What is your full name and age?
My name is Sven Walter, a mid-age Swiss without crisis.
What is your current Job Position?
I am the General Manager of Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa, one of the most private indulging boutique resorts in Hua Hin.
How long have you lived in Hua Hin or been coming to Hua Hin?
I’ve visited Hua Hin earlier, twice as a guest, and just last month came back to take on the Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin.
What did you know about Hua Hin before you moved here?
Obviously as most would know, Hua Hin is the Summer Residence of the Thai royal family. I’ve been also able to experience the Monsoon Valley Wineyard with some very nice wines produced, that it is a beach resort destination with excellent accommodation such as ours, well known for golfing, has water parks, lively markets, and all that along a nice stretch of beach while only 3 hours away from Bangkok.
What do you like most about your profession?
The diversity of this trade makes it a unique profession. You deal with many different people during the day, involved in operation, guest contact, but then also owner’s relation, corporate, Sales & Marketing and all financial aspects that keeps you clearly on your toes, making sure your day is never the same nor tedious, always new challenges, and that’s the beauty of it.
On the other hand, I enjoy seeing someone growing under my wings, and becoming successful in their field. It gives me a sense of satisfaction, knowing how important the staff is, and that I might have been able to contribute a little to her or his success.
What do you like least about your profession?
Hard to say, and for sure there are days where you wished for a better outcome, but I tend to see the positive.
What do you like most about Hua Hin?
Hua Hin is a charming town that has a laid-back Thai feel. Being here just for a short time, I still must discover much but can say that I feel already comfortable here.
What is your favorite restaurant and why? (please don’t promote your own restaurants)
Haven’t really had a chance till now to discover any of it.
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
If there is some free time, I’d like to spend it mostly with my wife. We enjoy sport; mainly jogging and Thai boxing, nature as well as cooking and a nice wine with it. If a bit more time we at times like to have short getaways somewhere else.
What would you recommend to new-comers to do in Hua Hin and why?
Since I am a new-comer myself, I better leave that out.
Tell us a surprising fact that the public might not know about you?
I suppose to become an electronics technician but because my two older brothers have chosen to become a chef, I changed my mind last minute and started the same path as them. No regrets since…
What is the most outlandish thing you have ever done and why?
There is not one specific event I would be able to highlight; however, I always enjoyed intense activities. Already in early years I played many years ice hockey, I cycled from Switzerland to Paris, I was for many years a mountain climber, I do Thai boxing and so I’d like to keep myself active for sure.