Press Release
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. “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.”
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. Cruz “ 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.”
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.”
Consistency is Key
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.
Cover photo : CCA Connect Bootcamp speakers (3rd from left) Chef Thirdy Dolatre and Chef John Kevin Navoa of Hapag and Ayà; Ryan Cruz of Nippon Hasha Group; Erin Recto, service director of Hapag and Ayà; RL Garcia, HR Head and Executive at Brittany Hotels; with Ana Beatrice Trinidad, CCA Manila communications director (extreme left), Chamen Manalo, CCA Manila Business Development Manager and (extreme right) Jordan Tan, program director of ASHA.
For inquiries, follow CCA Manila on FB and IG @ccamanila and @ccaconnectph.
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