Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa’s new general manager shares a few trade secrets
 | Growing up in one of Germany’s most beautiful cities, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, my (and my mum’s) initial desire was to become an architect or engineer, and city planning was high on the list. However, during work experience at a fabulous, rather small, privately owned hotel called Alpenhotel Waxenstein, I discovered the ins and outs of the hospitality industry first hand. And I loved it. The owner of the hotel, whom I’m still in touch with today, was firm but fair, and my three years apprenticeship to become a cook was hard with long hours and very little money, but three things made me succeed: 1) The ability to deliver happiness to guests (and the buzz I felt from their immediate feedback). 2) The worldwide recognition of the trade, and the knowledge that if I worked hard I’d get to explore the world. 3) The fact that girls love a man who can cook…A fact that kept me going even during the most difficult days! |
After 10 years travelling the world as a chef I decided to take my travelling to a whole new level by working onboard cruise liners. The greatest challenge of this was the loss of connection with friends and family back at home – the sense of home dwindles when you’re at sea – but the company I worked for was very supportive, allowing me to return home to study at one of the most recognized universities in the US, while also exposing me to numerous fields in their operations, this time away from F&B.
The road to being a GM requires much determination. You have to be truly passionate about this industry, ready to make the hotel/resort part of your “family” and be very self-motivated. Key to success is the ability to balance; engage in activities that allow letting go, and find your own place to “let go” and recharge.
Prior to joining the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa I was the general manager of the Hilton Qingdao Golden beach, a newly built hotel which was a wonderful experience. Now I am very fortunate to come and manage this resort, which this year celebrates 22 years of successful operations, and, which, like Thailand, is simply stunning.
I am a very “hands on” manager and take an entrepreneurial approach in everything I do. The MINOR Hotel Group, which owns the resort, allows its managers to think “out of the box” and take action when needed. It is our desire to be recognized as a luxury resort within Bangkok that reflects on the rich cultural history of the country, and as we are diversifying more and more it is imperative that I share my experiences and knowledge, engage the team in the development of strategies, and maintain a very solid core of employees who are committed to the success of the property.
We have just recently completed an enhancement project to upgrade our guest rooms, meeting rooms and our two main restaurants, The Market, which is our breakfast room, and Riverside Terrace, our nightly buffet restaurant. Sharing these new, absolutely stunning products with our valued guests, enabling the team to deliver nothing but excellence – what else can I ask for?
Outside of the hospitality industry I have three passions: My family, the outdoors and entertaining friends. My two boys, Maxmilian, 8, and Bastian, 5, keep my wife and I busy and we try to explore, be adventurous and try everything at least once. Golf and various summer/winter sports are my passions. I still love to cook, share a bottle of wine with a friend, and enjoy each and every day – we are truly blessed.
The best advice I’ve ever received? I would like to quote Vince Lombardi, who said: “The difference between a successful person and others is not the lack of strength, or the lack of knowledge, but rather the lack of will.”
Read the full interview with Nikolaus on thebigchilli.com
The road to being a GM requires much determination. You have to be truly passionate about this industry, ready to make the hotel/resort part of your “family” and be very self-motivated. Key to success is the ability to balance; engage in activities that allow letting go, and find your own place to “let go” and recharge.
Prior to joining the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa I was the general manager of the Hilton Qingdao Golden beach, a newly built hotel which was a wonderful experience. Now I am very fortunate to come and manage this resort, which this year celebrates 22 years of successful operations, and, which, like Thailand, is simply stunning.
I am a very “hands on” manager and take an entrepreneurial approach in everything I do. The MINOR Hotel Group, which owns the resort, allows its managers to think “out of the box” and take action when needed. It is our desire to be recognized as a luxury resort within Bangkok that reflects on the rich cultural history of the country, and as we are diversifying more and more it is imperative that I share my experiences and knowledge, engage the team in the development of strategies, and maintain a very solid core of employees who are committed to the success of the property.
We have just recently completed an enhancement project to upgrade our guest rooms, meeting rooms and our two main restaurants, The Market, which is our breakfast room, and Riverside Terrace, our nightly buffet restaurant. Sharing these new, absolutely stunning products with our valued guests, enabling the team to deliver nothing but excellence – what else can I ask for?
Outside of the hospitality industry I have three passions: My family, the outdoors and entertaining friends. My two boys, Maxmilian, 8, and Bastian, 5, keep my wife and I busy and we try to explore, be adventurous and try everything at least once. Golf and various summer/winter sports are my passions. I still love to cook, share a bottle of wine with a friend, and enjoy each and every day – we are truly blessed.
The best advice I’ve ever received? I would like to quote Vince Lombardi, who said: “The difference between a successful person and others is not the lack of strength, or the lack of knowledge, but rather the lack of will.”
Read the full interview with Nikolaus on thebigchilli.com
