CONNECTION ALUMNI NEWS - César Ritz Colleges

PEoPLE ‘N’ STUFF | SUCCESS STORIES
Javier muÑoz-Calero
Javier Muñoz-Calero graduated in
1999 from the César Ritz Hotel Management
Programme in Le Bouveret
before following his passion for
cooking with the Cordon Bleu School
in Paris and the Royal Thai School of
Culinary Arts in Chonburi, Thailand.
Javier has worked in different countries
around the world and recently
opened his own restaurant with a
very special concept.
t.a.r.t.a.n. is the place to meet and be
seen (ver y ser visto) in Madrid. It is also
the place to enjoy Javier’s amazing culi-
nary creations. Javier realized the dream
of having his own successful restaurant
right in the heart of Madrid, so successful
that it is always fully booked and he has
to refuse many customers every night.
Since the opening in February 2010, the
national and international press has regularly
contacted Javier for interviews. During
these, he never forgets to mention
that his success has been based on his
studies with César Ritz Colleges. “Again
and again, César Ritz is in my mind and
in my heart,” Javier told us, and “I am
so grateful to all of you and lots of love
an ameriCan dream –
antoine raJeh
Like most of the students enrolling
in a hotel management school,
Antoine Rajeh (Lebanon), wanted to
become the general manager (GM)
of a luxury hotel and not only a GM,
but also one in the USA. Antoine’s
César Ritz Colleges diploma was
the first step towards achieving this
ambitious goal.
After graduation in 2001, he set out on his
‘American Dream’. While working as concierge
at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel,
Antoine discovered that his true passion,
and something in which he excelled, was
in making a guest feel special. This he did
so well while at the famous Setai Hotel in
Miami and, later, at the W Hotel.
While becoming more experienced as a
10 | Connection alumni news | February 2011 | No. 47
concierge, Antoine also started to realize
his entrepreneurial skills and it wasn’t long
before he started to follow that potential.
Today, together with his partner Kristine,
Toni owns and manages the company
Luxury Rentals Miami Beach, a company
renting out hotel condominiums and private
villas.
Asked what César Ritz Colleges brought
into his life, Antoine says that he learnt
the importance of “details, service, etiquette
and tradition”. “Most important
of all”, said Antoine, “was learning about
real professionalism and patience”. For
Antoine, the time spent at César Ritz
was definitely the key to bringing him to
America and starting his business. “I truly
thank César Ritz Colleges for the opportunities
that I received.”
”Again and again,
César Ritz is in my mind
and in my heart, and
I am so grateful to all
of you and lots of love
from all the family.”
from all the family.”
On a personal note, on 6 January 2010,
Javier’s other big wish came true. He had
wanted a son and received two when
wife Marta gave birth to twins: Javier
and Jacobo.
Javier Muñoz-Calero
Spanish, Hotel Management
Diploma, 1999
Owner
t.a.r.t.a.n. restaurant, Madrid, Spain
javiermcc78@yahoo.es
www.unrestaurantellamadotartan.es
Antoine Rajeh
Lebanese, Hotel Management
Diploma 2001
Owner
Luxury Rentals Miami Beach
Miami Beach, FL, USA
tony@luxuryrentalsmiamibeach.com
www.luxuryrentalsmiamibeach.com