Filipino and international chefs.