With the latest information that Vana Belle, a Luxurious Assortment Resort, Koh Samui was introduced because the winner of 4 classes — Finest Service, Thailand; Finest Luxurious, Thailand; Finest Romance, Thailand and Finest Resort, Thailand — on the 2020 Vacationers’ Alternative Better of the Finest award by TripAdvisor, making it a member of the 1%, top-rated inns on the planet, I spoke to GM, Dieter Ruckenbauer, to search out out extra in regards to the property and the key to its success.
TD: Inform me a little bit bit about your self, in your individual phrases: what was your background earlier than you got here to Vana Belle? How does that show you how to in your function?
DR: Already throughout my childhood I found the fervour I’ve for hospitality. I really like to check my job with the obligation of an actor on stage. Creating unforgettable moments which are remembered. For sure, this constructed the cornerstone for my profession. My very first volunteer job was wiping and clearing tables at a standard Oktoberfest. Age fifteen my first actual job was within the commissary kitchen peeling potatoes, cleansing greens and making salads.
There may be nothing for me extra pleasing than being round individuals, studying about cultures and customs, creating new connections and appreciating the super teamwork vital with the intention to assemble or run a hospitality operation. My day by day aim is to create reminiscences and construct unforgettable journeys not just for friends but additionally for associates and house owners.
TD: What drew you to work in Thailand and the way does it differ from different areas you’ve labored in?
DR: Thus far I’ve had the pleasure to work on 5 continents and every metropolis and nation may be very completely different and distinctive by itself. It’s all in regards to the pleasure of travelling, exploring, studying about individuals and amassing these completely different impressions. Within the yr 2000, after I labored within the Center East I travelled first to Thailand on trip. Immediately I fell in love with the tradition, the individuals, the road meals and warm-hearted hospitality.
Two years later I returned and labored a number of months on the JW Marriott Phuket. This was the start in actually studying about Thai customs, habits and tradition. In 2007, I got here again to guide the culinary division on the JW Marriott in Bangkok and I continued my studying journey.
The well-known Thai smile, the heat and the great hospitality that you just take pleasure in in Thailand may be very completely different compared to some other Asian nation I’ve labored in.
What definitely has drawn my consideration to work in Thailand is the superb variety in meals, the creativity, artwork, the entrepreneurial method, the lifestyle and most significantly the individuals.
TD: You guys are a little bit of a hidden gem, what are the important thing options and ideas of the resort that make you so standard for those-in-the-know?
DR: There are a number of key pillars. These embrace the accessible of the resort – our simple to achieve location, the standard architectural design which was built-in in concord with the traditional tropical forest of Samui; the one among a sort Chaweng Noi seashore with its crystal clear water and pristine white seashore, thought of to be one of many most interesting seashores in South East Asia; and most significantly our Vana Belle relations – our associates – who’re right here to interact and join with every particular person visitor with the intention to create a memorable keep.
TD: What’s your individual private favorite a part of the resort and why?
DR: From a “{hardware}” perspective definitely it’s Chaweng Noi seashore, along with the wealthy historical tropical forest. I used to be lucky that my dad and mom cherished to journey and we spent many holidays on the Mediterranean after I was a baby. Simply sand and water, good to swim and play. It’s troublesome to search out this expertise in Asia as many seashores are influenced by low or excessive tide, stones, corals, very sturdy currents, and so forth. Chaweng Noi definitely lives as much as these childhood reminiscences.
From a “software program” perspective my actual favorite is the Vana Belle household spirit – the standard and pure hospitality that’s supplied and well-known everywhere in the world. The Thai service with a smile that comes from the guts.
TD: What are your visitor’s favorite elements of the resort and why do you assume that’s?
DR: Nicely, we even have a high ten, which we put collectively in no specific order:
- Good location because the resort is definitely accessible through the ring highway and near Chaweng, the Fisherman’s Village, the airport, and island sights.
- The integral design and mixture of structure and nature. That is good concord that creates the right ambiance to calm down, recharge and rejuvenate.
- Our Chaweng Noi beachfront. We’ve got a 180-metre lengthy straight seashore with crystal clear water and white powdery sand. Good for swimming, enjoying and enjoyable.
- Our Vana Belle relations: our associates who’re devoted to reflecting the true conventional Thai service, from the guts, with the intention to create a memorable keep.
- The Vana Belle prosecco breakfast
- The scale of the resort, and being simple to navigate on foot offers independency whereas our buggy service is out there at any time.
- Privateness and being a hidden luxurious gem on the island. Vana Belle being the one resort of its form on the planet gives friends with plenty of alternatives to inform distinctive tales upon their return.
- Our Vana Belle butler service along with our le Clefs d’Or licensed associates.
- The Vana Belle Himaphan story
- The distinctive setup of the resort, offering a variety of lodging alternative that may be tailor-made to friends’ wants. With three key classes: Financial system, Premium/Enterprise and First Class.
TD: What sort of actions do you’ve for friends on-site?
DR: The resort gives a variety of actions that shall please the physique, thoughts and soul. From dawn yoga, meditation, respiration workout routines or Mua Thai, to cultural actions reminiscent of Thai dance or studying extra in regards to the legendary story of Himaphan and the spirit home, to cooking and cocktail making courses utilizing native seasonal produce, simply to say a number of.
TD: Do you’ve any current partnerships with any native sights or tour firms that friends can take part in?
DR: Sure, we definitely do work intently with our local people with the intention to ship distinctive and indigenous experiences. Our associates are consultants of Samui and encourage our friends to discover past the crushed path with the intention to join with the local people, its customs and tradition.
TD: What provisions have you ever made for social distancing and guaranteeing the friends really feel protected, safe and assured when staying at Vana Belle?
DR: Security and safety have always been a excessive precedence. Vana Belle being a part of Marriott Worldwide follows Marriott Worldwide’s Dedication to Clear program plus all further native authorities requirements.
These protocols at the moment are a part of our each day operation routines to make sure we ship hygiene security together with high-quality visitor experiences and worth for memorable stays. From a social distancing perspective, the resort has all the time targeted on privateness to ensure that our friends to calm down, recharge, rejuvenate and romance.
TD: What, if any, affect has this had on the extent of service or the visitor expertise?
DR: The brand new further procedures had no affect on the extent of service, as what makes Vana Belle additional particular are our Vana Belle associates who’re right here to interact with our friends in a protected and safe method with the intention to create distinctive, memorable journeys.
