Can you tell us about your background and the experiences that have shaped your career in the hospitality industry?
I started my career in fine-dining Michelin-starred restaurants in Belgium and France, with hospitality training at the Hotel School Ter Groene Poorte in Bruges, an A1 Degree with Honors in Hotel Management, before obtaining a Postgraduate Degree in Public Relations and Media Management in Belgium.
I continued my education at Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration, with certificates in Hospitality Financial Management, Strategic Management, Hotel Real Estate Investments, and Asset Management.
Before joining Atlantis Dubai, I served in a variety of leadership positions spanning 20 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts around the world. Prior to my appointment with Kerzner International, I was responsible for the pre-opening and the successful launch of Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, a mixed-use development, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I also opened Four Seasons Resorts in the Maldives, managed hotel operations at Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach in California, The Regent Jakarta, Indonesia, and headed up the extensive transformation and complete re-imagination of Four Seasons Resorts in Lana'i, Hawaii.
My current position places me at the helm of one of the world's most daring and innovative resort destinations - Atlantis. I was initially approached by Kerzner International to open the World’s Most Experiential Ultra-Luxury Resort, Atlantis The Royal, based on my in depth understanding and experience in complex luxury hotel operations. Since arriving in the UAE, I have overseen operations and renovations at the 1,545-room Atlantis The Palm, as well as the expansion and re-launch of Atlantis Aquaventure, now the World’s Largest Waterpark. In 2023, I was promoted as Managing Director after leading the pre-opening and opening of Atlantis The Royal, Dubai’s newest icon.
You have considerable experience in team management. What are your strategies for building and maintaining high-performance teams?
It starts with hiring the best, investing in the best, providing them with all the tools to be successful and allowing them to perform at the top of their game. It is important to agree on set goals and together work to achieve and exceed these goals.
What advice would you give to professionals aspiring to a career as a leader in the luxury hotel industry?
Never stop learning!
We choose to be of service and to work with people for people to create memories. We can learn all the technical skills required to be successful in our industry, yet it starts with the hunger to be of service and the eagerness to surprise and delight as well as kindness.
We should never stop learning, whether it is the specific skills required for the job at hand, or the skills that prepare you for the next role. Remember that the only person responsible for your success is you.
Identify skill gaps and do not be afraid to jump into the unknown to challenge yourself to grow and develop yourself.
Atlantis The Royal has been recognized as one of the best hotels in the world. What key factors would you say contributed to this success?
It takes an extraordinary team and a strong vision to succeed. We are very fortunate to have a fantastic room and suite product, the largest collection of celebrity restaurants in one single location on the planet, a very strong spa and wellness offering, exciting entertainment options as well as an exceptional luxury retail experience.
Ultimately, however, it is about intuitive service and about creating surprise and delight moments at every turn what sets you apart.
What is your approach to asset management in a context as dynamic and competitive as Dubai's?
It is imperative to keep innovating, to stay on the forefront of luxury hospitality and dining scene as well as continually strive to offer new services and experiences.
This could manifest itself in new dining options, elevated high touch service, collaborations with fashion houses or art galleries for example.
You've been involved in projects to reopen, renovate, and reposition luxury hotels around the world. Can you share with us a particularly rewarding or surprising experience?
The opening of Atlantis The Royal, for everyone involved, was an extraordinarily rewarding experience. The launch of a new brand in the ultra-luxury space, as the most experiential resort in the world, with Beyoncé and Swedish House Mafia performing at the Grand Reveal weekend, has in one single moment put this resort on the world map.
As a columnist and speaker in the hospitality industry, what are the main lessons you've learned from your professional experience that you often share with other industry professionals?
‘You are only as good as the last breakfast served.’ The hospitality industry is changing fast, so is the dining scene, the wellness and spa offerings and the luxury retail industry.
It is crucial to focus on the experience of the guest, listen, understand, and learn their likes, dislikes and preferences and always play into this. Your success depends on how you can turn the feedback from the guests into moments of delight and to provide the entire team the opportunity to go above and beyond in every interaction.
On a more personal note, what would you be if you were...
A bedside book: a travel guide to discover exciting off the beaten path places, deep cultural experiences and ethnic food.
A fictional character: Tintin.
A dish: Consommé - looks simple and transparent but it takes a lot of ingredients, time, skill and effort to achieve the perfect quality, taste and presentation.
A souvenir: an ethnic mask. It often reveals cultural heritage relevant to a particular tribe. They were often created to portray ancestors and mythical heroes in the hope that the spirit would bless one with protection or good tidings. They were also worn in many celebratory circumstances.
