Hotel Director Earns BS-HLM Degree While Managing a Luxury Hospitality Group
Hotel Director Earns BS-HLM Degree While Managing a Luxury Hospitality Group
16 June 2025
Genesis Vargas is one of the professionals who completed a college degree through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. During the Commencement Exercises held on June 14, 2025, he received his diploma for the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Luxury Management (BS-HLM), which he completed while serving as the Operations Director at a luxury hospitality group and working as a consultant in the same industry.
Before joining the program, Vargas had already spent 17 years in hotels and resorts, starting as a banquet bartender at the Mandarin Oriental. He later became Director of Food and Beverage at Crimson Hotel Manila. He worked in five-star properties locally and abroad. Despite this long career, the absence of a college diploma often limited his options. “I owed it to no one but myself to pursue this,” Vargas said.
Benilde ETEEAP gave him the chance to complete his education based on what he had already learned in the workplace. His wife first introduced him to the program after seeing an article online. What caught his attention was the flexibility it offered and how it recognized his years of experience. After reading about other graduates, he decided to enroll.
Going through the program wasn’t always easy. Vargas followed a strict calendar to balance work, studies, and personal life. He received support from his classmates and especially appreciated the help from his program coordinator. “The group studies with Jeff and Joanne helped a lot,” he said. “So did Sir Melbourne’s warm support.”
The BS-HLM program allowed him to improve his skills while learning new concepts. He valued the Benildean Expressions, which emphasize being God-centered, creative and innovative, inclusive, socially responsible, and acting with integrity. “These values remind us how to lead and serve,” Vargas shared.
His professors also made an impression. He praised the professionalism of the faculty and the structured approach of the validation process. “I enjoyed sharpening my skills and meeting new people. The experience was both challenging and exciting.”
Now that he holds a formal degree, Vargas hopes to pursue more certifications in his field. He believes the diploma will open new doors in his career. “I see things going upward and onward,” he said. “The sky is the limit.”
He also encourages other professionals to consider ETEEAP. “Just do it. Commit to it fully. It will be worth it,” he said.
Vargas is the first to complete the BS-HLM program through ETEEAP. Formerly known as BS-HRIM, the course prepares students to manage hotels, restaurants, and luxury businesses with skills in accounting, human resources, customer service, and international hospitality standards. The program also teaches students how to handle pressure, communicate across cultures, and uphold industry ethics.
The growing number of professionals completing their degrees through ETEEAP at Benilde reflects how graduate success stories are encouraging others to return to school. In June 2025, thirteen individuals earned their diplomas through the program, the highest number since 2004. Earlier this year, aviation executive Sahl Andrew Onglatco graduated in March with a BS-HRIM degree while managing multiple businesses. His story was recently chosen by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as an official ETEEAP success story, recognizing the program’s role in helping working professionals formalize their skills and reach new heights.
For more information on Benilde’s ETEEAP and other undergraduate programs, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
