New York City. The city that never sleeps. The city of dreams. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. That’s what they say!
The city’s population grew by 2.3 percent within the last six years. Many people move there with the belief that they will have the best chance of career success.
Then, there is the tourism sector. According to last year’s statement from the Mayor’s office, 60.3 million people visited the Big Apple. If we break that down, that statistic translates to 165,205 tourists daily. Last year, New York was the world’s fifth most visited city by international travelers. While Airbnb has absorbed a large share of the tourism market, traditional hospitality enterprises still gather a share of the daily influx.
Maybe you saw New York City as a tourist. Maybe you lived there in the past. Perhaps, you may have even worked in the hospitality industry.
Since I have never worked in that industry, I have wondered what it is like to meet thousands of tourists from multiple countries every year. As an introvert, I do not think I could handle it. Perhaps, it is possible though.
This year, I had the pleasure of meeting William Landicho in person. He discovered me from a podcast interview. He worked in the hospitality industry for a while under several mainstream brands, including The Holiday Inn, Doubletree, and Sheraton.
After an evening in the Big Apple, his passion reinforced why more tourists flock to the Big Apple every year.
Below is a snippet of that conversation.
Kallen: Let’s start with your childhood as many people attribute their success to it. Perhaps, discuss a paramount moment in your childhood that has developed you to become a good man today.
William: I really owe it to my parents. They ensured that I had a good balance of academic, sports, and extracurricular activities. I attended Catholic school throughout my life. During that times, I was also a Boy Scout. It gives me a great opportunity to give back to the community and obtain many skills.
I do not think there was a paramount moment, but I believe private school, competitive sports, and extracurricular activities shaped me into the good man that I am today.
Kallen: You are 28 years old. You must have a passion by now. Have you discovered your passion? If so, what is it and how did you discover it?
William: My passion is hospitality in all aspects of my life. I love being hospitable to everyone. There is nothing more rewarding than making a lasting impression on people. I have created a culture of hospitality that has advanced my career.
In 2007, I started as a bellman at The Holiday Inn. Three years later, I became the overnight manager of the Hilton Doubletree in Chelsea. Since then, I have served in management for several other hotels, including the Courtyard Marriott and Starwood Sheraton.
Kallen: I am sure that thousands of tourists appreciate your service. Where are you now in your career?
William: I am now the property general manager of Urby, an apartment rental startup infusing hospitality with living. At Urby, our focus is providing our tenants with on-site amenities to encourage a sense of community with the other residents.
I plan to build upon our hospitable environment by hosting different events, including comedy shows and culinary classes. My hope is to continue this trend of hospitality infused living and help my company become the trailblazers in this space. There are many upscale properties in the NYC metropolitan area with luxury amenities, but there are none like us yet.
Kallen: Lastly, who or what inspires you on a regular basis?
William: My parents! I hope one day that I will be able to provide for them. My parents grew up in totally different circumstances as they were raised in a third-world country—The Philippines. They moved to America to give us a better chance for success. In those last 35 years, they have worked tirelessly to ensure that my sister and I could live a better life. It is that single reason that I am determined to be successful.
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Passion varies. For Will, it is hospitality. When tourists return from vacation, brands like Airbnb, Urby, and the Sheraton often have the privilege to be included in that experience. Hopefully, it will be a positive one. Although, William Landicho seems to set the standard quite high in the Big Apple.