Jose Garcia Torrazza
Director of Beverage & Food at W Bali – Seminyak
: What are your responsibilities?
A: I oversee the daily and strategic operations of the W Bali - Seminyak food and beverage division.
: What makes a typical day?
A: My day begins with a breezy motorbike ride to work while listening to energising chill-out house music. Upon arriving at the hotel, I immediately head over to Starfish Bloo and Fire to supervise and make sure everything runs smoothly during breakfast. As the day progresses, I first catch up with the executive chef, and then I go to the morning briefing with the senior hotel team. Following that, I go back to patrolling the breakfast area and interacting with guests while seamlessly handling paperwork and follow-up emails!
Before supervising the lunch service and ensuring that everyone is having a blast, I meet with my food and beverage team at noon to go over the day's plans. Depending on the day, I may have meetings with suppliers, the marketing communications team, or the revenue director, which keeps me on my toes! And as the sun goes down, I make sure Woobar is ready for the best possible sunset experience.
At night, I make another round through the dining outlets to ensure that the dinner service is running smoothly. Additionally, I also check the cocktails and bottle service during this time at each bar. Finally, I leave for home around 9.30pm or 10pm, depending on the circumstances of the day and any ongoing events. But, as you are all aware, leaving early is never the case in a W hotel – there is always something exciting going on!
: Your best attributes?
A: I consider myself a creative extrovert with a risk-taking approach to food and beverage. I believe in pushing the boundaries and exploring new possibilities. At the same time, family and my staff are everything to me, and I consider myself a loyal friend.
: Team player or team leader?
A: I consider myself to be a bit of both a team leader and a team player. I firmly believe in providing as much support as I can to all departments in order to see the big picture and achieve results. And I am happy to step in and assist my team during a busy shift if they need me to polish glasses. However, in terms of accountability, I think that being a team leader entails coaching, mentoring and directing your group towards development and success. It is all about working together to reach our objectives, but I prefer to take a clear route to make sure everything is delivered properly!
: Who has been the most influential figure in your career to date?
A: Ugur Lee Kanbur, a general manager from my time at W Suzhou, is the one who has had the biggest influence on my career. He has been my mentor and coach for many years and has become more than just a mentor – he is like a big brother to me, even a second fatherly figure. He has opened my eyes to new perspectives on my work and taught me a great deal about leadership and hospitality.
: Name one really special thing about your hotel in terms of its culinary offerings.
A: There are plenty, but the renowned Sunday brunch at Starfish Bloo is my favourite. In addition, Woobar's sunset sessions are a great place to enjoy a nice drink and some shisha at your table while socialising with attractive people. Lastly, the dry-aged steaks at Fire are simply irresistible!
: How do you unwind?
A: My two go-to activities for maintaining my sanity after work. First, I love taking long rides on my Harley bike while listening to my favourite tunes. It is such a wonderful way for me to unwind and have freedom. And secondly, I love scuba diving. It is soothing and enthralling to witness the beauty that exists beneath the surface of the ocean, which is like a whole other universe.
: Dead or alive, who would you like to take out to dinner?
A: Eating dinner with the biblical King Solomon would be an amazing experience. He was a truly inspirational man. God gave him wisdom, making him the world's smartest man. He built kingdoms and was successful and influential, but he also drifted away from his relationship with God. As his life was coming to an end, he realised that everything was meaningless and that obeying God's commands was the most crucial thing. I would love to know, in his own words, what set him apart from God and what he would have done differently to make sure that he and God remained in a close relationship. The life of King Solomon serves as a reminder to us of the value of upholding our faith and leading godly lives.