SPECIAL REPORT
LOVING A CHALLENGE Fasel says the other reason he made moves to Asia and London and eventually to an ultraluxury company like Aman was to stay challenged and to continue learning .
At Shangri-La , for example , he learned how to take care of a business with big volume , how to optimize revenues and reinvent himself once again . Later , at Badrutt ’ s Palace , he put together a new team and used a lot of creativity to reposition and reinvest to the tune of US $ 80 million to return to the top of the leisure market . At InterContinental , he was charged with helping to reposition the brand , which included renovating a flagship in Hyde Park ( London ). And when Chris Cowdrey called from The Dorchester in 2008 , he asked Fasel to help him create what is now known at the Dorchester Collection . “ Throughout , it was quite the exciting time ,” Fasel adds .
For about the past six years , Fasel has been running Aman , reporting directly to principal Vlad Doronin . “ Our minds , visions and aspirations were pretty much aligned ,” Fasel says of his initial meetings with Doronin . “ We both saw the potential of this brand . And if we did it right and were willing to make some of the sales and marketing changes , we knew it could be a huge success . Six years later , we have moved the needle quite substantially .”
During his time with Aman , Fasel has seen the brand grow to encompass several new hotels and resorts in unique destinations . He oversaw the opening of the brand ’ s fourth resort in China in 2018 , Amanyangyun , and third in Japan in 2019 , Aman Kyoto . He has also guided Aman into
its 30th year of operation , which saw Amanpuri unveil an extensive refurbishment , including Aman ’ s first Holistic Wellness Centre . Fasel also directed the strategic vision for the brands ’ private jet , which went into operation in 2019 .
During his tenure at Badrutt ’ s Palace in St . Moritz , Fasel completely turned around an aging icon , returning it to profitability and to the top of market .
Where it all began for Roland Fasel , the family ’ s Taverna hotel in a small Swiss village 30 minutes south of Bern .
Along with the ballyhooed New York City hotel and residences opening in August 2022 , Fasel is also currently developing Aman Niseko in Japan , Aman Miami , an Aman project in Saudi Arabia , Amanvari in Mexico and Aman Nai Lert Bangkok .
66 hotelsmag . com Nov / Dec 2022