Anya Resort & Residences, an up-coming luxury property in Tagaytay, has recently recruited luxury hotel and resort executive Peter Lodovico D’souza as its General Manager. D’souza has 17 years of industry experience, and has worked in several high-end accommodations in Asia and the Middle East prior to joining Anya.
D’souza was introduced to Anya through a former boss in the Maldives. “The project owners showed me around Tagaytay and the project in particular. I’ve always wanted to be in a place that is very close to nature and away from the noise and pollution. Cities like Dubai, where I used to work, can be physically and mentally taxing. I moved to Cambodia because it was more peaceful. From there, taking on the proposal to join Anya was an easy decision,” he said.
The Indian national began his career in the hospitality industry when he was 18 years old, working as a student trainee for a five-star resort in Goa, India. “I got to meet all sorts of people, eat good food and work in a very nice place which are elements that will get a teenager’s attention. I didn’t like the idea of working as a human resource trainee at first but it grew on me. After a while, there wasn’t a doubt that I’d leave the industry,” he explained.
A gentle and unassuming demeanor betrays D’souza’s competencies and experience. From Cidade de Goa Resort as a trainee, he took on various housekeeping and service positions in top hotels brands in Abu Dhabi, including the Grand Continental Abu Dhabi. A five-year stint with the Jumeirah Group in Dubai allowed him to train at the famed seven-star Burj al Arab as a butler.
A more challenging offer called him out of the Middle East and into the Maldives. His stint with the Coco Collection Resorts, Retreats & Hotels Maldives involved helping prepare island resort properties of opening and implementing butler services. Most recently, he held the position of Operations Manager at Anantara Hotels & Resorts in Cambodia. As the general manager of Anya, he is currently building the core principles that will guide all aspects of service.
“We plan to establish a benchmark of what true Filipino hospitality is. Our tagline for Anya is ‘Welcome Home.’ We will welcome our guests, whoever they may be, whether they come with a small handbag or two huge suitcases. Anybody who wants to access Anya will feel at home,” D’souza shared.
He elaborated by describing the planned check-in process, which will be at the convenience of the guest. “As you arrive at the drop off area, you have the choice of either sitting down at the lobby and have our signature welcome drink, or going directly to your room, and we’ll do the checking in at the suite itself. If you arrive early, we won’t ask you to come back at 2pm.”
The convenient check-in process is just the first of many ways Anya will make you feel at home. Aside from the standard concierge services, a Lifestyle Assistant will stand in practically as one’s own butler. This specialized service allows you to call ahead and have your room arranged to have the preferred kind of linens and toiletries, items that you want stocked up in your refrigerator, or the latest issue of your favorite newspaper or magazine.
Set to open early 2016, Anya covers seven hectares located on the quieter side of the Tagaytay-Calamba Road. The top-rate service stands a complement to the property’s master-planned layout that will inspire joy and comfort. The contemporary tropical architecture includes a natural color scheme with splashes of bright hues that express the warmth of the traditional Filipino style. Outdoors, Anya’s grounds include pocket gardens, streams and brooks and pathways. Areas have been allocated for yoga, meditation, and other healthy activities. Other amenities include a spa and gym, swimming pools, a children’s play area, and a “borderless” library.
For dining, guests can choose from romantic private dining settings to more casual, family-style arrangements. Anya can also create special vegetarian menus and meals for those who have particular dietary requirements.
“At Anya, we want to be recognized as a true Filipino hospitality company providing genuine service from the heart. This will be the overlying mission, the DNA of the resort, so to speak,” D’Souza presented.
For its efforts in developing a very personalized and unique experience, Anya has been recently included to the list of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH). Currently, the resort is the only SLH-accredited resort within a 90-minute drive from Metro Manila.
Anya Resort & Residences is developed by Roxaco Land Corporation, which co-created the successful Club Punta Fuego and the Terrazas at Punta Fuego communities. Its showroom, dubbed the Anya Discovery Center, is located at Pilgrim Building, 111 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City.
Investors and travelers who want to learn more about Anya can call +63 917 888 ANYA (2692) or email [email protected].
You may also visit their website www.anya.ph or better yet, attend their open house on January 23, 2016 in Tagaytay.