From living under curfew in Afghanistan to battling floods Thailand, The General Manager of Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside Hotel has enjoyed a fascinating career. Here he reveals a few trade secrets…
| > I was inspired at a young age by a German TV programme featuring the popular Dutch chef Clemens Wilmenrod, whose culinary creations gave me the idea to train as a chef. After serving my apprenticeship in Germany I landed my first job in 1977 at the InterContinental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan. A very interesting start to my career, I lived under curfew for 12 months during the Russian invasion and occupation. > I have been privileged to work in a number of very special hotels with amazing employees and supportive owners. As a hotel GM, every day brings new highlights – whether it is a kind and generous compliment from a guest or an example of outstanding, dedicated service from a member of staff. > I joined the Siam InterContinental Hotel in 1982 and I had five very interesting and rewarding years at this iconic and much-loved property. I returned to Bangkok in 2010 after working in markets as diverse as Indonesia, Australia, Kenya, Hong Kong, Dubai and Malaysia. For me, Thailand will always be number one. |  |
> The hotel industry in Thailand, since I first came here in 1982, has changed beyond recognition. Back then, there was a very limited choice of four and five star hotels for local and international travellers. Today we see a tourism industry making a substantial contribution to Thailand’s GDP, employing hundreds of thousands of Thai people both directly and indirectly. We see record numbers of business and leisure travellers visiting these shores every year – possibly as many as 30 million in 2015. They need hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, conference rooms and – importantly – well-trained staff to meet their demands.
> Hotel construction in Bangkok continues at an amazing pace. There are fantastic job opportunities now for graduates emerging from the many national and international tourism and hospitality university degree courses. Our role, as General Managers, is to ensure that these graduates enjoy the best possible start to the careers. They are, after all, tomorrow’s tourism leaders.
> In the past five years we have faced a number of challenges, including the floods of 2011 that caused so much damage throughout the country. At our hotel we faced a round-the-clock battle to keep out the flood waters from the Chao Phraya River. The hotel’s engineering team worked miracles to keep the water pumps running and we remained open for guests throughout the crisis. It was a magnificent team effort that relied upon coordination and trust at every level of our management structure.
• What sets our hotel apart from the competition? Location, location, location. Our guests love the ever-changing landscape of the busy Chao Phraya. We sit adjacent to Bangkok’s historic artery – a river steeped in history and yet a practical means of seeing so many of the city’s popular tourist attractions. Access to both city airports is easy via the express way network. Guests connect with the BTS using our shuttle boats to and from Taksin station. We enjoy an exceptional riverside location just minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Bangkok
> We’re part of the Bangkok Riverside Marketing Partnership (BRMP), an exciting collaboration between eight popular, well-established hotels that enjoy prime positions on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. We are pooling our knowledge, expertise, experience and, importantly, our enthusiasm to promote our properties to both domestic and international leisure and business travellers.
> In Bangkok, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) business has suffered from a series of natural and man-made disasters in recent years. In 2014, hotels and conference venues have lost MICE business worth millions of baht. Whilst some tourists may simply delay their trips to Thailand in times of uncertainty, MICE planners will select destinations elsewhere in the region. That business is lost forever. The BRMP is designed to be a major driving force to attract MICE planners and delegates back to our very attractive and practical riverside locations.
> We have exciting plans in place to further enhance the reputation and brand of the Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside. The hotel’s new rooftop venue (17th floor) with herb garden will specialise in serving Thai cuisine that features our home-grown products. It will be partially covered with stunning views of the city and the river. Our Sunset Terrace, with some 285 metres of river frontage, will be a fantastic and highly flexible venue for business networking and social events.
> We are also enhancing our credentials as an environmentally-friendly hotel by embracing the policies adopted by the Wyndham Hotel Group (of which Ramada is an integral part). We’re working very hard to reduce our carbon footprint and we have adopted wide-ranging ‘green’ measures to reduce power consumption, improve water management and increase our effectiveness in waste management and recycling.
