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Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine visits Shannon College graduates

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The Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Minister Didier Dogley accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Anne Lafortune and the Director for Tourism Human Resource Development, Diana Quatre visited graduates of Shannon College at their current place of employment as part of a mentoring initiative, following a resolution at the last committee meeting held in December 2018.

The visit was conducted at four different hotels, namely the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, Kempinski Seychelles Resort, AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa and the Constance Ephelia Seychelles on Monday 15th April 2019.

The purpose of the visit was to meet with graduates of Shannon College who are working in the hotels of Seychelles and establish a communication channel between the graduates and the Ministry.

The first hotel to be visited was the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles employing the largest cohort, comprising of 7 Shannon graduates. This was followed by Kempinski Seychelles Resort & Spa with two graduates, Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa with one graduate and the Constance Ephelia Seychelles with 3 Shannon graduates.

During the visit, graduates were given the opportunity to express their views, in the presence of their hotel managers. The main point of discussion was centred on the minimum salary and career progression within the hospitality industry. Overall the graduates in the four hotels were satisfied with their working condition and the opportunity offered to develop their career further.

Minister Dogley stated that “The visits of the Shannon graduates in their workplace and the meetings held with their General Managers provided an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the progress they have made as professionals in the hospitality industry.  Most of them had clear career paths and personal development programs.

It was a real pleasure and an eye opener to discover that the majority of them are already working as managers in some of our top brand hotels.  This in itself shows that the vision government had for more well-trained and highly skilled Seychellois to take leadership roles in our hospitality industry is becoming a reality.”

 

The Ministerial delegation will also be visiting graduates from the other tourism establishments in order to provide similar opportunities for interaction. These visits are in line with the goal of the Ministry to ensure that the tourism sector is equipped with qualified individuals and shall endeavour to continue to assist graduates in achieving their dreams of progression to senior positions within the hotel industry.

 

To date, there are 74 Shannon College graduates who have gone through this programme.

Travel News | eTurboNews

New Executive Chef at Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa Malaysia

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Guests dining at The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa’s signature Eat Well menu, as well as its array of local and international cuisine, are in for a healthier, heightened culinary experience with the appointment of Glen Roberts as the 5-star resort’s Executive Chef.

Glen’s primary emphasis will be on overseeing and enhancing the Eat Well program at The Westin Langkawi, which provides guests with nutritious dishes sourced responsibly and created thoughtfully. The program, offered at Westin Hotels & Resorts worldwide, focuses on accommodating individual dietary preferences and needs without compromising on flavour, taste or satisfaction.

“The Eat Well program is a unique initiative based on the belief that feeling good starts with the right nourishment,” said Glen. “It’s an honour to be part of a stellar team that operates on a wellness-first philosophy, and I’m eager to acquire local insights and exchange knowledge on how best to provide guests a thoughtful, nutritious yet appealing culinary experience.”

Alongside his team from The Westin Langkawi, the widely-travelled food connoisseur will also be in charge of elevating culinary offerings at the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC), the island’s leading and largest centre of its kind.

Glen arrives in Langkawi after a stint at the 5-star Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai, where he was part of the pre-opening team. Prior to his spell in the United Arab Emirates, he spent two years, from 2016, as the Executive Chef at the Shangri-La in Surabaya. His culinary adventures, however, began almost 5,000 kilometres and 40 years ago in Australia.

He began his love affair with food in Australia in the mid-1980s before honing his culinary skills in London and New Zealand. Glen returned to Brisbane and progressed to become second in charge to the Executive Chef of the Hyatt Regency Coolum in Queensland, overseeing 10 food outlets and multi-banquet facilities. He later moved to the Park Hyatt in Canberra, where his tenure as Senior Executive Sous Chef saw him attending to HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex during their visit there in 2002.

Seeking new horizons, Glen was part of the team that launched the Grand Hyatt Dubai. He then set his sights on the Sheraton Grand Laguna Phuket in Thailand, where he celebrated his first stint as Executive Chef in 2003. Two years later, he found himself in East Malaysia at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort. Whilst there one of the many highlights was to be the key driver behind the production of the “Taste of Borneo” cookbook, which focused on the preparation of 5-star cuisine using local products from Sabah.

In 2010, Glen was an integral part of the team behind the successful renovation and reopening of the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore. He continued to spearhead the resort until 2013, when he moved to the Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Spa as their Executive Chef.

Longing to once again step back into Southeast Asia, he made his way to Thailand’s InterContinental Hua Hin Resort in 2015. Glen was involved in developing and opening the resort’s Roof Top bar and BluPort Wing, which features 40 guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, meeting rooms and ballroom.

