Hospitality Superstars: A Dream Posting!

Tophy Andrada, the ASYA Premiere Suites Resort Manager in Station 3 Boracay, is one lucky hotelier! He has the pleasure of leading an efficient team of 55 highly qualified hotel professionals and works for one of the best luxury resorts on the Island. Trip Advisor has consistently ranked it among the top 3 in its category, many times landing in number one for many months (www.tripadvisor.com). Other travel portals that rate hotels, resorts and restaurants also place Asya Premiere Suites in the top 5!

Tophy has earned his impeccable hotel experience from some of the finest chains in the world starting off in 1994 as a telephone operator during the pre-opening of the New World Hotel in Makati; he has also worked for other highly prestigious hotels here and overseas including the Emirates Towers in Dubai which is a symbol of the United Arab Emirates, Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort in Cebu, the pre-opening of both Shangri-La Dubai and the Shangri-La’s Barr-Al Jissa Resort & Spa in Muscat, Oman, considered Shangri-la’s only 6-star property.

After many years in the Middle East, Tophy decided it was time to head home and in 2010 he joined The Ascott Makati as Guest Services Manager.

In December 2012, Tophy was given the opportunity to run Asya Premier Suites, initially as Resident Manager and eventually promoted to Resort Manager (www.asyapremier- boracay.com).

Among the many improvements Tophy has instituted in the resort are a major reorganization that included right sizing, rewriting all job descriptions, a compensation and benefits review, service excellence and leadership training, the appointment of the resort’s official trainers, a staff climate survey and the establishment of the resort’s ‘Guest-Centric Cycle Standards & Procedures’.

Tophy has been immensely enjoying his stint at the resort. Asha Premiere plans to refurbish some of its buildings this year and introduce new facilities for its discerning guests. The resort’s advantage is that it is located at the very end of Station 3, making it very private and exclusive. Tophy will have his hands full in 2025!

Despite Boracay’s limited entertainment venues other than the beach and its nearby islands, Tophy swears that this is his best appointment yet and would not mind staying in this paradise for a long, long time.

(Vic Alcuaz is a Hospitality Headhunter, Trainer & Consultant: www.vicalcuaz.com)