One of my favorite business books is In Search of Excellence, written by Tom Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr.

The book is an outgrowth of research conducted at McKinsey & Company, a top management consulting firm. The book became a highly successful best-seller. It depicts the quintessence of business enterprise and features 62 companies in all areas of business, which have continually demonstrated outstanding qualities that separate them from all others. The excellent corporations were identified through a 25-year review of company profiles, successful business results, and interviews.

Eight characteristics were identified as common traits among the superior companies. These included: 1) a drive for action, decision-making, and getting the job done; 2) an emphasis on serving the customer and providing quality and reliability; 3) providing an atmosphere to foster creative thinking and product innovation; 4) respecting and treating every employee as an important contributor; 5) maintaining the basic philosophy of the company; 6) operating businesses with which management is familiar; 7) keeping top-level staffs very simple; and 8) decentralizing and centralizing certain functions.

The overriding characteristics were a strong commitment to human resources and a propensity to spur innovation and new product development. This was coupled with a demonstrated long-term approach to business endeavors and a commitment from the top that permeated throughout the company to provide quality products and services. The book has been used in graduate and undergraduate courses and in management seminars all over the world. It sparked numerous follow-up articles in business periodicals and a one-hour program aired on the US Public Broadcasting Service. Clearly written and well-researched, the book is a significant study of what makes excellent businesses and productivity. Alphaland, a Philippine real estate company, is, in my study and opinion, an example of a company that follows the characteristics of an excellent business that has continually demonstrated outstanding qualities that separate it from all others.

The latest result of its creative innovation and new product development is The Alpha Suites, which are luxury serviced residences in Makati. The suites are definitely unbeatable in value, amenities, location, convenience, space and comfort, and perks. The Alpha Suites is located on prestigious Ayala Avenue in Makati’s Central Business District and a stone’s throw away from top corporate offices, Makati Medical Center, restaurants, shopping, and schools.

The Alpha Suites has 250 suites ranging from one bedroom to three bedrooms and offers perfect accommodation for everything from short visits to extended stays, and more amenities than most hotels in the same area and price range. Each suite has full sized kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances, electric window shades and TV lifts, a wine chiller and bedroom minibar in the two bedroom Deluxe and three bedroom suites, a dishwasher in every kitchen, a washer and dryer in every suite, Philippe Starck-designed Duravit bathroom fixtures, complimentary high-speed internet, and a pocket Wi-Fi. The residences are spacious and well-designed, with ample closet and storage space. It’s like staying in a home, away from home, and better than a typical and smaller hotel room. In addition, there are nine-world class restaurants serving Filipino, French, Spanish, Thai, Greek, Italian, Chinese and Japanese food, a steakhouse, and a TWG tea salon, which are all just an elevator ride away at the adjoining City Club, plus even more dining options in the same building. You’ll have no problem finding something to suit your fancy. Guests are given a special discount at the Aegle Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art integrative health and wellness center with unique programs, and special discount at the country’s most exciting new nightspot and lounge—the Top of the Alpha by Louie Y. What a deal!

There’s also personalized airport pickup and drop-off service, and a high-end grocery and other services (pharmacy, banks, gourmet market, coffee shops, laundry and dry cleaners) in the same building. It is the only building in Makati with 1,000 parking spaces.

Guests of The Alpha Suites may also book a stay in the exclusive members-only Balesin Island Club and the Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges, and enjoy special charter rates for Alphaland Aviation aircraft (helicopters, Cessna Grand Caravans, etc.).

The bottom line is that excellent companies like Alphaland, which have a drive for action, decision-making, and getting the job done, an emphasis on serving the customer and providing quality and reliability, and provide an atmosphere to foster creative thinking and product innovation, will clearly be ahead of the pack and provide us with superior products and services that benefit our lives and the nation.