By Leony R. Garcia & JT Nisay
Few see the world the same way as A Thousand Concepts Inc. Chief Operating Officer (COO) Lawrence Li Tan, and even fewer has his resolve. The executive bucked the odds and made a name for himself in the hotel-management industry. Now, he’s looking to do the same in his latest challenge.
Tan was born in the Philippines as the fourth of five siblings from a family of Taiwanese-Chinese descent. He has an innate bright smile that is now reflected in the establishments he represents, The Infatable Island in Olongapo City and The Dessert Museum in Pasay City. Both pop in color and in spirit, and both perfectly describe Tan’s life story: colorful and sweet.
Growing up, you’ll see an average kid that is always playful, yet responsible to his brood. He has been independent on his studies and his grades grew directly proportionate to his efforts. He finished high school in running for class valedictorian. But fate was not always favorable with him when his father was diagnosed with cancer and lost him after a year of suffering. The loss affected the Tan family’s dynamics in multiple ways. The family had to move to a crumbling condominium unit and live within their means. His Mama Rosa was left to support five children through her salary as a manager of a Chinese restaurant.
The ordeal taught the children about resilience and resourcefulness. They helped each other get by from selling anything, from snacks to clothes. Lawrence, for his part, had to enter an affordable school for college and work on the side. He enrolled at the Centro Escolar University (CEU) Manila on a scholarship grant and took on a student-assistance post.
Tan wanted to become a flight attendant, to see the world, which is why he took up BS Tourism. On his last year in college, he took the opportunity to participate in the US Work and Travel program. It is a cultural-exchange activity where he was first assigned in Frenchman’s Creek Beach and Country Club in Grand Canyon, Arizona, as a trainee. He wasted no time to earn in order to cover up with the expenses of this program. He took every opportunity as a learning experience, from being a public-area attendant, food-and-beverage staff to other random jobs that can be assigned with him. He then returned home for his graduation and was asked by the company for another year of internship, now equipped with a degree and more resilience to be a key player in the Philippine tourism and hospitality industry.
Back home, opportunities knocked at his door—chances that were once only a dream that came in the form of her mother’s words: He had a shot to build and design hotels. He wasted no time in seizing the opportunity and in making the most out of it. At the age of 28 he has built and designed seven hotels. With the clearance of one goal, of course, came another. This time, Tan wanted to open not just doors of hotels he designed, but windows for employment in different parts of the country.
“I gauge success based on productivity,” Tan said. “If I open more hotels, for me, that would mean more employment for the communities.”
But what is striking about Lance the most is his management insights and what he values most: People. To him, his employees are like his family—he would care for his family like his own, personally hand you cash when he learns that the kid of an employee is sick, ask his staff to pass the hat when a family member of his employee passes away.
“Don’t work for me. Work with me.” He clearly makes known that everyone plays an important role. From the lowest position in the organization and up to the top level, he recognizes the important role that they’re playing. He does his best to pull everyone together to build the company as a team and make everyone feel a sense of the ownership of the company. As he always point out, act and think like the owner of the company, so you will never neglect your duties. There has to be elements of respect, trust, commitment and reasonable expectations. When there are things that he has to teach to his employees, he shows them by being a good example. “I don’t tell them what to do, I show them how to do it.”
He does not slow down and is always on the lookout for what’s next, what can be done better. His continuous search for challenges led him to a new job in January as the COO of A Thousand Concepts Inc., the company behind what stands as the largest inflatable playground in Asia; and the unique museum of sweets that, in his words, are “millennial concepts” that are “truly different” and, more important, “out of this world.”
Giving back comes natural for Tan. When not at work, he’s engaged in various relief operations and medical missions in places where his company conducts business. Most recent he was part of the World Clean Up impact workshop in Quezon City and the Bags to School program in Central Mindanao.
Tan is committed in guiding the youth, as well as being a teacher at heart and by profession. Apart from his job, Tan finds fulfilment in sharing his knowledge and experiences to the students of his alma mater, in his numerous career talks. He is also teaching in Arellano University Jose Abad Santos Campus in Pasay City, where he is handling Practicum. He said, he can offer outright job placement if he sees his students’ potentials. These students remind me of who I was as a student—full of energy and ideals.
Aside from schools in the Metro, he used to teach in University of Nueva Caceres and the University of Northeastern Philippines in Naga City, to name a few. Tan also published three books that are now being used by students of hotel and restaurant management.
This commitment to help the younger generation transcends the classroom setting. Tan is also the 2019 Executive Treasurer of JCI Makati, motivated by the chance to help people grow and to create more leaders.
It’s a lot of work, but certainly not for Tan. If anything, he even wants more—something in line with what he has always sought after accomplishing the amount of tasks that many people would call enough—something more challenging, more compelling. He wants something more ambitious.
“Right now, to reach more of the young generation, I’m also testing the waters for a television show,” Tan said. “We tried doing one segment. But right at this moment, if you ask me, 99 percent hindi ko tatanggpin kasi hindi ko forte. Magtayo na lang tayo ng hotel. Still, let’s see.”
Always leaving the door open for opportunities. Always looking for what’s next of what is. This is just how Tan is wired. This is exactly why after conquering the world of hotel management, doing consultancy, opening properties across the country, serving the younger generation and giving back to the community, Tan finds himself with a company that prides on business models that, like himself, are out of this world. A Thousand Concepts Inc. introduced the country to Ball Pit Manila in Makati, Inflatable Island in Olongapo and Dessert Museum in Pasay. It would be amiss if anyone is to assume that a company with Tan as COO would even consider resting on its laurels.
The group is preparing to open soon The Happy Beach in Cebu, the first bohemian carnival-lifestyle resort in the Philippines, with every nook and cranny designed to be “Instagramable”. Also in the pipeline are projects in Davao and Bataan, not to mention plans to build regional museums.
“Watch for it,” Tan said. “Iba ‘to.”
Of course it is.
1 comment
The story is so inspiring! Kudos Sir Lance Tan! If I could get a chance to join his team, I would instantaneously quit my job.