The hospitality and real estate businesses are booming once again as we usher in the year 2010. The year of the Tiger is bringing in a positive start for Quantum Hotels and Resorts, which acquired a new property just before the end of 2009 – the Nandana Boracay located in Station 1 of the world-renowned beach resort and occupying a sprawling 2,000 square meters of tropical indulgence. It is expected to soft-open in June this year, while at the onset of 2010, Quantum group will provide hotel management to SKYY Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, located beside world-renowned Bumrungrad International Hospital.
Being a management group, Quantum has grown rapidly. While hotel management has been around for a while, management of serviced residences and serviced apartments is something upcoming in the Philippines and Quantum group is one of the forerunners in the industry.
“Three years ago, we only had three properties. Now, we have seven,” says Joey D. Bernardino, vice-president for sales and marketing of Quantum Hotels and Resorts. The company itself is gaining popularity alongside the properties they are presently managing. “It’s always attached now to each property. For example, hotel management is provided by Quantum Hotels and Resorts at The Malayan Plaza, our serviced residence in Ortigas, Pasig City. I think that our marketing strategy works very well for us because a number of people would call the developers or inquire from our agents…”
Quantum is now running seven properties across the Philippines and in Bangkok. Two in Makati City (BSA Tower and BSA Suites), one in Ortigas (The Malayan Plaza), one in Quezon City (Torre Venezia), one in Boracay (Nandana Boracay), and two boutique hotels in Bangkok (LUXX XL and SKYY Hotel).
“Just imagine having seven properties with seven sales teams running the show, I would say that our network is quite strong in the different areas that we have,” Bernardino confidently shares. “These sales and marketing offices are also supported by our regional offices in Bangkok and Hong Kong. We are opening our Singapore office soon.”
With this kind of support, Bernardino is assured of more growth in the coming years. “So, our network within and outside the Philippines is quite strong. Plus, we have our online reservation service. So all these things would run. And whatever marketing efforts that we get from outside, we will use them; we actually apply all these facilities to run our properties.”
Adapting to the changing times
“That’s the biggest challenge that we have,” quips Bernardino on how they can be more competitive, with all these new hotels coming up. So, to keep abreast with the changing times and developments, Bernardino and his team make sure to attend all the major hospitality and real estate trade fairs.
“Just last year, we were in China, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore to attend the international trade fairs. So, we pick up all the different concepts and bring them back to apply them in our properties that we handle,” he shares. They are looking at international fairs in Berlin (ITB), London and Brunei by 2010.
“What we do, is pre-development and post development, so even before you build your property, and if we have an agreement to manage it, we make sure that we bring in our consultant to tell you exactly what you need to put in so that we will be more efficient in terms of operation and other needs.”
His simple, yet very professional management style works well for Bernardino, who is a Behavioural Science graduate. “I look at everything objectively. I believe in empowering people. And making sure that my team has a positive outlook. With that, I make sure that I have the right people in my team,” he says. I personally do the selection (of hiring people). Of course, we have our HR who do the pre-selection, but I go through each and every one of them. It’s very important that you know the people in the industry – who’s who, who can do what, who has the strength to do this and that, it’s also about looking for people with the right attitude and foresight. Sometimes, we even go out of the industry, because there are people outside the industry who are more effective, what you just have to do is to train them on the technical side.”
“What I finished is actually very different from what I got into,” says the young-looking top executive, who has been in the industry for 18 years now. “But I’ve always been interested and exposed early in the service industry. I had family members who are hoteliers. It was something I decided to try and take on. In the initial stage, I was trained in Singapore, then eventually came back to be part of the Makati Shangri-La group.” From there, Bernardino developed his career with some organizations like Dusit Hotel Nikko and a local hotel group before joining Quantum.
So, how do you bring out the best in your people? “I make sure that I push them hard, push them to the limits. We provide them benefits, compensation, we also make sure that we do training programs, we have activities for the people that would motivate them. Planning sessions are held outside of Metro Manila. A relaxed ambience makes them more creative.”
Bernardino credits their president John Cole for developing and making Quantum what it is today. “He heads the business development side of the group. He aggressively goes out and makes sure that we get new contracts. Recently, his team went out of the country looking out for expansion in China, Macau, and some more hotels in Bangkok. His exposure in different countries has given him more contacts in expanding outside of the Philippines.” Cole has been with several international hotel chains and was based in different countries such as Hawaii and Bangkok in the capacity as General Manager. He eventually came to the Philippines and set up Quantum Hotels and Resorts in the year 2000.
Definitely, the coming years have much in store for Quantum Hotels and Resorts.
You can discuss this statement and all of Quantum’s plans and strategies directly with Maria Lourdes J. Estonactoc, Senior Sales Manager and Mr. Joey D. Bernardino, VP for Sales and Marketing at Quantum Hotels and Resorts, Philippines Pavilion, ITB Hall 26 A, Stand 135.
