The monthly meeting of the general managers, known as the GM Gang, was held in the La Ferme restaurant last Thursday. Twenty-two of the leading lights of the hospitality business in Pattaya attended.
Gang leader Chatchawal Supachayanont, the Dusit Pattaya Resort’s GM was smiling benignly as he greeted every one of his fellow GM’s. When asked directly as to whether the GM Gang was really an unholy alliance, as they were actually all competing against each other, he replied that during the Gang meetings at least, they were all friends and did not ask each other about occupancy rates.
Stephane Bringer GM Woodlands Resort welcomes Harald Feurstein GM Hilton Pattaya.
It was a ‘welcome home’ for Sophon Vongchatchainont, the GM of the Pullman Pattaya Hotel G, who has been working as a GM in China for some years. When asked how did the Chinese staff compare to Thai staff in their hospitality abilities, he replied that the Chinese were good, after being trained to Thai standards!
The GM of the Sheraton, Michael Delargy, spoke on the increasing importance of Pattaya in world tourism, and how the demographics are changing, with the new group tourism coming from China and India, and how the Russian (and Eastern European) market was maturing, with many of the repeat travelers now also taking in Bali and Vietnam.
Stephane greets Chatchawal Supachayanont GM Dusit Thani Pattaya and chief of the ‘GM Gang’.
Other core members of the Gang included Rene Pisters (Thai Garden Resort), Philippe Delaloye (Cape Dara Resort), Somkhit Tonsaiphet (Zign Hotel), Harald Feurstein (Hilton) and Stephane Bringer and Alisa Phanthusak (Woodlands), with everyone enjoying the dinner menu from La Ferme, rounded out by a Belgian Beer Sabayon, the result of much whisking of the beer and egg yolks by chef Kenneth Goessens.
Undoubtedly, the GM Gang is a very popular event for the local GMs, with the different hotel properties hosting the Gang on a rotational basis, and its continuing success a tribute to the foresight of Chatchawal Supachayanont.
Alisa Phanthusak is flanked by Thomas Koh (left), GM Furama Jomtien Beach and Sophon Vongchatchainont, GM Pullman Pattaya Hotel G.
Rene Pisters (right) GM Thai Garden Resort is all ears as he listens to Sophon Vongchatchainont talk of his adventures in China.
(l-r) Dr Iain Corness, Nick Bauer, GM dusitD2 baraquda Pattaya, Thomas Koh, Stephane Bringer and Philippe Delaloye GM Cape Dara Pattaya enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail.
The ambiance of La Ferme is just electrifying.
The GM Gang poses for a group photograph in the exquisite surroundings of La Ferme.
