VIC ALCUAZ' HOSPITALITY SUPERSTARS: Myla Cacares. After 20 Years Of An Expatriate Life, She Is Back To Base

By Vic Alcuaz

Filipino hotel executives are in demand the world over! Financial Controllers, Directors for Sales & Marketing, Executive Chefs, Specialty Chefs, Information Technology Chiefs, Chief Engineers, Executive Housekeepers, Chief Concierges, and many more.

Myla Caceres is one good example. She was just starting to enjoy her hotel career in the Philippines, at The Manila Hotel, when she received an offer to become Manager for Public Relations of the pre-opening The Pan Pacific Hotel Bangkok (a.k.a Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park). After 4 years with The Manila Hotel, Myla eagerly started her very first expatriate assignment in Thailand.

After 2 years with The Pan Pacific, Myla was poached by another pre-opening hotel, the Mercure Hotel Pattaya Resort, an ACCOR property (a.k.a Cholchan Hotel Pattaya Resort), where she was appointed Public Relations Manager, her second PR Manager posting.

It was after her 4 years as PR Manager in Thailand that Myla expanded her wings this time to cover the most consequential posting in a hotel - the position of Director of Sales.

The Marriott Royal Garden Riverside Hotel, Bangkok by the Minor International Group was Myla’s next property. But her role was a major shift, from doing public relations functions to being in charge of ensuring the hotel would meet it’s yearly targets for all revenue streams. A very vital responsibility if not the most vital, to say the least.

Since that first move to the top sales function, Myla has continued to be poached by the best of the best properties in Thailand and Vietnam. Among them: Meritus Suite State Tower, Bangkok; Victoria Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific; L’Anmien Muine Resort & Spa; Swiss-Bel Hotel International, Intercontinental Hotels Thailand; Dusit Thani Bangkok, Ascott International Management; Oakwood Residences; Easton Grand Saigon; and Conasi Hospitality.

And just before she was planning to finally return to her homeland after 20 years, in March 2024, Conasi Hospitality promoted her to Cluster General Manager of Tui Blue, Tuy Hoa Wellness & Retreat Hotel and the Lumiere Family Village, Dong Tac. This was followed by another promotion a year later in April 2025 to Group Director for Pre-Opening Hotels & Commercial Strategy.

These promotions and lucrative compensation, and benefits did not stop Myla’s wish to return to the Philippines. Her mind and heart were set with or without a job waiting for her when she returns.

Finally, Myla is back, not to retire and enjoy her life, but to continue the fire and passion for hospitality burning. This time as Managing Director for the Hospitality Division of Roxaco Land Corporation, owners and managers of several premium properties like Anya Tagaytay and Punta Fuego, Nasugbu.

But this new chapter in Myla’s hotel life will require another article. Watch out for it…