According to Hansruedi Frutiger, General Manager of Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach, business is getting tougher and owners more involved in hotels’ operations which makes running a hotel challenging. He finds it fortunate this isn’t the case at his hotel.
Where are you from and when did you move to Phuket?
I was born and raised in Basel, Switzerland. Due to the country’s safe environment children in Switzerland are raised to be highly independent so it is a great place to grow up in. I moved to Phuket in 2007 upon accepting this job. Although I have moved around a lot I am a loyal employee who has always devoted long periods of time to the companies I worked for.
What did you do before you came to Phuket?
During my career I spent a significant time in Manila, Penang, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Egypt (I was seven years in Sharm el-Sheikh) and now Phuket. Manila, where I went in 1978 to work at Mandarin Oriental, was an eye-opener when it came to Asian life and culture..
Had you been here before?
Yes, I had visited Phuket once when I lived in Bangkok and the island was very different back then. Even when I came back in 2007 for a week prior to taking this job, I stayed in Patong which looked a lot different than it does nowadays. I was originally approached by Mövenpick some 10 years ago but I disliked the locations I was offered until they wanted me to come to Phuket.
What do you like most about living in Phuket?
I really enjoy its fresh and clean air. I live on the property so obviously there is no traffic to deal with when I am here. Also, compared to Bangkok and other cities, Phuket isn’t so corporate and the leisure market allows for a laid-back lifestyle. Although the weather can be hot and humid, it’s nice not to need lots of clothes.
Unlike organized Switzerland, here even the business hours are more relaxed and everything works all week long. For instance, here I can go to a dentist on the weekend and back home I couldn’t. This kind of culture makes everything more accessible.
And what is the most frustrating thing about living here?
I really dislike the water and power shortages that occur because of construction projects and we only get informed few hours beforehand. Due to constant expansion I don’t see the problem ceasing. And of course there’s the traffic.
Also, cleaning up the beaches was a good thing but now our guests merely go for morning and evening dips as sitting on the beach is impossible. It was great to lose the hundreds of mismatched chairs and umbrellas but a real solution is still needed.
How do you evaluate success?
I think the education I got played a big role in my own success.
I left home very early. My family is very academic so originally my career choice wasn’t well received. It was the 70s and they were afraid I was going to be a waiter or a pastry maker for the rest of my life. But they began to relate to my career as I started moving up.
I feel like a part of my success is seeing a lot more of the world than my relatives who haven’t travelled nearly as much. I definitely live in a happier and healthier way here than I ever would have back in Switzerland.
What do you do with your free time, if you have any?
My job is very taxing so I find it crucial to unwind from time to time. I love travelling and I go on leisure trips about twice a year. I prefer arranging everything on my own although it isn’t always easy so
I collect advice in advance, hire local guides and go off the beaten track. Later this year I will be visiting Sri Lanka with a group of friends and I am really looking forward to it.
What do you think the future holds for you?
Eventually I will go back to KL where I have an apartment. I enjoy Malaysia’s capital. It’s smaller than Bangkok but still a city. Unlike in Phuket, there I have friends outside of the industry. I like it there, in truth I am more of a city than a resort person.
How come you love cities so much?
Instant access to things and being anonymous are first things that come to mind. I also enjoy culture, concerts and the theatre. In my home we all played instruments: violins, cellos, I played bit of piano and flute. For this reason I like Malaysia, there is a concert hall near my KL apartment. The music of Beethoven, Mozart and Bach brings me into different worlds.
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Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach
Tel: +66 76 396139
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