Kindness according to Prateek

His smile, infectious and welcoming, leaves a lasting impression to anyone he meets. Sincerity is locked in his deep-set eyes. The almost incomprehensible lilt in his voice adds to his charm. Yes, he’s charismatic, too. And he’s kind.

Perhaps the last adjective is the summation of Prateek Kumar, 36, general manager of Dusit Thani Manila. The kindness of Prateek’s spirit — his name means “symbol” or “reflected image” in Hindi — becomes apparent especially now that he is a brand-new father to two-month-old Jia. Prateek and his wife Yvonne are ecstatic and grateful for “the arrival of Jia in our lives.”

His happiness of late is very contagious that the hotel guests and staff feel it in his every move and dealing with them. His joy, he says, “is simply holding Yvonne’s hand while watching Jia sleep. They are my ultimate source of relaxation nowadays.”

Jia, he says, is a Chindian, a Singaporean expression that refers to a child who belongs to the Chinese (Yvonne) and Indian (Prateek) race mix. Jia means “heart” in Hindi while it means “home” or “outstanding” in Chinese. Jia was born on Jan. 1, 2010 in Singapore, the country of residence of Prateek and Yvonne.

“When I held Jia in my arms for the first time and she looked at me with the innocence and purity of a child, I think that was the turning point and I knew that life would never be the same again. Indeed, it has an all new meaning, the beginning of a new chapter, the most important one so far,” says Prateek, a ball of energy emanating from his eyes.

“Another thing that amazes me about Jia is how a one-foot tall, little firecracker can control the lives of more than a handful of adults. We have to tip toe around our own house and talk in whispers, so as not to disturb the little princess. Jia’s the new boss!” Prateek adds with a hearty chuckle.

The way Prateek loves his family is a reflection of how he was raised by his father, a retired banker; and his mother, a homemaker.

“From my father, I learned the virtues of honesty, integrity and humility. He is someone who has spent his entire life guided by his strong principles without faltering in any situation, whatsoever. He has taught me to keep my feet firmly on the ground. My mother is a true diplomat, pacifier and problem solver. If I consider myself successful in building strong relationships in business and personal life, it is due to what I have learned from my mother. The emphasis of their teachings to me and my younger sister is always on high morals, strong family values and good education,” says Prateek, who finished a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Hotel Management from Griffith University in Australia.

Even at work, Jia is a big factor for the inspiration Prateek puts into his job. Each day at work, Prateek is in constant pursuit of perfection because he wants to be able to dedicate his hard work to his wife and to their daughter, the apple of their eyes. 

He has been in the hospitality business for the last 13 years. Prior to his posting in Manila, Prateek was responsible for the successful pre-opening of Ascott Raffles Place, a luxury all-suite hotel in Singapore. He also worked for Raffles Group, Starwood and Renaissance Group.

With his posting at Dusit Thani Manila, Prateek was entrusted with “a $20-million renovation of the hotel.” He took up the challenge, put his mettle to the test and, so far, at the rate the hotel is attracting both local and foreign guests, Prateek has successfully delivered. He has kept the luster of the hotel at its five-star brilliance for one year and four months now. He constantly polishes its sheen by working doubly hard and constantly inspiring the people he works with.    

In turning things around the hotel, Prateek empowered his staff using the number one trait of the Filipinos: hospitality. “I told them to just treat every guest, ‘as you would treat somebody you invite to your own home. You are courteous and you give them respect. And by all means you want that person to walk out of your home feeling good.’ That is the very heart of the Filipino culture, which now becomes the contemporary expression to Dusit Thani’s vision. This hotel espouses an emphasis on Thai cultural heritage synthesized with the Filipino’s fundamental values like courtesy, hospitality and gracious warmth that touch the soul,” says Prateek, who, at first, wasn’t even sure about coming to the Philippines or joining the Dusit Thani family. This reservation on his part was brought about by the misleading branding of the Philippines by the overseas press. When Prateek finally reported for work in Manila, he was truly amazed and could not have been more pleased.

“Within the next couple of weeks, I could describe Manila in three words: best kept secret. It would normally take me two to three months to adjust to a new city. I felt that Manila was my home,” Prateek says.

“I told my wife about what I saw and she took the flight from Singapore the next weekend. And all she can say was ‘It’s completely different from what we know.’ Soon we were asking our friends to come over and see what Manila is all about, and they were surprised. They liked what they saw, too.” 

Now, with the addition of Jia, Prateek is confident he and his wife will further enjoy the Philippines. And in their home, which is also in the hotel, Prateek is certain that his loved ones will continue to inspire him to better his craft, to become a better person each day.

With kindness at the core of his being, Prateek Kumar will surely deliver at the end of every single day.

(For your new beginnings, please e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com or my.new.beginnings@gmail.com. You may also want to follow me at www.twitter.com/bum_tenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)