Jun Parreño and Zsolt Siket’s exemplary leadership brings out the best of our paradise destinations

For the Discovery brand, an earnest listening ear and the heart to serve are the most important facets of hospitality

Discovery World Corporation President and Director, Jun Parreño, lights up the room as he enters the presidential suite for his feature shoot. He gives off a jolly aura, complemented by a chipper ensemble—a sky blue coat and sleek khaki trousers—brightening up a warm and inviting space, colored with earthy and neutral tones. He sits on a high stool and leans on a sleek countertop—just a few of many modern pieces situated within the space—beside the windows, where soft sunlight filters through.

I took my time exploring the suite as the shoot progressed. Situated on the 14th and 15th floors of Discovery Primea, our room offers a breathtaking view of the Makati skyline. The outdoor deck had a jacuzzi, too, so one could appreciate this urban spectacle while basking in relaxation. The rest of the space—the bedrooms, bar and kitchen, living room, and bathrooms—exude luxury true to the Discovery brand.

SERVICE THAT’S ALL HEART

The shoot goes by in a breeze. Jun invites us to try out their famous pizza selections at their Mediterranean restaurant, Tapenade. As we take the lift down to The Gilarmi Lounge, other hotel staff join us in the elevator before reaching the ground floor. As an outsider, the internal updates and inside jokes they share didn’t make any sense to me, but I couldn’t help smiling as they chatted away—they just had an effortless lighthearted and cheerful dynamic going on. Even as we dined at the lounge, the staff were just as accommodating and hospitable.

My observation coincides with what Jun considers as the Discovery Group’s best competitive advantage—their people. “Our employees are trained to anticipate the needs of our guests and deliver thoughtful gestures in the process,” the director says. “They are empowered to deliver joy. This, I believe, is what sets us apart from others.”

Jun leaves us but stays within The Gilarmi Lounge. As our team feasts on garlic shrimp and mushroom pizzas, I observe how the president warmly accommodates with his guests. “Service That’s All Heart” is a mantra that the Discovery Group maintains as their golden standard across all their properties; without a doubt, Jun and his team walk the talk.

“I have my mentors, owners Ruben and John Tiu, to thank—they’ve shown me how to operate a business with a heart,” he emphasizes. “Demonstrating kindness, discipline, passion, and hard work, their business acumen transforms dreams into realities, and I hold them in high regard. The future generation, especially those within our industry, can learn a lot from them, just as I did.”

NURTURING THE LOCAL HEART

“Discovery has prided itself as a homegrown hospitality brand. Combined with a good understanding of the global clientele’s expectations from luxury resorts or city hotels, the hospitality brand ensures that all guests feel welcome in any of the Discovery properties,” Jun reiterates. “Our brand hallmarks celebrate local culture, and these further promote authentic connections.”

Discovery Shores in Boracay, for instance, offers Ilonggo delicacies for their turndown services.

Club Paradise in Coron celebrates cashews as the prime ingredient of choice for delicacies and pastries. “These gestures introduce guests to the community and the environment. You cannot get more authentic than this,” Jun stresses.

On top of these efforts, Discovery takes pride in being a genuine advocate for environmental protection and sustainability. “This is our biggest contribution to the communities where our properties are,” Jun says. “Club Paradise, for instance, is within a marine sanctuary, and we are always mindful of protecting the waters that surround the island. We also have a farm in Coron where we farm various produce and seafood. Parts of our land in El Nido, Benguet, and Siargao have also been allocated for farming projects. Discovery will always keep this advocacy alive in our brand promise.”

“Weare inthe businessof delivering joyand making people happy”

LISTENING TO THE TRAVELER’S HEART

While impeccable hospitality is a constant ideal value that should cut across generations, it cannot be denied that the hospitality business itself has evolved drastically in the past years. Armed with two decades of experience, Jun has witnessed and navigated through the changes in his chosen industry. “I’ve seen the impact of disruptors in the hospitality industry, and I’ve experienced the customization of hotels and resorts to deliver relevant products and services to different target markets,” he admits. “As a leader, it is my obligation to ensure that we understand the market and evolve accordingly to maintain customer relevance.”

The rising popularity of Airbnb and increasing maturity and independence of travelers, Jun says, prompt the Discovery Group to earnestly listen to their customer base and adapt. “That’s what we have been doing ever since: listen to our customers. If, say, automation or customized products will make our clients satisfied, then we will provide these innovations as we see fit,” he reiterates. “We are in the business of delivering joy and making people happy.”

One such upcoming innovation, Jun shares, is a younger brand called Kip & Kin. “This new product is our response to the critical changes in the market that we’ve identified during our branding exercise and business review,” he says. On top of Kip & Kin, guests can also look forward to redefined Discovery resorts and an improved Discovery Primea soon. “These changes make me proud, as this signals our capability to compete in the global hospitality industry. Big brands have mastered this strategy of delivering specific products to various market segments. Our capacity to do as such marks our maturity and competitiveness in the industry.”

Discovery’s growth and evolution moving forward is a markedly humble contribution to the eventual development of Philippine tourism. “Tourism is a major driver of our country’s market growth,” Jun notes. “It opens a variety of jobs, creates livelihood opportunities for many, and uplifts lifestyles. It’s all a domino effect: as people learn and improve their skills within this industry, the country gets to develop the Filipino workforce into a global one.”