THE French always seem to have a special way of making things, and making things happen.
The first one encompasses the arts and culture, through its architecture (think of the Eiffel Tower and the city of Paris as a whole) and its art de vivre (art of living)—everything about gastronomy (fine wine, artisanal cheese and food with names we take extreme care in pronouncing), haute couture fashion, music, movies and others in between, which are too many to mention.
The other represents revered French personas in world history as specimens of making their mark and effecting influence on many: their kings (the long line of Louis-es), presidents (from Napoleon to Emmanuel Macron), intellectuals, and even artists.
While Filipinos have grown fond of elements with a touch of French, there is actually a premier place tucked at the heart of Cebu where the masterful orchestration of a Frenchman, Didier Belmonte, has been evident in the property’s overall setting.
An established global hotelier, Crimson Mactan’s general manager was honed in top hospitality institutions in Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. The gentleman distinguishes himself as a results-oriented, dedicated and effective leader, bringing with him three decades of progressive professional experience in hotel management and service.
The BusinessMirror recently caught up with Belmonte as he shared his managerial and leadership acumen in running one of the Philippines’s prime resort destinations, his impression about Filipinos, sundry matters on work and what lies ahead: for the resort-and-spa facility, and himself.
BusinessMirror: It’s our first time in Crimson Mactan and we are very impressed with the amenities and the kind of service accorded to us. Have you already grown accustomed in your current role?
BELMONTE: Merci beaucoup! I find myself privileged being part of a great property in the Philippines. It’s actually my first time here in the country, having arrived June of last year. So far, it’s been a great 15 months!
That’s remarkable, given your success in the hotel industry in the last 30 years. In a nutshell, please share with us your background and the stints you’ve had in the global arena.
I graduated in 1986 from the hospitality school in my hometown in Carcassonne, which is in southern France. From there, I went to London, where my career took off in food and beverage (F&B), starting as a waiter in 1996, and then scaled the ranks until I became a director of F&B.
A great part of my career was spent on small luxury resorts. After my stint in Oman, I moved into a huge property in Dubai, which I feel was a defining period in my career. In 1999 I went to the Middle East, particularly in Dubai and Oman. After about eight years, I transferred to Bali as an assistant manager then worked within the same chain in Kuala Lumpur and Myanmar. I also had successful assignments in Singapore and Taiwan. For me, the world of hospitality is just small. (Laughter.)
Tell us about your managerial style and your philosophy in leading people.
Of my years in the industry so far, I can say that I like to trust my people and empower them. That is very important. I lead by example, and I ensure I am there for my team. In return, I expect everybody in the team to do the same.
When there is a guest complaint, I make sure that we recover from it and turn around the experience for them. We are fortunate that we very rarely get negative feedback. For us, that translates into repeat customers.
Coming onboard Crimson Mactan, it was my priority to familiarize myself with my sphere of influence and operations, which is the island of Cebu. At the very least, if I speak to guests asking me what to do around, I would be able to assist them. If I have already been to a particular locale, I could open and sustain a meaningful conversation about it. I believe it is very important to have an open interaction with our visitors.
My office door is always open for team members; I could say with certainty that my team could always rely on me. And I manage by walking around the property, closely working together with everyone to bring the standards up for Crimson Mactan.
You touched about working with Filipinos one time or another while serving overseas. What is your overall idea about Filipinos before coming here?
I have had the privilege of collaborating with Filipinos abroad. They actually come across as more hardworking than other nationalities. When I first came here, I was very pleased that everyone could speak English. I went around and everybody has a ready smile, and that is just amazing.
For me, when people smile, everything becomes better. That is the kind of attitude that cannot be just learned by training. When someone comes in and he or she has a right, positive attitude, that can effectively land him or her a job. Filipinos are friendly and genuine. That is a great differentiating factor.
Tourists look for genuine hospitality when they walk into a resort, so much so that they notice and feel the warm smiles and friendliness of our local staff members.
What’s next for Crimson? What are your moves to further elevate its already high-level of engagement with guests?
Plans are under way to improve amenities within the properties and inside the rooms. We just opened a new restaurant showcasing local musicians and where guests could also dance their time away, thus creating new experiences for them. We now do twice-a-week dinners by the beach. Definitely, we have more activities in the offing, including those at Aum Spa.
Speaking of our rooms, we are already planning on expanding with 250 more two years down the line, and include renovations for existing ones.
For Quest, the sister company of Crimson Mactan, two more projects are being earmarked in Bacolod City and Palawan, which is very likely to unfold in 2020. These are very exciting times as a general manager to work with a company with a vision, and it’s equally amazing to be part of everything that is happening. After seven years in the business, the owners are still investing.
Overall, I would like to help Crimson Mactan take the next, big step while we bring in more tourists from everywhere. After all, we have a great, international brand.
I see that the Philippines has a lot of potential in the global tourism industry, and it is being complimented with a booming local economy; it’s just a matter of making sure more people around the world knows what it has to offer.
That said, what would be your special pitch for potential guests to visit Crimson Mactan?
We are a young and vibrant company with a great team, aiming to be different. Making sure to provide the best experience possible for our guests, we will do our best to create unique and wonderful memories.
It starts with the “feel” when our guests are inside: it is different from other hotels. The trees are higher than the buildings. You can also just unwind because of the expansive spaces we have in the resort. There is a lot of entertainment courtesy of our great leisure team. We welcome entire families as we also have amenities for kids. There is certainly something in Crimson Mactan for everybody.
Finally, how do you relax and unwind outside work?
I go to the beach and just chill out. My downtime is taking a walk, reading a book and really relaxing; and also, socializing within Cebu City or Mactan City with people and friends, then going out for dinner and drinks. I rarely go outside of Cebu province, but I have already been to Kawasan and Oslob. There is a lot to see around in this beautiful island anyway, especially in the southern parts.
Before joining Crimson Mactan, I was able to spend some time in France—about two weeks—but I will return there on the first week of December this year since it’s going to be my 50th birthday. I have to celebrate at home!
Nous sommes impatients de revenir à Crimson Mactan, Monsieur Belmonte!
Image credits: jimbo Albano