Being the best at what you do is the personal goal of José Ochoa, National President of the Hotel Federation of Ecuador. Today two of the most recognized Ecuadorian companies are his, one in the horeca sector and another in the artisanal ice cream market.
by María Cecilia Hernández Ocampo
At 23 years old and when he was still studying electrical engineering at the university, José Ochoa had the courage to put his face before the manager of a renowned Ecuadorian bank to ask for a loan of one million dollars.
Under his conditions, many would have been able to mock his utopia, others would have rejected his request immediately, and so many more would not have even heard him. But that day, who today wears the position of National President of the Hotel Federation of Ecuador, put in his pockets a goal achieved, the beginning of a dream.
"Seeing that being so young and still without a profession on top I was able to achieve a goal that seemed so distant, I learned never to take myself away in the face of any challenge, no matter how big it is," says our Professional of the Month.
Halfway through the race, José unexpectedly stumbled upon the opportunity to buy a hotel. His parents already had experience in the hospitality business and, knowing the dynamics and benefits of the segment, he did not hesitate to acquire the property.
Achieving that first big challenge in his life motivated him to have ambitious goals and fortified him to achieve them.
"I left my career to devote myself fully to the hotel, I had the responsibility and motivation to pay a large debt and I wanted to do it well: I have always wanted to be the best in any job I perform," he says.
He began studies in Commercial Engineering and business administration, with the aim of preparing to successfully carry out his new venture, that financial commitment was reason enough to transfer all his goals and objectives to the services segment.
For Ochoa, this economic activity is one of the ones that can help people the most and that is why he likes it and enjoys it.
"Opening a hotel also opens up possibilities to employ in a more or less massive way: graduates, students, logistics, etc. The hotel industry is an engine of help for many socioeconomic sectors, it is part of an impressive gear of companies, people and related industries and, with this, it is possible to change the reality of people, their families, a city, a country, "explains the professional.
Growth full of challenges
After a while and settled the accounts with his dream of having a hotel, he wanted to venture into the horeca segment, the real challenge was to be the best in his country. With the name of Equindeca was born his company, one of the most outstanding and recognized in Ecuador, supplier of equipment for hotels and restaurants of the most important organizations in that country.
Everything in his life is about strategies to "be the best," as he puts it. Even, his favorite pastime is the one considered as "the sport science".
All my life I have been fond of chess. I play it and enjoy it because it allows me to have a long-term vision. You have to be one step ahead of your actions, you have to imagine what is going to happen after moving a token. I like challenges, I don't think there is a bigger impediment for people than the fear of taking risks," says José.
Currently our guest occupies a privileged position in the trade union area as National President of the Hotel Federation of Ecuador. From this experience he says he feels satisfied for having achieved that his native province, Cuenca, had a decision-making position in the association, since generally this position is occupied by representatives of the main cities such as Quito or Guayaquil.
"In most cases people who come from other cities tend to look after the interests of their city by neglecting the other regions a little, so I have always wanted to have the power to make fair decisions that benefit areas with fewer possibilities and give them the opportunity to have greater market share," explains the engineer.
Positive view of the industry
José Ochoa is an authority when it comes to talking about tourism in Ecuador, a territory where high-end hotels have an occupancy of 66% and a stable hotel growth of approximately 5.5% in hotel beds.
According to the businessman, in addition to being a dollarized country, the hotel sector of Ecuador is going through a very good time: "For the first time the Government has dedicated more than US $ 40 million to the tourism sector and thanks to this we have been able to completely change the way of participation in the fairs, the tourism promotion fund, the annual operating plan and strategy has become more interesting and intense."
In addition, continues the director, "the fact of being such a small country and having so many geographical advantages and so much variety (Amazon, Galapagos, mountains, etc.), in half an hour one can visit very diverse places"
Approximately 4000 hotel establishments operate in the country, almost 80% of them, corresponding to second and third category segments. "There are not many large firms that are in Ecuador and that could be a disadvantage. The country is experiencing a somewhat complicated socio-economic and political situation and this has not allowed it to develop more in terms of foreign investment as we would like," says Ochoa.
For the president of the Federation, associating is a vital issue in the market in which he practices. As he explains, companies that are associated with each other and that are linked to an international chain and franchise association today are doing very well. The same is not true of those that lagged behind as sole proprietorships.
José Ochoa emphasizes that "we must recognize the reservation facilities that the plants have worldwide, which have greater potential for hotels that are channeled by name and prestige. Being associated gives greater development, better operation, greater number of reserves and greater profits and profits".
Family and goals
"The person who really motivated me to change myself was my godfather Manuel Chiriboga. I lived with my godparents until I was 12 and they were like angels in my life. He taught me that there are no impossible goals and made me understand that challenges are no greater than your chances of meeting them. It's just about making decisions at the right time."
José Ochoa García was born in Cuenca (Ecuador), on September 2, 1962. He is married and has three children, a 21-year-old woman, and two men aged 19 and 8.
He is currently the president of the Hotel Federation of Ecuador and owns two large Ecuadorian companies belonging to different economic areas: Equindeca, supplier of equipment for the horeca industry and a company producing artisanal ice cream with more than 70 franchises throughout the country of the Nice Cream and Tutto Freddo brands.
"I want to be the benchmark on these two issues in the country. My goal is to always be the best and I want to achieve it in these two industries that I am passionate about," says José Ochoa.
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