4 minute read
INTERVIEW: Melia Koh Samui
|W| www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/koh-samui |E| reservation.kohsamui@melia.com
Ernesto Osuna
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General Manager
What is your current biggest challenge competing on a global scale in a highly competitive industry?
The biggest challenge for any resort trying to compete on a global scale at the moment is the global pandemic. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui has an excellent reputation as an international destination, due to its stunning beaches and aquamarine waters, an abundance of attractions, excellent cuisine, friendly people, and international airport. However, since international travel ground to a halt with the onset of the pandemic, and Thailand closed its borders, our resort has been dependent on domestic tourism.
As this era of COVID-19 is so different, and so challenging, we cannot operate like how we used to in the past, that was always based on steady growth. We can only think completely outside of the box amid this “new normal” and try new things. We have to reinvent our knowledge and be innovative in whole new ways. approach to our guests and employees in terms of genuinely caring about them, and what we do to help our community amid these difficult times. Melia Koh Samui is the first property launched in Thailand by Melia Hotels International, Spain’s leading hotel company, and we draw upon our warm and sunny Spanish hospitality to deliver an unsurpassed guest experience.
There are kid’s clubs and then there’s our kid’s club that’s in a whole new league. Also housed in a repurposed teak wood merchant vessel, our twolevel kid’s club “Kidsdom” is packed with colourful installations, cool activities and toys, and much more. Our kid’s club is adjacent to our mini-water park with a shallow pool, slide, mushroom fountain and giant tipping bucket.
Our rooms and suites that belong to “The Level” - an upgraded level of service with an array of bespoke privileges - provide exclusive access to our executive lounge, The Level Lounge.
Meanwhile, it has been crucial to stay positive during
What differentiates the hotel from others in your opinion?
Our array of outstanding facilities and services differentiate Meliá Koh Samui from the competition. However, what also differentiates our hotel is our this pandemic and taking care of our team and our associates has been a big priority. We were very fortunate that the owning company of our resort, Asset World Corporation, retained our resort’s staff and ensured our salaries during the pandemic. Not
only does this admirable move in such difficult times ensure livelihoods; this investment in our team and associates is very far-sighted in that it really set our resort on a positive trajectory for the long-term.
It is imperative we do everything we can to keep our guests, staff and community safe and healthy.
Our resort has also been granted the Thai government’s new ‘Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA)’ certificate, in recognition of our strict health, safety and hygiene measures.
How do you remain competitive within your region in terms of the hotel’s offerings?
At Meliá Koh Samui, we’re always introducing new guest experiences so there’s always something new to experience when you visit us. Our resort pays tribute to Spain’s famed gastronomy, with an excellent tapas menu, delectable paella, cured Spanish meats and much more as well as Spanish cocktails and wine.
Along with our Sunday brunch, our award-winning chef Azizskandar Awang has created degustation, vegan, vegetarian, and afternoon tea menus celebrating contemporary Thai, Western and Mediterranean fare.
We offer Muay Thai classes, held at our lush garden lawn in front of our Pool Bar that merges into our 700m-long lagoon pool. It’s a spectacular spot to learn this discipline, known as “the art of eight limbs” because it makes use of punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes, thus using eight “points of contact” as opposed to two points (fists) in boxing and four points (hands and feet) in other combat sports. These classes are run by Khun Dowden, a professional Thai boxer industry for over 20 years’ experience who has been teaching Thai boxing classes for more than a decade.
Among our wellness offerings, we provide basic yoga classes for adults, as well as water sports such as kayaking. We have developed a schedule of exciting activities at our kid’s club, ranging from batik painting and coconut leaf craftwork to a basic Thai class and kid’s yoga.
How do you expect the association with Haute Grandeur will benefit your brand in the medium/ long run?
It is a privilege to be associated with Haute Grandeur. The association signals to our guests and the hotel industry that our resort Meliá Koh Samui, our YHI Spa and our Breeza Beach Restaurant & Bar Breeza have obtained the highest of achievements.
Our team was thrilled to receive six Haute Grandeur awards in 2020 including ‘Best Beach Resort in Asia’ and ‘Best New Hotel Spa on a Global Level’ and we would be honoured to do really well again this year.
Which market segment do you cater for?
With our host of family-friendly facilities and services (as outlined previously in this interview), including our Family Suites, our remarkable lagoon pool, our kid’s club Kidsdom and adjacent mini-waterpark and more, we definitely cater to families. Our resort also entices couples with our Premium Pool Access Rooms and elegant Boat Suites and array of indulgent experiences such as our floating breakfast, tapas with bubbles, and spa treatments such as a Thai massage for two on the beach and a massage class for couples dubbed the “Ultimate Hands On”.
Thanks to our award-winning chef Aziz and his delectable menus, our resort has also quickly gained a great reputation with foodies. We also appeal to spa-goers and people focused on health and wellbeing, due to our range of spa treatments, wellness pursuits and healthy cuisine.
