Awarded during Chef Marcos Vargas’ tenure as Executive Chef. 

  #1 Restaurant in Lajas
Tripadvisor

2026
Travelers’ Choice
Tripadvisor

VIEW BRÚJULA ON TRIPADVISOR

4.8 / 5
Traveler Rating
144 Reviews

+38.71%
Gross Sales Growth

+49.10%
Gratuity Growth

Since joining Parguera Plaza Hotel as Executive Chef in December 2025, Chef Marcos Vargas has led a focused culinary and operational transformation across the property’s food and beverage program, including Brújula Restaurant & Bar, the Pool Menu, Kelly’s Coffee & Wine Bar, beverage development, breakfast operations, and additional hotel dining concepts.

His leadership combines culinary direction with menu engineering, pricing strategy, operational systems, team development, cost awareness, service alignment, and guest experience management.

During his first six months, Chef Vargas helped restructure the culinary operation from the ground up—developing the kitchen team, establishing operational standards, strengthening execution discipline, implementing training systems, and creating opportunities for internal team development.

Measurable Business Impact

+38.71% Gross Sales
+38.07% Net Sales
+38.91% Total Amount Collected
+49.10% Gratuity Performance

Compared with the same historical season from the previous year:

+20.78% Gross Sales
+42.05% Gratuities

These results reflect a broader strategy connecting culinary quality, menu development, operational discipline, beverage execution, service standards, and the overall hotel guest experience.

From Operational Transformation to #1 in Lajas

As part of this strategy, Chef Vargas developed a structured approach to guest satisfaction and reputation management, aligning culinary execution, service, beverage quality, team accountability, and guest engagement.

Brújula Restaurant & Bar is now ranked #1 of 27 restaurants in Lajas on Tripadvisor, with a 4.8/5 traveler rating and 144 reviews.

Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2026

In 2026, Brújula was awarded the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, recognizing businesses that consistently receive outstanding traveler feedback and rank among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor.

The achievement represents the combined work of the culinary, service, beverage, management, and hotel teams—and reflects the measurable impact of disciplined hospitality operations.

Leadership Beyond the Kitchen

Chef Vargas’ leadership model emphasizes accountability, internal talent development, operational consistency, financial performance, culinary identity, and sustainable systems.

His role at Parguera Plaza Hotel demonstrates an executive approach that extends beyond food preparation: building teams, developing concepts, protecting standards, improving profitability, strengthening guest perception, and positioning food and beverage as a strategic driver of the overall hospitality experience.