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Hospitality Superstars: Back To His Roots!

Man in blue suit stands confidently in a lobby with marble floors and red rope barrier. Background features warm lighting and a staircase.

Alfred Reyes began his magnificent hospitality career in the place where he was born, Cebu. Alfred has the unique distinction of being the youngest Filipino to become a hotel general manager of an international hotel chain in the Philippines. Starting from the ranks, he has climbed the organizational ladder quite steadily, never experiencing jobless moments. His facility with a third language, Chinese, propelled him to exciting assignments both here and overseas. I quote Alfred from my book Hospitality Superstars Book One, published in 2014, about his very first experience when he was still applying for a job:


In 1988, I applied to be a flight steward at Philippine Airlines. They were quite blunt to tell me, “We are sorry, but you cannot fly with us as you only have nine working fingers and passengers will see that.” I did not hide my disappointment and thought that they were cruel for frustrating me. This initial failure sparked my quest to find a job in other tourism and hospitality-related companies.


As I started walking out of the PAL office that day, another applicant who had also been rejected asked me if I spoke Chinese and if I’d like to try applying for a job at the hotel where he worked as a bellman. With much resolve, I said yes to both his questions. He volunteered to introduce me to his boss, the front office manager, Steve Alfafara. I will never forget the day Steve interviewed me. I was wearing white socks, polo shirt and Fido Dido hair. During our conversation, he told me that I had to change two things—my hairstyle and my white socks, “you’re not Michael Jackson,” he said. Of course, I took his advice and started working on all my pre-employment requirements. That was the start of my hospitality career at the 1Cebu Plaza Hotel, earning P25 a day. Cebu Plaza was the best hotel in the Queen City during that time and for many years later, and of course, I was very proud to be a part of it.”

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