LA MAMOUNIA LUXURY GM PIERRE JOCHEM DOES SWEAT THE DETAILS , A QUALITY THAT HAS SERVED HIM WELL .
Contributed by MEGAN ROWE
Pierre Jochem was bitten by the travel and hospitality bug early on . Born in what eventually became the Republic of Congo , his father was an airline pilot and flight instructor who relocated frequently to establish new routes across Africa for several commercial airlines . Young Jochem embraced the lifestyle . “ I liked staying in nice hotels , and I liked traveling ,” he recalls . At 14 , he determined hotel school was the path for him , and at 16 , he enrolled in a hotel school in Strasbourg , France .
HOTELS ’ 2021 Independent Hotelier of the World as voted by his global peers dreamed of being a general manager at a luxury hotel ; fortunately , the job suits him well . A mix of worldly , congenial , analytical and detail-obsessed , he takes as much pleasure in seeing that the lobby flower arrangements are just so as he does in developing staff and posting strong numbers .
Over the last four decades Jochem has made his way around the globe , rising within prestige luxury brand organizations and setting high standards for independent trophy hotels , expertly navigating systems , demanding guests and a diverse culture all the while .
For the last eight years , he has helmed the award-winning La Mamounia in Marrakech as general manager and senior vice president of operations . Last year , the hotel completed a major renovation , with a proper launch slated for this year . He is also working with the owners on four additional projects , including the renovation and relaunch of the Palais Jamai in Fes .
“ Pierre is so open to travel , curious and interested in his surroundings and to move around to see what is going on ,” says Laurent Branover , CEO of Les Domaines de Fontenille , a collection of luxury hotels in Spain and France and who worked with Jochem years ago at Raffles in Singapore . “ He is a man in perpetual motion , a persuasive force with a very , very big heart . Pierre has
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