Director of Food & Beverage at The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort, Nusa Dua, Bali
E: What are your responsibilities?
D: I lead the food and beverage operations with the main responsibility of focusing on our F&B reputation through personalized service, consistency and delivering amazing dining experiences. Of course, I cannot do this alone, I have great support from our Marriott company value of putting people first, which means ensuring our associates are happy, feel appreciated and are inspired. This way, they can assist me in creating unforgettable experiences in our hotel and ultimately generating repeat business.
E: What makes a typical day?
D: There isn’t really a typical day in F&B as every day is different. It is very exciting as we are in contact with a lot of guests, associates and cultures. I would describe a typical good day as one when you receive feedback from guests in person or on one of our social media channels mentioning that they love the resort, love the people, love the food and love Bali!
E: Your best attribute?
D: Work hard and play even harder! I like to be connected with the team and work with them. This is the only way to really understand and see how I can support them to create the best work-life balance. It is important to celebrate success and if things go wrong to be fair.
E: Team player or team leader?
D: In my role as Director of Food & Beverage it is a bit of both as you need to be part of the team to really create a positive team spirit, while sometimes you need to show the way to move the team forward.
E: Who has been the most influential figure in your career to date?
D: Catherine Raksco, she was my first general manager in China. During that time, she was the first female general manager for the company in China and I was just a trainee. Through hard work and good results, she became my mentor, guide and friend and we are still in touch 12 years later.
E: Name one really special thing about your hotel or restaurant?
D: The Laguna has a lot of special features and what I definitely love about this resort and the brand is that it stands for Indigenous, Rare, Captivating. Everything at the resort reflects the local Balinese culture and we create unique Epicurean Moments. For example, every day we showcase our Destination Cocktail, The Bali Thai, followed by a Balinese Fire Dance Ritual at Cascade Bar. On Wednesday and Sunday after the fire dance ritual, we invite our guests to join a Balinese Blessing Ceremony in our resort’s Temple Garden, followed by a local Indonesian and Balinese dinner buffet. This is truly a unique experience and a must do for our guests.
E: How do you unwind?
D: Travel the world. Explore new restaurants and enjoy good food & drinks. Play golf!
E: Dead or alive, who would you like to take out to dinner?
D: I definitely have to say my wife! After spending most of my time at the Laguna, a Luxury Collection, Nusa Dua, Bali, I always look forward to a night out with my special one!
The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali
Kawasan Pariwisata Nusa Dua
Bali 80363, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361771327
thelagunabali.com
Exquisite Taste June – August 2019
