SPECIAL REPORT
ROLAND FASEL :
The continuous l
THE COO OF AMAN SAYS EXPOSURE TO NEW CONTINENTS , DIFFERENT OWNERS AND OPERATING STRUCTURES ALL SERVED TO PREPARE HIM FOR GROWTH AS A LEADER , WHICH HAS EARNED HIM THE ADMIRATION OF HIS GLOBAL PEERS .
By JEFF WEINSTEIN , EDITOR IN CHIEF
The global nature of Roland Fasel ’ s hotel career , he says , has been a big key to his success , and his route didn ’ t come by accident . Early on in his career , the Swiss-born global hotelier recognized the importance of being exposed to different ownership groups and cultures , which required quick pivots on leadership styles , communication strategies and business models . In fact , he is certain working on three continents gave him a cohesive set of leadership skills and a competitive advantage to get ahead , which eventually led him to today ’ s role as COO of the ultra-luxury Aman group of hotels .
What was , perhaps , more fortuitous was an early career opportunity that gave him a taste of luxury hotelkeeping , which he quickly embraced , astutely understanding that further narrowing his niche would give him a more certain trajectory .
The son of a small town , 15-room innkeeper , who first apprenticed as a chef and then studied at École hôtelière de Lausanne , received his first taste of branded luxury in 1983 when he earned an internship at the Four Seasons hotel in Ottawa , Canada . It also served to expose Fasel to organizational and cultural excellence , which he says truly opened his eyes and helped him further map out a plan that would eventually lead him to his current role and the recognition by his peers as HOTELS 2022 Corporate Hotelier of World award winner .
“ The big moves always created a completely new level of energy – a refocusing ,” Fasel explains . “ That ’ s where my big learns came from . They were humbling , from embracing a new culture , wanting to be embraced by your new team and even opening new bank accounts . It created an incredible learning experience and another recalibration of my value system .”
Fasel , now 61 , spent his first six years after graduation predominantly working in food and beverage with Four Seasons and alongside early mentors like Alfons Konrad and Nick Mutton . He also worked early on for Rosewood Hotels at the Bel-Air in Los Angeles where he met his wife and learned from the likes of legend Bob Zimmer .
In the early ‘ 90s , Fasel headed abroad to Bangkok , Thailand , to work with the original Regent Hotels team along with another
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