• What advice would I give to hoteliers about to work in Thailand for the first time? Firstly, it is vitally important to understand the Thai culture and the Thai people. Attitudes in this predominantly Buddhist society are very different from those found for example in Europe or North America. Be understanding about the importance of Buddhist principals and family values. Secondly, be patient. Some things just work at a different pace here. Thirdly, try to learn some of the Thai language. We accept that English is the international language for business and for tourism - but Thais appreciate it when we try to speak their language. More than likely they will reply in English – but it helps to build those vitally important bridges between local staff and foreign managers.
> Being a GM is a demanding role but also hugely satisfying. It is such a pleasure to read positive online reviews from our guests – and I always reply personally. Work/life balance is important and we must all find time to switch off and relax. I am fortunate in being able to rely upon my managerial team in my absence. Sundays for me are very special. I like to unwind and if I’m in Bangkok it’s always nice to find a new café or restaurant tucked away from the more popular areas of the city.
> Hotel construction in Bangkok continues at an amazing pace. There are fantastic job opportunities now for graduates emerging from the many national and international tourism and hospitality university degree courses. Our role, as General Managers, is to ensure that these graduates enjoy the best possible start to the careers. They are, after all, tomorrow’s tourism leaders.
> In the past five years we have faced a number of challenges, including the floods of 2011 that caused so much damage throughout the country. At our hotel we faced a round-the-clock battle to keep out the flood waters from the Chao Phraya River. The hotel’s engineering team worked miracles to keep the water pumps running and we remained open for guests throughout the crisis. It was a magnificent team effort that relied upon coordination and trust at every level of our management structure.
• What sets our hotel apart from the competition? Location, location, location. Our guests love the ever-changing landscape of the busy Chao Phraya. We sit adjacent to Bangkok’s historic artery – a river steeped in history and yet a practical means of seeing so many of the city’s popular tourist attractions. Access to both city airports is easy via the express way network. Guests connect with the BTS using our shuttle boats to and from Taksin station. We enjoy an exceptional riverside location just minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Bangkok
> We’re part of the Bangkok Riverside Marketing Partnership (BRMP), an exciting collaboration between eight popular, well-established hotels that enjoy prime positions on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. We are pooling our knowledge, expertise, experience and, importantly, our enthusiasm to promote our properties to both domestic and international leisure and business travellers.
> In Bangkok, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) business has suffered from a series of natural and man-made disasters in recent years. In 2014, hotels and conference venues have lost MICE business worth millions of baht. Whilst some tourists may simply delay their trips to Thailand in times of uncertainty, MICE planners will select destinations elsewhere in the region. That business is lost forever. The BRMP is designed to be a major driving force to attract MICE planners and delegates back to our very attractive and practical riverside locations.
> We have exciting plans in place to further enhance the reputation and brand of the Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside. The hotel’s new rooftop venue (17th floor) with herb garden will specialise in serving Thai cuisine that features our home-grown products. It will be partially covered with stunning views of the city and the river. Our Sunset Terrace, with some 285 metres of river frontage, will be a fantastic and highly flexible venue for business networking and social events.
> We are also enhancing our credentials as an environmentally-friendly hotel by embracing the policies adopted by the Wyndham Hotel Group (of which Ramada is an integral part). We’re working very hard to reduce our carbon footprint and we have adopted wide-ranging ‘green’ measures to reduce power consumption, improve water management and increase our effectiveness in waste management and recycling.
• What advice would I give to hoteliers about to work in Thailand for the first time? Firstly, it is vitally important to understand the Thai culture and the Thai people. Attitudes in this predominantly Buddhist society are very different from those found for example in Europe or North America. Be understanding about the importance of Buddhist principals and family values. Secondly, be patient. Some things just work at a different pace here. Thirdly, try to learn some of the Thai language. We accept that English is the international language for business and for tourism - but Thais appreciate it when we try to speak their language. More than likely they will reply in English – but it helps to build those vitally important bridges between local staff and foreign managers.
> Being a GM is a demanding role but also hugely satisfying. It is such a pleasure to read positive online reviews from our guests – and I always reply personally. Work/life balance is important and we must all find time to switch off and relax. I am fortunate in being able to rely upon my managerial team in my absence. Sundays for me are very special. I like to unwind and if I’m in Bangkok it’s always nice to find a new café or restaurant tucked away from the more popular areas of the city.
