"I absolutely love being a GM and working with my team to make the hotel a success"

Miguel Jaun is a Swiss native whose graduated from the Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality in Luzern.

He has been in Thailand's hotel scene since 2006, started as a trainee and later became a General Manager at the Park Plaza Bangkok. After that Miguel has been appointed to Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach as a General Manager where his day is filled with sea, sun, sand, and guests from all over the world.

What is the Samui hotel market?How do you differentiate yourself and how do you stay competitive?

Samui is a very competitive hotel market, with many luxurious hotels available. We stand out by offering the biggest Kids Facilities in Samui; the Kids Club, Splash Pad and Outdoor Playground combined together are over 800sqm. On top of this, IHG’s famous Kids Stay & Eat Free program makes us a prime choice for families. Thanks to our amazing central location right in the center of the Fisherman’s Village, we are also a great choice for travelers looking to enjoy all what Samui has to offer.

Your hotel is known for its Kids Club. What other programs do you offer to family travelers? How do you attract this market?

We also have a fun Splash Pad with water slides and various waterjets, which has become very popular with our little guest. At the Kids Club, our team is offering different activities and games for children, to keep them entertained for the whole day. Another important point is also that all our Kids Suites and Family Suites are all located in the Garden Wing, the same Wing we have all our Kids Facilities, which makes it very convenient for the parents. We are working with traditional wholesale partners and also actively engage with travel bloggers and other visitors, to make people aware of our extensive features.

What do you like most about your property?

I am very happy that we offer great options for families with children but also friends and couples, since we have two very different wings. The Garden Wing is completely geared towards families, with the previously mentioned extensive Kids Facilities. The Beach Wing on the other hand features our main restaurant, a Lobby Lounge, large pool with a pool bar and beautiful ocean views. And of course it only takes a couple of steps, and you are right in the middle of Fisherman’s Village.

What is your biggest challenge as a GM at the moment? And how do you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenge for many hotels right now is finding the right person for the right job. There are a lot of people who left the hotel industry during the pandemic, which makes it challenging now when things are recovering. We aim to offer potential candidates fair compensation and a great working environment. I strongly believe that as a GM, you’re only as good as your team, hence my goal is always their success.

A piece of advice for someone who wants to be a GM?

I believe the best advice I can give is to ask yourself if you’re sure that this is the life you want to have. I absolutely love being a GM and working with my team to make the hotel a success. But it certainly comes with a lot of additional challenges and demands on your time, which does make it difficult to have a work/life balance.

Visit Miguel Jaun  at Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach