CHAMPIONING A WORTHY CAUSE

The Astoria Group’s Jeffrey Ng talks about how he turned his

visionary idea into a multi-property empire

Awell-known name when it comes to luxury, comfort, and convenience, The Astoria Group has consistently provided exceptional service and world-class experiences to its discerning guests and customers.

Jeffrey Ng, the main man behind the company, tells us of its early beginnings, “In 2001, I decided to enter the hospitality industry using an innovative and risky business model. I wanted to turn a 35-storey building in Ortigas into the first mixed-use condominium hotel in the area. Hence, the first property of The Astoria Group, Astoria Plaza, was born.“

Through hard work and dedication, the team’s remarkable performance gained them the trust of their customers who kept coming back for their ever-reliable service. This eventually paved the way for expansion projects, pioneered by the construction of Astoria Boracay. Soon Astoria Bohol, Astoria Palawan, Astoria Current in Boracay, and Astoria Greenbelt in Makati followed, each offering a unique aesthetic and experience.

Together with Jeffrey’s wife, Vivian, who serves as

The Astoria Group’s COO, the couple was able to seal the presence of Astoria Hotels & Resorts (AHR) chain brand in the most strategic and premium locations in the country. The self-sustaining homegrown hotel chain is now a comfortable yet sophisticated refuge for guests, both local and international. Jeffrey shares, “I have done my best to hold the entire Astoria team to global hospitality standards and I expect everyone to provide only the warmest welcome that Filipinos are known worldwide for. Thus, as the properties attract guests from all over the globe, they bring wonderful stories of the beautiful Philippine islands to their foreign compatriots.”

Providing a much-appreciated symbiotic relationship in the locales they are situated, The Astoria Group offers opportunities for employment and executes philanthropic efforts during times of need. Enriching these communities, Jeffrey and Vivian founded the Astoria Culinary and Hospitality Institute (ACHI), which trains local hotel graduates on how to provide the best service concerning every aspect of the industry. “My team and I truly had the desire to aid underprivileged students who are striving for a better future, so we have made it a point to set aside a fund from The Astoria Group to grant multiple scholarships per year to deserving ACHI graduates,” Jeffrey says.

Jeffrey cites his parents, the late Ambassador John K.C. Ng and Cathay Land, Inc. Chairwoman Olivia Ng, for the values ingrained in him. Reminiscing about his childhood, he shares, “We were not affluent when I was growing up, and it was my parents who taught me the value of saving every penny and never taking any blessing for granted. As a young adult, my parents were the ones who showed me the ropes in terms of entrepreneurship and business management. The training that they put me through was very rigorous, and it molded me in such a

strong way that it inculcated an intense sense of selfdiscipline in me.”

With this in mind, Jeffrey wishes to instill the same kind of values his parents taught him to the future generations. He says, “In terms of core values that I believe we should pass onto the next generations, I will echo what my parents have always taught me in terms of upholding the important Confucian and Filipino values of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. In Filipino culture, the value of filial piety is also so important because both children and successful careers always take a village to raise.”

He adds, “We must thank our parents and forebears and take care of them well, because we would not be where we are today without their patience and teaching. Lastly, setting newer and larger goals to keep that hunger and fire-in-the-belly in terms of stoking ambition and drive is very crucial, too. I always tell my own kids that becoming successful is hard, but staying successful is harder—that is the ultimate challenge!”

As a very busy man whose drive and ambition have propelled The Astoria Group to new heights, Jeffrey still manages to hit the gym and spend quality time with his family. He also destresses by reading books, learning ageold lessons along the way.

Business-minded yet conscientious, Jeffrey remains steadfast in effort to secure economic future for the brand. The Astoria Group will continue its communitybuilding efforts in the years to come. “My goal is to set up The Astoria Group to become a purposeful business organization that remains a household name, even when I am no longer around. I definitely want the future generations that will manage the business to inculcate a strong sense of social responsibility and to carry on making a positive impact on the community.”

“My goal is to set up The Astoria Group to become a purposeful business organization that remains a household name, even when I am no longer around.”