Where are you from originally?
Austria.

What made you decide to come and live here?
I’ve always been interested in Asian people and culture so when I got job offered from Dusit, I took the opportunity and left my job in Jamaica to move here in 2007.

How did you get into the hotel industry?
I have spent almost 30 years in the hospitality industry. After graduating from a hotel college in Austria, I worked my way up and became an Executive Chef. During those times, I also worked on an 80-foot yacht and sailed around the world for a year and a half. After coming back from the long trip, I went to Cornell University in the States before starting as Food & Beverages Director at Hyatt Regency, Maui, Hawaii.

Then I became General Manager at El Dorado Park Hotel in Vienna, Austria. Three years later, I moved back to California to become vice president of the famous Highlands Inn in Carmel. During this time I was also responsible for two other hotels under the same umbrella. After that I moved to Bermuda as Vice President and General Manager at The Princess Hotel where I stayed for 10 years.

Throughout my career, I not only met World famous celebrities such as Clint Eastwood, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, but also President Nixon, President George Bush, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia, King Fahd and the current Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I was also nominated twice as General Manager of the Year for the Carabic area.

Please tell us about your job. How do you go about running a huge five star hotel?
It’s very interesting and at the same time, challenging. You’ve got to have great discipline and a strong work ethic and enjoy what you’re doing. I’ve learned that if you approach the Thai staff in the right way they’ll do their very best for you.

Because of the current economic crisis, the focus on cashflow has become even more important. This is the time for hotels to use their revenue management skills and technology to offer flexible rates, without being seen to be giving away discounts.

During this time, it’s a essential to know how to deal with your employees. When times are hard it’s crucially important to motivate and train them and provide them with job security so they’re able to focus on delivering the quality of service which our guests deserve.

What’s the secret?
You’ve got to be straightforward in every thing you do. The leader has to motivate, but this can only be achieved if he’s a team player who sets clear objectives, and supports as well as directs. It’s obviously important to be able to supply the level of service that discriminating customers want and then deliver a bit more on top. As you can see, I’ve been in the hotel business for many years all over the world and the main thing I’ve learnt is that luxurious premises, comprehensive facilities and superb cuisine are all important, but what makes or breaks any hotel is the performance of the staff. A hotel is a living, breathing organism. However, it’s also a business. The boss must be achievement-oriented and focused on the bottom line.

There’s obviously got to be a lot of pressure and stress in all this. How do you cope?
As I say, you’ve got to enjoy what you’re doing, but for me the secret to survival is to be able to relax with my family and play sport whenever I get the chance.

Whereabouts do you live in Phuket?
The Laguna Town Home development. It’s very secure. The Laguna area is a really great place to live. It’s close to the beach and has some first-class retaurants. It’s very quiet, clean and of course, it’s close to where I work.

What kind of car do you drive?
I run a Toyota Fortuner.

What do you like most about living in Phuket?
I like the people, the fusion of cultures, the ocean and the golf courses. A great place to live.

How old are you?
60 years old.

How about your family?
I’m married with two grown-up children. My wife is living with me here.

How do you spend time together?
We enjoy boating, sailing, golfing, skiing and travelling. I love to enjoy good food and good wine.

Do you like Thai food?
Yes, I do. Tom Yam Goong is my favourite dish. The person who has the most influenced you?
Heinz E. W. Simonitsch is my idol. He is a self-made man who started as a waiter and became one of the owners of the famous Half Moon Hotel in Jamaica as well as the Grand Hotel in Lienz. Heinz was all about the accomplishment, a strong leader, a team player who took satisfaction in seeing the people around him excel. He was very much involved with the guests. Entertain them and make sure they and their family would return for generations to come.

Are you involved in any associations?
Yes, I am a member of Rotary, Skål, La Chaine des Rotisseurs and Thai-Austrian Society.

For more information contact:
Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket
Within Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Cherngtalay
www.dusit.com/dtlp