Dusit International
executives greet each other as they arrive for the 2012 ‘Managing
Challenges’ conference. (Left to right) Jens Schuster, Regional Director of
Technical Services (Middle East); Jiri Kobos, VP-Operations; Peter Komposch,
General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket; David Shackleton, Chief
Operating Officer; Chatchawal Supachayanont; Giovanni Angelini, Vice
Chairman; Tan Eng Leong, VP-Human Resources Development; Harris Yang,
Director of Development-Greater China; Wacharee Pornchaiwisuthikul, Director
of Sales and Marketing of Dusit Thani Pattaya; and Aloysius Michael,
Corporate Director of Rooms.
When GM Chatchawal Supachayanont was informed that this
year’s Dusit International conference was going to be held at Dusit Thani
Pattaya from 20-23 May, he wasted no time in conveying the message to the
hotel staff and management: “This is one event that will give us the
opportunity to show to our colleagues our sincerest hospitality and to share
with everyone our most innovative ideas in terms of welcome gestures as well
as set up arrangements for the different locations of individually-created
dining and coffee break themes. Let’s make sure everyone will have an
enjoyable time at the conference.” And so, the preparations began. A
countdown was done that added more excitement to the huge and challenging
tasks assigned to all hotel departments.
These objectives all came to fruition as it was one
success after another. The delegates were provided with pre-registration
arrangements in Bangkok so they would not have to go through the process
when they reached the hotel. This was very much welcomed by the guests as it
gave them more time to relax and freshen up before the reception cocktails
later that Sunday evening.
The venue was at The Point where everyone enjoyed a
perfect night of dining al fresco after being entertained by a couple of
dance performances, including the magnificent Bollywood rendition of the
hotel’s own dance team, The Honeybees. It was probably the best way for
everybody to gear up for the two-day conference as commented by Aloysius
Michael, Corporate Director of Rooms who co-emceed the cocktail reception
with Vanjie Lauzon, the hotel’s Senior Manager of PR and Marketing
Communications.
Vice Chairman Giovanni
Angelini motivates the Dusit team during one of the high powered seminars.
For the event’s dining themes, Executive Chef Adrian W.
O’Herlihy proved that he was up to the task by coming up with the concept
for all lunch and coffee breaks. Plus, of course, the much-talked about
‘Titanic’ dinner theme in which he showcased his ability to be on top of the
most cutting-edge culinary arena.
His first coffee break was called ‘Planet Green’. He
explains: “To practice the principles of the concept of Planet Green, you
don’t have to be a vegetarian, vegan or whatever - fact of the matter is, it
is basically healthy eating and healthy living in general. This is the point
we were trying to get across when we did this particular coffee break at the
Dusit International Conference 2012. Whatever we put out in terms of food
was made up of healthy options, such as natural juices, all freshly squeezed
live in front of the guests as well as a smoothie station where we blended
fresh smoothie concoctions with fresh local fruit.
“Lunch on the first day of the meeting was called ‘Aloha,
a rendezvous of tropical flavours from the Hawaiian Islands’. Here, we
featured the vibrant and versatile cooking of Hawaii as a result of the
crossroads bringing together immigrants from Asia, Polynesia, Europe and
mainland America along with their cultures and eclectic culinary traditions
that are quickly gaining world-class recognition.”
CEO Chanin Donavanik (left)
and VC Giovanni Angelini (right) congratulate Prateek Kumar, GM of the Dusit
Thani Manila, on receiving the Hotel of the Year award.
“And for the afternoon coffee break, ‘Reflections of
Siam’, the delegates were enthralled to try regional delicacies that most of
them have not tasted before while experiencing some local nuances in each
region’s dessert and lifestyle.
“By day two of the conference, the participants were
about to experience yet another unique coffee break concept called ‘Silk
Road’ in which food from Sri Lanka, China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and the
Arabian Peninsula were featured. Staff was attired in a variety of costumes
indigenous to each region.
“The luncheon buffet highlighted Eurasian cuisine, a
fusion of European and Asian cooking, presenting a complexity of flavours
which everyone tremendously appreciated.
“Afternoon coffee break epitomized the American
revolution; namely rock and roll and American food. The atmosphere was
bolstered by retro American slogans and advertisements and a casual ambience
of serving staff donned in T-shirts, denim skirts, sneakers and baseball
caps.
GM Chatchawal Supachayanont
applauds Executive Chef Adrian W. O’Herlihy for his marvelous culinary
creations.
“And last but not least, I had been thinking of doing a
centenary Titanic dinner for ages, so using the theme for the occasion was a
prime opportunity for me. The menus on the ship were essentially French and
thus very classical Escoffier type cuisine with heavy sauces. I wanted to
lighten up the whole dining concept and execute it with modern presentation.
I wrote my own menu for the occasion. The night of the gala dinner was the
perfect setting, held in one of the sections of the Napalai ballroom which
was decorated in the style of the Verandah Caf้ on the Titanic with a string
quartet playing throughout the dinner that provided a nice touch and gave
the evening an atmosphere reminiscent of what it might have been like on the
Titanic. We really ‘hit the nail on the head’ because the atmosphere was
really great and it took care of the night for us. We set the mood with a
string quartet, we poured the champagne, and it was a night to remember,”
muses Chef Adrian.
During the closing gala dinner, two hotels were
recognized for their achievements - Dusit Thani Manila was awarded Hotel of
The Year 2011 and Dusit Thani Dubai took home the Sales and Marketing Team
of the Year. The finale brought an overwhelming surprise to everybody as
more than a hundred of the hotel’s staff came out to offer flowers to every
participant after dancing to the tune of ‘We Go Together’ with The
Honeybees. A standing ovation followed to express true appreciation for all
the simple yet wonderful gestures afforded to them by the hotel staff and
management.
David Shackleton, the COO of
Dusit International, personally thanks the staff of Dusit Thani Pattaya for
outstanding services rendered.
For his part, Supachayanont has every right and reason to
be truly proud and grateful for what his team has contributed to the success
of the whole event. David Shackleton, the COO of Dusit International even
remarked that he would not envy the hotel that would hold the next
conference as Dusit Thani Pattaya had set the benchmark so high that
everyone who was part of it could not stop talking about it.
Led by the company CEO, Chanin Donavanik, the
participants came from the Dusit International resorts and hotels and many
of them flew in from places like UAE, Egypt, the Philippines, Maldives and
regional sales offices in Asia, the UK and Germany to attend the annual
event aimed at sharing experiences and ideas on strategies and
implementation while learning key initiatives that are set to roll out.
Beaming with joy while expressing appreciation to all,
Supachayanont noted that the entire Dusit Thani Pattaya team worked real
hard to ensure that everything went well.
True to his word in his welcome message created as a
replica of Pattaya Mail newspaper’s front page, Supachayanont
provided a memorable experience for all the conference participants and
evidently his efforts, as well as those of his team, all paid off
beautifully with such huge enormous success. Truly, it was something for
everyone to remember!
Kean Boon, the hotel’s
Resident Manager, shows off the fine art of making ‘teh tarik’ (pulled tea)
at his very own ‘kopi tiam’.
Bollywood, Honeybees and wine
thrill the guests at the welcoming party.
It was truly a Night to
Remember aboard the RMS Dusit Thani Pattaya.
The seminars were strenuous at
times but were also fun to attend.
