MANILA, Philippines — Eight to nine hours of work a day is already exhausting for most of us. But how much more if you’re working 24/7 while miles away from your family? For hotelier Derrick Tan, St Giles Makati’s general manager since its inauguration in July 2010, facing this challenge is more “pleasure” than “pressure” as he “enjoys every moment” he spends on serving their guests.

If he wasn’t so serious, he wouldn’t have lasted five years in the country learning the culture just to deliver quality service to St Giles Hotel guests–regular and new residents alike.

Pouring passion on work

Though competition is fierce for St Giles Hotel, Tan says hospitality is all about “meeting the right target and the right customer at the right price and in the right time.”

And while St Giles Hotel’s management puts premium on having state-of-the-art facilities, Tan believes that having “the right team in place makes the whole difference.”

At the end of the day, it’s about how much heart and passion you put into your work.

“We must be very passionate about our job that it touches the heart and the soul of the guest,” Tan said, while reiterating that “we all have feelings.” “We look after our guests, and our goal is to make them happy, make them feel more satisfied,” he added.

St Giles Hotel’s Filipino team

And for the hotelier who also worked for 15 years at Mandarin Hotel in Singapore, these hospitality must-haves are not a problem for Filipinos as we are people who are courteous and “very happy” by nature. And “language is not a problem” as well as everyone can converse well with foreign guests.

This is the reason why Tan attributes St Giles Hotel’s life to his team. “I can’t do anything… It is all due to team work, close coordination, and efficient communications,” he said, pertaining to the thriving commerce of St Giles Hotel.

What he does as contribution, on the other hand, is find specific training programs that will help their team improve even more.

Personal touch

Tan also shared that in St Giles Hotel, “Guests become friends” because their staffs remember these people. From keeping in mind which particular chocolate their guests liked to remembering how they want their rooms prepared and arranged, St Giles Hotel employees not only put their heart into their work but also into the people they serve.

Holiday treats

And for the approaching yuletide season, here are St Giles Hotel’s treats to its residents:

Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet at P650.00 per person

Traditional Filipino Noche Buena will be served on December 24, 2014, 7:00pm to 9:30pm at Bayleaf Restaurant & Bar Lounge, Level 2

Christmas Day Lunch Buffet at P550.00 per person

December 25, 2014, 11:30am to 2:00pm at Bayleaf Restaurant & Bar Lounge, Level 2

New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet at P850.00 per person

Barbeque / Grilled Items and Meat Carving will be served on December 31, 2014, 7:00pm to 9:30pm at the Pool Area 35th Floor

New Year’s Eve Countdown at P300.00 per person

Entrance Fee with 2 rounds of selected Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic beverages (local beers, sodas, local pouring brand cocktails or chilled juices) from 7:00pm to 1:00am at the Pool Area 35th Floor

Free Entrance to the Countdown for guests who avail of the New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet

New Year’s Day Lunch Buffet at P550.00 per person

January 1, 2015, 11:30am to 2:00pm at Bayleaf Restaurant & Bar Lounge

For more information on holiday bookings at St Giles Hotel in Makati, visit https://www.stgiles.com/manila-hotels/stgiles-makati-hotel/. advt