Carrying on the Tradition
Manila Marriott Hotel General Manager is on a journey that embodies the spirit of the hotel founder himself
he legacy of J Willard Marriott, founder of Marriott hotels, is in good hands with Bruce Winton, as they seem to be cut from the same cloth. The cluster general manager of Manila Marriott Hotel, Courtyard Iloilo and Sheraton Manila, having started out as an intern in the kitchens of a Connecticut hotel, knows the hospitality business like the back of his hand. In a similar manner, the founder himself started out at the bottom, with a root beer stand in Washington, DC, before expanding to restaurants and establishing his name in the world of hospitality.
Winton eventually honed more skills not just in F&B but in strategic planning as well, following his first managerial post at the London Marriott. Now in the third continent of his journey so far, he first got a taste of Philippine culture at the Cebu City Marriott after a stint at the Marriott Seoul.
With a postgraduate degree in hospitality administration from New Hampshire and a certificate in executive leadership from Cornell, Winton believes that learning never ends. To him the classroom simply contextualises the learning gained from the kitchen to the boardroom. “We’re not in the hotel business, we’re in the people business,” he adds.
Relaxed yet alert to nuances as they arise, the general manager reveals the one word that encapsulates what is necessary to be successful in business and life: respect. “Respect crosses borders, cultures, and conflicts and is the hallmark of a successful international management career,” he says. “Showing respect for what has always been is the first step to opening people’s mind to change.”
When not working on the crafting of dining experiences, Winton is one to savour them himself, trawling the country and the region for excellent takes on familiar cuisine, recommending a local tapas bar and a Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong.
An avid golfer, he applies the same philosophy in work to his game. For him, a great game starts with the energy one brings to one’s partners.
Always a people person, Winton cites the memory of a cold winter at a hotel in California made warm by the way the staff added personal touches to his stay. It’s a warmth that he and his own staff continue to show to the guests who come their way.