CCA Manila, the country’s top culinary school, successfully concluded its first-ever CCA Connect Bootcamp, a one-day intensive program designed to equip hospitality professionals with practical tools in leadership, service design, and operational excellence. The event also celebrated the 29th year of the culinary school.
Held at Brittany Hotel in BGC, the bootcamp brought together restaurant owners, chefs, managers, and emerging leaders for a day of high-impact learning anchored in real-world industry challenges.
The program is part of “CCA CONNECT,” the school’s new initiative aimed at encouraging community relations and knowledge-sharing among hospitality stakeholders. While CCA Manila has spent nearly three decades developing culinary talent, the Bootcamp marks a broader commitment to help elevate the country’s hospitality standards through education, collaboration, and systems-driven thinking.
“This Bootcamp was born from conversations with restaurant owners and hospitality professionals who repeatedly told us the same thing: they needed people, they needed training, and they needed support,” said Ana Beatrice Trinidad, Communications Director of CCA Manila. “CCA Connect Bootcamp brings everyone together not just to learn from our speakers, but from each other. It’s our way of breaking the culture of gatekeeping and raising the bar of Filipino hospitality as a community.”
New Format for Industry Learning
Unlike traditional conferences, the Bootcamp was intentionally designed to be hands-on and applicable. Participants interacted with one another, challenged ideas, and worked on personalized action plans they could immediately bring back to their workplaces.
“This is not a day of Cinderella stories,” Trinidad emphasized. “We want attendees to walk away with tools, frameworks, and—after today—actual feedback from our team instead of a generic thank-you email.”
The program reflected CCA’s evolving role in the industry: from culinary school to collaboration hub. “We started as a school. But the industry needs more from CCA now,” Trinidad added. “CCA Connect is our way of supporting hospitality professionals through community, leadership training, and access to expertise.”
Deep-dive Conversation with Ryan Cruz
One of the highlights of the Bootcamp was a wide-ranging conversation with Ryan Cruz, President and CEO of the Nippon Hasha Group, the company behind well-loved concepts such as Mendokoro Ramenba, Ramen Yushoken, etc. Known as a leading thinker in experiential dining, Cruz shared deep insights on leadership, consistency, and the realities of the Philippine F&B landscape.
“Every business has struggles. You eventually choose the set of problems you’re willing to live with,” he said. “For me, I remind myself that my purpose is service.”
Cruz also stressed the importance of “guest obsession,” describing it as the backbone of longevity. “If you’re not obsessed, you’ll quit before you get things right,” he said. “We read the one-star reviews more than the five-stars. The five stars tell you what you already know—the one-stars show you where the opportunities are.”
His discussion on leadership drew nods from participants. One of his most echoed statements was: “Standards aren’t what you say—they’re what you allow.”
A Commitment to Culture Over Stars
The visionary team behind the acclaimed restaurants Hapag and Ayà—Chef Thirdy Dolatre, Chef John Kevin Navoa (aka Chef Nav), and Service Director Erin Recto—also shared insights into their success following Hapag’s achievement of its first Michelin star and Recto’s win of the Michelin Service Award. The trio emphasized that their achievements are “rooted in a distinctive, culture-first approach that prioritizes team well-being, accountability, and a deeply personal style of Filipino hospitality.”
“(We built) not just a restaurant that chases stars, but one where people actually want to work, where they eat together and look out for each other.” The trio stressed that a positive culture is non-negotiable for delivering exceptional service. Recto articulated the front-of-house philosophy: to be the “best picture frame to a chef’s work of art,” ensuring every detail of the dining experience is harmonious.
The team’s approach to service moves beyond traditional models by incorporating deep personalization. They encourage staff to be themselves, allowing their individual personalities and candid communication styles to shine, which builds genuine confidence. The restaurant even employs “responsible stalking”—researching guests’ preferences and needs upon reservation to anticipate requirements, such as placing setups for a left-handed person. This dedication, coupled with ensuring the staff possesses deep product knowledge—always being the first to taste new dishes—enables them to share the stories behind Filipino cuisine with authority and a personal touch.
Consistency is Key
A recurring theme emerged: hospitality isn’t just food, ambiance, or accolades. It is the invisible labor—systems, training, humility, and service—that enable consistency.
According to Trinidad, this mindset is at the very heart of CCA Connect. “Great dining experiences are created long before the guest sits down,” she said. “We want to give professionals both the inspiration and the operational tools to build sustainable, intentional hospitality.”
The success of the Bootcamp signals CCA Manila’s strategic shift toward deeper industry involvement. While the school remains the pioneer in culinary education, it is now extending its expertise to support restaurant operators, hospitality teams, and future leaders.
“This is just the beginning,” said Trinidad. “Today proves that the industry wants community, not competition. They want systems, not guesswork. They want conversations that move us forward.”
CCA Manila plans to hold more CCA Connect programs in 2026, with additional bootcamps, workshops, industry meetups, and knowledge-sharing sessions. As the first CCA Connect Bootcamp concluded, one thing was clear: CCA Manila is bridging the gaps in the hospitality industry—connecting leaders, connecting ideas, and connecting the future of Filipino dining.
CCA Manila Connect Bootcamp is supported by event partners Wine Club Worldwide Philippines Inc., Breville, McCormick Culinary, Pomodoro Pizza, and Brittany Hotel BGC.
