Bruce Bollozos on a 20/20 vision

CEBU, Philippines - “While we live, we live not for perfection but for life. For living is not how perfectly we live, but how well we live our lives.”

So goes Alegre Beach Resort and Spa sales and marketing manager Bruce Cortes Bollozos to mark how he has been maneuvering his life in a highly demanding people-oriented industry for a year now after a stint in broadcast media.

“It’s true that hotel and resort staff can be likened to theater actors, playing various roles on different stress levels, observing patience at all times. One thing I’ve learned, though, throughout those job stints: You wouldn’t be able to please everyone. But sincerity towards people will be well remembered. That’s our team’s legacy to Alegre,” he said in an interview in connection with Alegre’s 20/20 event — 20th anniversary today.

Through his team’s unwavering drive and contagious enthusiasm to deliver new services, they have successfully introduced sports tourism to Calumboyan in Sogod via the 2013 Alegre National Age-Group Triathlon and Youth Olympic Games Qualifier with 150 delegates from April 6-7, this year.

“That is part of our new direction. Aside from establishing Alegre Beach Resort and Spa as the next yoga destination here, we pride ourselves in promoting sports tourism for people who seek privacy, serenity, and an atmosphere of paradise despite active lifestyles. Such features are unique to Alegre,” he added.

Bruce is very proud of his team. He shared that he is very straightforward in his leadership style. They have to generate revenue and would invest more in promotions and campaign ads believing the significant role of media in the success of Alegre, as known today. “I’m very happy with The FREEMAN because you always have the right spot for our materials. You understand our big need to make campaigns more visible to readers, without us imposing it,” he underscored.

He admits he conducts himself as a team-playing boss, but he also adjusts to a blare his voice on teammates whenever needed. “Yes, I also have to raise my voice on them. That is my way of emphasizing that we cannot be lenient in this job as over a hundred people in the resort have to be fed, too. But I would say that this team’s effort is hard to be replicated in Alegre. Our heart for the job and our sincerity towards people are the key elements in securing our market in this very competitive industry,” Bruce further stressed.

The team is also keen on adapting quickly to the challenges in changing environments as Alegre takes on both hardware and software developments. According to Bruce, hardware would involve renovations, because as an establishment, they have to further innovate. “Opportunities to improve our physical look are limitless, so we have to upgrade our rooms and facilities, increase number of rooms (from 41 to 86), but still work on maintaining the iconic makeup that Alegre is known for.”

For software development, this revolves around development of people, offering services distinctively Cebuano for both domestic and international visitors.

Renovation works is Alegre’s response to industry standards and not solely on feedback information from a market of mostly Japanese and Europeans. “We are pretty much conservative, but when it comes to upgrades based on industry standards, we definitely have to ‘have a say’. Bottomline is we are in the tourism sector, so whatever it is that makes visitors happier we are here to provide and please. Afterall, that’s what the word ‘alegre’ (mirthful/merry/joyous) encompasses.”

Interestingly, Bruce didn’t have an inkling he would fall in love with the tourism industry. He started as a radio disc jockey and moved on to work at a pizza parlor. When offered to run a family business, he narrated that he even ran away from home for a year to escape from the responsibility. “However, I felt rude when I saw my father taking care of our restaurant even at 70, so I had to come home.”

At 23 years old, he became the youngest branch manager of a Swiss firm into distribution of pharmaceutical products. He also worked for a world renowned US logistics company, then moved to a graphics art firm, and as TV host and consultant later on.

It was an on-the-job stint, while he was finishing his AB Mass Communication course at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, which led him to appreciate the hospitality industry.

However, he felt it tragic that during his internship, he was relegated to cutting out news items relative to hotels and tourism and pasting them on paper for file purposes. “I didn’t hate the hotel staff, though, for undermining my capacities. I just find the function very boring and very limiting. So I had to leave after two months,” he recalled with a warning not to mention the hotel na lang. “Anyway, it’s past now. And I still am thankful they’d treated me that way because now I’ve become more sensitive to OJTs (on-the-job trainees). I make sure they pitch in their fresh ideas to improve our department. They even get the chance to share in decision-making. I put a premium now to fresher ideas.” (FREEMAN)