At quarter past 6 in the morning, Mike Jawad gets off his bed, dons his most comfortable sneakers, and takes a leisurely walk at the new Filinvest Mimosa estate inside the Clark Freeport, surveying the vast land of its potential, and of course, the challenges the property brings.
Mike is the newly appointed General Manager of Filinvest Mimosa which houses Quest Hotel and Conference Center and the Mimosa Golf Course featuring its two, tournament ready, 18-hole courses.
Mike identifies himself as a 24/7, on duty general manager, as he currently resides in the hotel. This was a conscious decision by him though, saying it’s a lot more advantageous.
“Living in-house has allowed me to have a different perspective of the hotel and the estate.
“Perhaps this kind of practice is not liked by many, but I prefer it as it gives me a better insight on the operations and allows me to spot the discrepancies that the hotel may have before even the guests arrive,” Mike said.
“This is especially true when all the department heads and managers are not yet on board, which gives me a totally different view of the hotel, its outlets and the rest of the property,” he added.
As General Manager, the Pakistani national from Dubai is responsible for overseeing the long-term development and establishment goals of the estate.
“Apart from ensuring the profitability of the hotel and golf course, my most important goal and focus is to guarantee the satisfaction of our customers — that they choose our hotel not only as a hotel but as a preferred destination for business, as well as a leisure getaway.”
A 20-year journey to the Philippines
Prior to working in the Philippines, Mike has worked in the USA, the Middle East and South East Asia. He realized his early potentials in hospitality management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in USA, having completed its Hotel Administration program.
His skills and traits have been honed further as he held several key administrative positions in international hotel brands such as the Marriot Hotel, Ritz-Carlton and the Hyatt Hotels.
Mike holds an MBA, major in Business and Marketing, also from UNLV. He brings 20 years of education and experience to the Philippines and sees it as a very exciting destination for travel and leisure because of the country’s natural penchant for excellent hospitality practices.
While Mike is fluent in English, Arabic, Turkish, and Hindi, he says that he’s excited to learn the Filipino language.
“The Philippines is a destination I have never been before. But I always had an interest in it, because two years ago, I had the opportunity to work with Filipino people in the South East Asian regions and in the Middle East. I remember them fondly to be a people with a very happy disposition in life. And part of this intrigued me, which fueled my interest further to work in the Philippines and with its people,” he said.
“I am grateful for the opportunity for my work bringing me here.” he adds.
People-interest
When asked what sets him apart from other general managers he has encountered, Mike says he has a more people-centered approach.
“Saying that you’re a ‘hands-on’ general manager has been very typical among general managers. In fact, a general manager should actually be ‘hands-on’ with the job anyway. It has become a very theoretical thing to say. So what sets me apart is that I love to talk to my team and the people working around me. I am always glad and happy whenever I am with them. I like to know what they think and how that can contribute to the day-to-day operation of the property,” Mike expressed.
He added that he loves looking at numbers, such as trends and metrics, and using those to make a calculating stance before any major decision or simply before approving budgets and expenses, he says in jest.
But working 24/7 doesn’t make him a complete workaholic though. Mike says that during his spare time, he enjoys playing snooker, working out or going out of town for a culinary adventure.
“We are excited to welcome Mike to Quest Hotel and Conference Center Clark- Pampanga and the Mimosa Golf Course. He brings wonderful experience to our fourth property here in the Philippines,” says Chroma Hospitality’s Country Manager James Montenegro.
Chroma Hospitality, Inc., the hotel management company of Filinvest Development Corporation also currently operates the luxury Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan, Cebu, Crimson Hotel in Filinvest City, Manila, Quest Hotel Cebu City, and will soon open the highly anticipated Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay in 2017.
The Quest for Urban Renewal
The Filinvest Mimosa, located at the Clark Freeport Zone, is a sprawling 200-hectare property, ready for urban renewal. It currently houses the new Quest Hotel and Conference Center – Clark Pampanga and the Mimosa Golf Course. Management says it may house even more exciting properties and recreational venues in the future for both local and international tourists alike.
For inquiries and bookings, you may contact +63 (02) 845 1888, +63 (045) 599 8000 or +63 (02) 843 1363 or visitclark.questhotels.com andmimosagolf.com.