“Food is my passion, and I’ve also missed this lovely region,” laughs Glen. “By combining the two, I hope to tantalize guests at The Westin Langkawi with some of the healthiest, tastiest cuisine in Southeast Asia while maintaining our international-class standards of service, quality and hospitality.”

Centrally located on 104 acres of lush, Langkawi tropical gardens bordered by the Andaman Sea, The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa comprises 221 spacious, fully-appointed rooms and suites. The resort also features 20 ultra-luxury Ocean View Pool villas complete with personal pools as well as the award-winning Heavenly Spa by Westin, the only Heavenly Spa in Malaysia.

For more information on The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, visit

www.westinlangkawi.com or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

 

Travel News | eTurboNews

Seychelles Tourism presents: Gout De France/Good France

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Notice to all food lovers!

We are on the highway through a magical culinary journey to experience an unforgettable Provencal encounter.

Last week, we started with an introduction of chefs from @Kempinski Seychelles Resort Baie Lazare and @Four Seasons Resort Seychelles.

As we head this week to the D-day, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) culinary journal series will keep you au fait about the establishments which are collaborating with Gout De France/Good France in Seychelles 2019.

Announced Friday, March 1, 2019, at the headquarters in Mont-Fleuri, several chefs in Seychelles will be among 5,000 worldwide to please our taste buds.

Meet our participants:

Cyann Restaurant- Constance Ephelia

Save the date: Thursday, March 21

At Constance Ephelia Chef Amit Chandel has finely selected his ingredients, to make an irresistible four-course menu French gastronomy style.

Delplace Restaurant

Save the date: March 21-28

For a week long, Province Chef Julien puts his perfected Provençal savoir-faire and creates a marvelous feast. He aims to take his guests on a spectacular culinary rendezvous through his exquisite French cuisine.

Goût de France/Good France in Seychelles is an event coordinated by the French Embassy in collaboration with the Seychelles Tourism Board, this March 2019, residents and visitors are invited to the world’s biggest event to French gastronomy in over 150 countries!

Travel News | eTurboNews

Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center appoints Brice Péan as managing director

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BEIJING, Aug. 9, 2018 — Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Brice Péan as the new managing director as of August 1, 2018. A hotelier with a wealth of experience championing hotel preopenings and managing landmark properties, Péan now leads the culmination of Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center’s expansive renovation and launch of 480 rooms, a new executive lounge and a European all-day dining restaurant. Furthermore, as managing director he will drive business performance and operational excellence in the Lufthansa Center complex which include an office building, serviced apartments and the Kempinski hotel.

“Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center was the first European hotel company in China. Beyond its landmark status, it’s a Kempinski jewel. I feel immensely happy to be leading it during its most transformative period since its opening. I am delighted to have been granted this opportunity and will ensure the achievement even greater levels of the European hospitality service for which Kempinski is known for.” Péan stresses Kempinski’s European heritage as a distinctive signature of superior bespoke service and quality.

Péan has over 30 years of experience in the luxury hospitality field, including senior management roles within Hilton Hotels in Vienna, Cairo, Adelaide, Fiji and Shanghai. Most recently, Péan was general manager of  Sunrise Kempinski Hotel Beijing and Yanqi Island from 2013, overseeing 14 properties including Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Yanqi Hotel and 12 boutique hotels.

A native of France, Péan has a bachelor’s degree from Fremdenverkehrskolleg Innsbruck University in Austria. Prior to joining Hilton Hotels in 1999, Péan held positions in various hotels in London, Dublin and Paris.

 

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About Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center：Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center is the perfect mix of luxury, convenience and cultural diversity under one roof. The hotel is located in the heart of Beijing’s diplomatic and business district, and is only a 20-minute drive from Beijing Capital International Airport. Kempinski Hotel Beijing has 480 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, ten fully equipped banquet/conference facilities and seven stylish and authentic restaurants and bars. The hotel provides its international leisure and business guests with European-style service. The hotel is also part of the Beijing Lufthansa Center complex, which incorporates offices, apartments, and showrooms, as well as You Yi Shopping City, banks, airline offices, a 24-hour medical center, a health club and a kindergarten. www.kempinski.com/beijing

About Kempinski：Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski’s rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Kempinski now manages a portfolio of 74 five-star hotels and residences in 32 countries and continues to add new properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Each one reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts and prestigious residences. Each one is imbued with the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands.

www.kempinski.com • www.discoveryloyalty.com