Jimbaran, BALI, 18 March 2020 AYANA Hotels announce new appointments to strengthen its Executive Committee team, covering the islands of Bali and Flores.

Stefan Fuchs, General Manager

Born and educated in Germany, Stefan started his career in Food and Beverage in Europe, where he was in charge of diverse catering projects such as the EXPO 1998 in Lisbon and Formula 1 Grand Prix events. In Middle East he headed the operations for the Islamic Conference and Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and was part of the opening team of the Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Russia, Japan, China and Bahrain. Between 2006 and 2014 Stefan was with the Jumeirah Group. Stefan’s goal for AYANA is to facilitate the company image as a strong and reliable luxury hospitality service provider both locally and internationally. 

Christian Jaquier, Hotel Manager – AYANA Hotels in Bali

Born in Brazil and being half-Swiss and half-Chinese, Christian joined the AYANA family as Executive Assistant Manager of Rooms in 2015. He was promoted to the position of a Hotel Manager in 2019. Christian supports Stefan Fuchs with overseeing 775 guest rooms, suites and private villas at AYANA Hotels in Bali. To continuously maintain the balance of such an extensive hotel operation, Christian’s focus is on the three key pillars of guest engagement, financial performance and employee engagement. “AYANA is a unique destination resort that sets itself apart from other properties on the island by offering the very best of Bali in one stunning location. Guests can explore the Island of the Gods without having to leave. My top recommendations include watching the Kecak performance at Kampoeng Bali, sipping on a fresh coconut at Kubu Beach Club and signing the kids up for a Balinese dance lesson at AYANA Kids Club.”

 Michi Sonoda, Executive Assistant Manager, Sales and Marketing – AYANA Hotels in Bali and Komodo

Born in Japan, Michi started her career in the spa and retail with The Ritz-Carlton, Bali in 1997, which rebranded to AYANA Resort and Spa, BALI in 2009. In 2020 she was promoted from Director of Sales & Marketing to EAM, SM position, where she is responsible for initiation, planning, directing and management of the implementation of the sales and marketing strategy for AYANA Hotels. She directs the activities of the Sales, Marketing Communications, Events and Reservations teams, ensuring that all the activities are aligned with the complex strategy of the owning company.

Patrick Callarec, Executive Chef – AYANA Hotels in Bali

Responsible for creating award-winning culinary experiences at 19 signature venues across AYANA and RIMBA, Chef Patrick is a quintessential French chef with an impeccable five-star résumé. Prior to joining AYANA, his culinary journey began in the chic seaside resort town of Cannes, France in 1977 and brought him to Bali after successfully opening a luxury Disney resort in Hawaii. Chef Patrick’s career has taken him around the world for the last 25 years, while holding several senior positions in fine dining restaurants located within renowned hospitality brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and Le Meridien. “My career has definitely sharpened my skills for the fast-paced environment of AYANA’s distinctive culinary scene, where we have two world-class hotels that offer an incredibly diverse range of international cuisines in award-winning restaurants.”

Manik Sudarsana, EAM Food and Beverage – AYANA Hotels in Bali Manik Sudarsana, EAM Food & Beverage 

With over 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Manik Sudarsana feels just as comfortable working from behind the kitchen, as he does serve hotel guests on the floor. Warmly welcomed to AYANA’s international management team in November 2013, this Balinese professional oversees the highest service standards across AYANA’s 19 unique dining restaurants and bars, including the contemporary grill concept at DAVA; beachfront seafood BBQ at Kisik; and the iconic sunset venue of Rock Bar, BALI.  “I try to bring the highest attention to detail in everything I do. I have a passion for flawless service and this serves me well in my role managing AYANA Hotels’ banquet and onsite catering departments. AYANA is one of Asia’s top choices for MICE and wedding events, and we want to ensure that each menu enriches overall guest experience.” 

Harry Nugroho, Director of Food and Beverage – RIMBA Jimbaran BALI by AYANA

Born in Jakarta, Harry started his hospitality career in Food and Beverage with Grand Hyatt, JW Marriott and Intercontinental hotels in the capital of Indonesia. After moving Bali in 2007, where he was part of the pre-opening team of Le Meridien Jimbaran and then, RIMBA Jimbaran BALI by AYANA. Harry enjoys watching new movies, riding his motorcycle and traveling around Indonesia. “My vision for RIMBA is making it the leading property in Jimbaran with its outstanding service, innovative concept, welcoming people and outstanding facilities. RIMBA offers modern accommodation options and relaxing atmosphere at its every corner. With our positive attitude and welcoming Balinese culture, we taking care of our guests 24/7 and always deliver the service beyond their expectations.”

Sylvain Vodermaier, Director of Rooms – AYANA Resort and Spa, BALI and The Villas at AYANA Resort, BALI 

Half French and half German, Sylvain started his hospitality career in Munich, Germany, which continued with an exotic traineeship at Mandarin Oriental in Hawaii, USA. He has also opened six properties in Berlin, Hamburg, Zurich and Vienna prior to embarking on his Kempinski Hotel business adventure in Beijing, China. Sylvain is also passionate about sports, traveling and great food.

Ahmed El Sandoby, Director of Wellness and Spa – AYANA Hotels in Bali

Born in Egypt, Ahmed speaks English and Arabic fluently. He has worked for quite a few luxury brands such as Four Seasons, Westin, Le Meridien and Jumeirah in Egypt, Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia. “I am blessed to be based in Bali as I have fallen in love with the island’s tropical vibes, relaxed lifestyle, lush greenery, mountains and beaches since my first visit to the island of Gods. My professional plans for AYANA Wellness and Spa are to make it a destination within a destination, bring a whole wellness concept from weight loss programs, conditioning, nutrition to physiotherapy. I like to run, go to the gym and eat healthy but cannot resist a good plate of pasta every now and then.” 

Jones S. Widjaja, Director of Finance – AYANA Hotels in Bali and Komodo

Having worked for AYANA Hotels for six years, this Chinese Indonesian native holds his MBA degree from California State University at Long Beach and a Management Accountant Certification (CMA) while additionally working on obtaining his new Financial Analyst Certification. Jones takes care of AYANA Hotels on the islands of Bali and Flores. He likes swimming, photography while his favorite food is satay and a good steak.

Nyoman Suryawan, Assistant Director of Engineering – AYANA Hotels in Bali 

Born in Bali, this Indonesian national has been with AYANA for over four years now. He started with RIMBA’s position as its Chief Engineer and later got promoted to its current position, which supervises all AYANA Hotels on the island. Nyoman holds a ‘technical machine’ qualification from Udayana University 

in Bali,Indonesia. He loves playing football and basketball while his favorite food is Chinese.

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