As a child he wanted to be president of the Republic of Mexico, in his youth he studied Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, and today he is a successful hotelier. Learn about the story of Armando de la Cruz Uribe.
by María Cecilia Hernández Ocampo
From his position as president of the Mexican Association of Hotels and Motels, Armando de la Cruz Uribe, talks about how his life has been pleasantly influenced by his family, of those numerous as those seen in other times.
"The family business was designed to be run and presided over by the women of the family. That is why I did not hesitate to study something different that did not go in the same direction of my family's plans, I studied Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics at the University of Bajío, located in the city of León, "says the executive.
Without suspecting that he would take another professional path and despite his closeness to the hotel world, Uribe worked with his parents while finishing his higher studies, even exercising his career, although for a short time.
"In November 1972 my family opened their own business called Motel Flamingo, a three-star ranch located in the city of Irapuato, my hometown. At that time we opened with 40 rooms, a cafeteria, parking, tobacco shop, gift shop and pool," he recalls.
Someone had to work in the hotel, and while his sisters were old enough to take care of it, the older ones in the family had to. He is the third of ten children, reason enough for him to set an example and, incidentally, occupy his free time in productive matters.
Their first involvement in the family business was at the age of 12, as a bellhop; he later became a telephonist and receptionist. He worked in these tasks from 1972 to 1984 for part time, under the command of his parents; at the same time he was pursuing his career. In this last year he obtained his university degree.
The road that brought him back
But fate, or his sisters, had already decided their own lives and even, unknowingly, his. Within the plans of the women in the family was not the idea of running the hotel.
"When they finished their studies, my sisters married and dedicated themselves to their families. Due to my experience in the business, my parents asked me to take over, but it was a provisional plan, while one of my younger brothers studied hospitality and managed the company," says Armando Uribe.
During that time, explains the professional, he took charge of the operational, purchasing, remodeling and improvement areas. "I took some courses and dimplomas in personnel management, quality control, resource management, among others, all in order to manage my parents' company well."
From year to year, from waiting to waiting, the provisional plan became the definitive life of our guest. He went into this captivating universe until he took over as manager of the company and finally as general director.
He became passionate about this world in such a way that what was a hotel, is now the Flamingo Group. He has grown the business and is happy about it: They went from 40 to 65 rooms, the restaurant was built, as well as three rooms for events with capacity for 100 people each; carried out the construction and commissioning of the Flamingo Kristal hotel, with a three-star category and 40 rooms. They consolidated the Hotel Group with the management of four more hotels in the city of Irapuato, and two in the city of Salamanca, in the category of two and three stars, with approximately 200 rooms.
"What I liked most about this industry, and that in fact is the reason why I made the decision to stay permanently in the tourist environment, is my passion for service and public relations," says the interviewee.
High hopes in your country
His passion for travel, cinema, walking, law and politics sometimes has to be paused, because in his professional life he has held positions that require all his attention and care; He has been president of several public bodies such as the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism, the Board of Trustees of the Zoological Park, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the State of Guanajuato, the local Association of Hotels and Motels and, now, the national one.
"The hotel industry and tourism in Mexico are a diamond in the rough, with high expectations of growth and development. Unfortunately, its evolution has been very slow in relation to the potential it currently has. One of its main weaknesses is empiricism and improvisation, as well as the lack of professionalism that exists in the sector and the lack of government support, such as a specific development bank for its modernization, "says the professional.
However, he continues, "I consider that one of its greatest strengths is that Mexico has an unrepeatable characteristic in the world: the warmth of its people and the enormous potential in natural, historical, cultural and gastronomic resources," he emphasizes.
Precisely this series of shortcomings and strengths have penetrated deep into the mind of Armando Uribe and have led him to consider personal and professional goals and challenges that are more focused on the well-being and development of his country than on himself, not in vain when he was a child he dreamed of being the president of the Republic of Mexico.
"I want to play a dignified and responsible role at the head of the body that I currently chair, and also in case of being in the direction of any other organization. As I have done since I have been at the head of the family business, where I have a fixed challenge in mind and that is to consolidate a group that provides quality services at a price that fits the context of business tourism in my region, "he says.
For our guest Mexico is a rich country and maintains in its nation, and specifically in its market, immense hopes of development, evolution and growth; therefore, he takes the floor to remind the current government of his country of the promises he has made in terms of tourism.
"The future of hospitality in Mexico is promising as long as the official discourse that tourism is a national priority moves from words to deeds, actually promoting it with projects that are aimed at modernization, training and promotion of the sector. For example, in the specific area of training, an aggressive program is required, mainly for SMEs and my hotel SMEs, where the unique warmth of the Mexican is combined with the quality of the professional service that, well trained, can provide, "says Uribe.
Armando de la Cruz Uribe was born on May 3, 1960 in the city of Irapuato, where he currently lives with his family: his wife and two children, the first has just graduated from the High Hospitality career and the second, studies the same profession. "They're not in the hotel industry by chance," Uribe says.
