Swiss-Belhotel Chief Gavin Faull Ever the Traveller

New Zealander Gavin Faull, 63, has been living out of a suitcase ever since he decided to join a consulting firm in Hong Kong back in 1973. Now, as chairman and president of Swiss-Belhotel International, headquartered in Hong Kong, Faull leads a company that provides professional management services for hotels, resorts and serviced residences worldwide.

“We pick managers for their ability to understand the culture and work with the local people in the area,” Faull explained. “We’re a global hotel company with a local flavour. We adapt to our owners, local cultures and the surrounding environment.”

Reflecting Faull’s determination to make a mark on the world, Swiss-Belhotel is now recognised as one of the fastest-growing hotel management groups in the world.

Faull keeps adding his property portfolio to ensure that all levels of sophistication and customer needs are truly met.

“We are now prioritising Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. We have to make our hotels exciting and different. We need to think outside of the box.”

In his view, the frontier markets in Asia are the economic engine room for the global tourism industry, especially with the Asean Economic Community (AEC) just around the corner.

Original article by Tanyatorn Tongwaranan, Bangkok Post, June 29, 2015.