‘Build something you believe in’ — Hotel waiter, inspired by what Leonardo DiCaprio told him 20 years ago, becomes hotel CEO in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Twenty years ago, Abel Ariza was a 23-year-old bellboy in the Ritz-Carlton Barcelona, breathlessly pushing 47 suitcases down marble corridors for famous people and celebrities like Mariah Carey. Today, he’s the CEO of Everhaus Group, a hospitality brand headquartered in Singapore, and it all began with a single generous tip — and a single inspiring sentence — from Hollywood megastar Leonardo DiCaprio!

“Keep it. Build something you believe in,” DiCaprio told Ariza, handing him €300 (S$450) in casino chips. That wasn’t just a generous gesture. It was a turning point. “I came back with the cash. He pushed it back to me,” Ariza recalled in a recent viral LinkedIn post as he explained how his journey to success began. “Those words were worth more,” he added.

From bellboy to boardboss

Ariza’s career path didn’t involve Ivy League MBAs or cushy family connections. Instead, it was forged in the quiet discipline of early mornings, service lifts, and unexpected encounters with the world’s most influential people.

And that included Mariah Carey — whose legendary luggage workout earned Ariza a cheeky €50 tip and a laugh he still remembers. “That’s just for the workout,” she told him with a wink.

He also served Nelson Mandela, who asked for coffee precisely at 6:15 a.m., not a minute earlier or later. When Ariza asked why so precise, Mandela replied: “Discipline in small things creates space for big things.”

And there was Bill Clinton, who arrived at 2 a.m. after a delayed flight, yet still shook hands with every hotel staffer. “Never too tired for the people who take care of you,” Clinton said.

However, it was DiCaprio’s words that stuck the most for Ariza.

A new chapter in Singapore

Today, Ariza helms Everhaus Group, which operates across Asia, with Singapore as its base. The company is known for rethinking luxury hospitality with a people-first approach, something Ariza says was shaped by his bellboy years.

“Luxury isn’t about thread counts or marble floors,” he wrote. “It’s about seeing people. Really seeing them. Whether they have 47 suitcases or just one backpack.”

That ethos resonates with many Singaporeans. In a city where service staff often go unseen, Ariza’s message feels refreshingly human. His story is a quiet nudge to the many who clock in, serve silently, and wonder if anyone notices. Turns out, sometimes they do — and sometimes, they tip you with more than money.

Purpose-driven leadership

According to The Economic Times, Ariza now leads with values of empathy, presence, and cross-cultural collaboration. His philosophy is purpose over polish. People over protocols.

The LinkedIn post has drawn praise from around the world, with comments like: “True leadership begins in small acts,” and “Every encounter is a lesson — if you pay attention.”

Even here in Singapore, where the corporate grind can feel impersonal, Ariza’s journey is a reminder that success doesn’t always come from grand strategies. Sometimes, it starts with carrying a suitcase, brewing a coffee at 6:15 a.m., or simply being present enough to learn from a Hollywood guest who could’ve easily walked past without a word.

Now, overlooking the Singapore skyline — his sixth home after Spain, Canada, France, the UK, and Denmark — Ariza reflects: “I think about that bellboy pushing trolleys at dawn. He’s building something he believes in.”

And clearly, he’s just getting started.

Read related: ‘I now run seven 7-Eleven stores in Singapore’ — 30 y/o man shares how he started his first 7-E store with just $20K of his own savings