RISE FROM THE RANKS: Sofitel Manila Presents New Director of Food & Beverage

April 2023 | Boasting its world-class hospitality standards and services in its flagship restaurant, Spiral, its 3 luxury dining destinations and highly acclaimed banquet services, from state and national events to social and corporate celebrations, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila proudly presents Mr. Eric Norbert as the hotel’s newest Director of Food and Beverage.

Coming up to lead one of the metro’s biggest food and beverage team, Mr. Norbert is a self-driven and self-determined individual with more than two decades of experience in restaurant and hospitality, that has an inspiring success story of building up one’s career from the bottom while aspiring to be a leader that he is today.

Early in his career, Mr. Norbert jumpstarted his passion in Food & Beverage in the exclusive five-star, Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, France while learning century-long hospitality practices and traditions of French luxury and elegance. He was able to progress his career when he worked for La Bernardin, a three-star Michelin restaurant in New York City. In 2006, He entered the hospitality-chain industry at the world-famous Glass Brasserie in Hilton Sydney, Australia as its Assistant Operations Manager.

In 2012, Mr. Norbert worked with Chef Cyrille Soenen, Maître Cusinier De France, at the well-known Brasserie CiÇou as its Restaurant Manager. Because of the exemplary skills he had shown, Brasserie CiÇou was awarded as the Best French Restaurant of the Year at the Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Awards 2012.

Mr. Norbert started his career at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in 2015 as a restaurant manager of the hotel’s lobby lounge and patisserie, Le Bar. It was not long that he was promoted to be the manager of Asia’s most interactive dining destination, Spiral. He presented his expertise in world-class dining and service that made Spiral one of the most multi-awarded international buffets in the metro. While Spiral remains to be the country’s top dining destination, He pursued his passion to provide excellence in service as he became the hotel’s Food and Beverage Manager in 2019.

3 years ago, as the world went on a hiatus, Mr. Norbert remained resilient and strived to revive the hotel’s food & beverage dining outlets through adapting the changes in the hospitality service and empowering his team not to be discouraged with the limitations during those times. His drive and eagerness for the rise of the industry and his rapport and care for his people, earned his promotion to be the Assistant Director of Food & Beverage in 2022.

Now reaching his career goal, Mr. Norbert aims to continue his legacy and principle of providing world-class experiences to guests and patrons. As the new Director of Food & Beverage, he aspires to create a modern approach on hospitality experience to connect with guests through food, beverage and service while still upholding French art de vivre and the heartfelt warmth of the Filipino spirit.