A refreshing change of pace

CEBU, Philippines - At 17, he would hear his friends who were working in the hotel industry animatedly swapping notes on the different people they met and all the exciting places they’ve been to. Still undecided then what course to pursue, Sanjay Kristofer Quadros, or Kris to friends and colleagues, was influenced by those stories to take up Hotel Management in his birth place of India. He hasn’t looked back since, and now has his own stories to share spanning a 16-year career as a hotelier.

   After an extensive hospitality industry experience around Southeast Asia, Kris now finds himself in Cebu as the new resident manager of Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, joining the company just this January. Prior to his current post, he was Director of Operations of Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon (a brand managed by Marriott International) in Vietnam.

   “I checked this resort out, and it was quite beautiful. I also wanted a change from a business hotel to a resort hotel. And it seemed natural to progress into another area in Asia and move to a company that is expanding, so to speak,” said Kris, most often described by colleagues as enthusiastic, analytical, tech-savvy and results-oriented.

   Kris considers his period in Vietnam from December 2009 to November 2012 as his most memorable so far, not only because he helped steer the brand into a solid performer, but also because he was witness to Vietnam’s rapid rate of progress. “You see the lives of common Vietnamese citizens improving, so it was nice to be a part of that change,” he remarked.

   Vietnam was home for him for almost three years, but Kris figured out quickly how Cebu can easily be a place he can call home, too.

   “You can definitely feel the warmth of the people here. Somehow, I actually feel at home. That’s genuine, and not something I’m just saying. I’ve been here for a month and I actually feel that I’m already part of the team and part of the family. That’s the reason I like working in Southeast Asia; it’s the culture. People may look and sound different, but at the end of the day, the common thread is the warmth and friendliness among the people.”

   Having been assigned mostly to business hotels where guests are often beating the clock, Kris is loving the unhurried and relaxed pace of a resort hotel lifestyle. He, after all, has landscaped gardens in the sprawling six-hectare resort to stroll around in and the beach wind and waves to relish when the day gets too tough.

   But don’t mistake this as his ultimate vacation. Kris is set on transforming what he describes as an already “great product” into an even greater one.

   “The people are good in the service aspect. I think the attitude of the associates is great. Before this, I have not experienced working with a stand-alone or a new management company. I’ve worked with multi-national companies with 3,000 hotels or so. I think there’s so much that can be done here in terms of service and product. We have a great team with a lot of ideas. I guess it’s just a matter of channeling these ideas and bringing them to fruition.”

   It’s a mission he hopes to accomplish with the help of his team. While he may cut an intimidating figure at 6’4”, he urges his associates to throw around ideas with him. They may not always agree, but Kris hopes to cultivate an inclusive and democratic culture in the workplace.

   “I’m open to counter-arguments, so if I would propose something and they feel strongly against it, they can talk to me about it. Ultimately, we’ll try to figure out what would work best for the customers, share-holders and owners,” he said.

   Kris begins his work day at around 8:15 or 8:30 a.m., and the first thing he does is check emails to get a grip of the previous evening’s events or concerns.

   He goes on to describe the rest of what for him is a typical day at Crimson: “If some guests needs to be spoken to…or a manager needs to be spoken to, I advise the manager how best to deal with a particular situation. At 9 a.m., all the department heads get together and we go through what we expect for the day in terms of operations, such as if we have special VIP arrivals or if we’re expecting choppy waters and the like. We also figure out what the competition has done. From there, it’s just walking around, meeting associates, looking around the property to see if something is out of place.”

   At the end of the day, Kris looks forward to coming home to his wife and one-year-old son. His toddler has already been quite the traveler. Born in Malaysia, the little bundle traveled to Vietnam 21 days later, then back to Malaysia, and now here in the Philippines. “Eventually though, I’d like to settle down in one place especially when he turns around four years old,” Kris admits.

   Once a week, he also allows himself to cut loose by heading out to the city to unwind with friends. But ask him his best stress-relievers, and he’ll be the first to tell you these fall far from his physical image.

“I know I don’t look the type, but I listen to a lot of rock. I’m also very passionate about motorcycles. When I was younger, I used to play the drums. Thankfully, I learned early on I couldn’t make a living out of it,” he laughs. “I’m quite happy that I chose to be a hotelier.”