Swedish-born Daniel Simon is a luxurious hospitality veteran. With three a long time of resort and restaurant administration expertise beneath his belt, Daniel’s resume additionally consists of stints in 11 cities throughout america, Southeast Asia, Canada, and Australia alongside vital expertise within the cruise trade — the place he labored because the resort director of Movie star Cruises for 2 years. Having traversed the waters of Asia, Alaska, the Caribbean, and Europe, Simon now finds himself in Cambodia’s capital because the managing director of the Rosewood Phnom Penh the place the hospitality savant oversees the ultra-luxury property’s operations, visitor engagement efforts, and the resort’s proficient crew. LUXUO speaks to Daniel Simon on his position as managing director that sees him hone in on his management expertise in Phnom Penh, alongside cluing LUXUO in on all the newest choices from the Rosewood. With considerate particulars and experiences that evoke a way of discovery and inspiration, Simon speaks to why one ought to make the Rosewood Lodge Phnom Penh a part of their subsequent Southeast Asian getaway.

You could have a ardour for Southeast Asia. Having labored in Koh Samui, Bangkok and now in Phnom Penh, inform us about your expertise in hospitality on this vibrant a part of the world.

Working in hospitality in Southeast Asia is an interesting expertise because of the cultural tapestry, numerous culinary scene, and the exceptional heat and hospitality of the folks. Every vacation spot brings its personal distinctive appeal and challenges, however general, it’s a dynamic and rewarding surroundings to work in.

Not like anyplace else, the hospitality right here is deeply heartfelt, making friends really feel like household with real heat and sincerity. Each interplay — from heat smiles to heartfelt greetings — is infused with this sense of hospitality from the guts. Whether or not in bustling Bangkok, tranquil Koh Samui, or vibrant Phnom Penh, the hospitality of Southeast Asia shines by way of, reflecting the area’s wealthy heritage of welcoming vacationers with open arms. This creates memorable and significant experiences, leaving friends with cherished reminiscences and a want to return.

In the present day, you might be on the head of the Rosewood Phnom Penh; how has Phnom Penh developed over current years?

Being in Phnom Penh now could be really exceptional, particularly witnessing the nation’s unbelievable progress. Change is clear day-after-day, with town present process vital improvement and modernisation lately. Phnom Penh has skilled infrastructure enhancements, financial progress, and a surge in tourism and expatriates. This speedy progress has spurred the growth of the hospitality trade, ensuing within the emergence of latest motels, eating places, and leisure venues catering to a extra numerous viewers.

Throughout our keep, we observed the intense consideration to element — each throughout the rooms and throughout all of the resort’s meals and beverage retailers. What’s the DNA of the Rosewood model and the way does it differentiate itself from different high-end motels in Cambodia?

The Rosewood Lodges and Resorts model is famend for its dedication to luxurious, sophistication, and hospitality. What units us aside from different high-end motels in Cambodia is our dedication to delivering a particular mixture of latest design, cultural authenticity, and meticulous consideration to element. We take pleasure in crafting unforgettable experiences for our friends, whether or not it’s by way of our beautiful lodging, personalised companies, numerous eating choices, or immersive cultural actions.

What do your friends take pleasure in essentially the most on the Rosewood Phnom Penh?

Our friends persistently reward the personalised and engaged service offered by our devoted crew, who go above and past to make sure visitor satisfaction. Additionally they specific admiration for our snug rooms, which provide unparalleled views overlooking town and the legendary Mekong River.

Culinary director Jan Van Dyk, and director of bars Bob Louison joined the Rosewood Phnom Penh a yr in the past to additional improve the resort’s refined meals and beverage experiences. Inform us extra in regards to the six meals and beverage retailers on the Rosewood Phnom Penh?

Since opening its doorways in 2018, Rosewood Phnom Penh has firmly established itself as Cambodia’s premier eating and consuming vacation spot. Boasting six beautiful F&B venues — together with the acclaimed Brasserie Louis, subtle steak and seafood grill Cuts, and up to date Chinese language restaurant Zhan Liang — the ultra-luxury resort has garnered a fame for its refined and revolutionary delicacies, fascinating designs and settings, and unwavering dedication to setting the gold normal for delicacies, mixology, and hospitality within the area. The eating places are led by director of culinary Jan Van Dyk, who not solely implements new sustainable practices in delicacies however has additionally innovated it by creating Cambodia’s very first indoor hydroponic farm, offering recent and pesticide-free produce to all six eating retailers. Moreover, chef Van Dyk ensures collaboration with native companions and suppliers to assist the local people.

A spotlight to not be missed in our eating choices is the enduring bar Sora, the place director of bars, Bob Louison, has curated a fascinating cocktail menu impressed by Japanese legends, aptly named “The Ebook of Yokai” — I extremely advocate savoring one from Sora’s deck, providing the perfect sundown view within the metropolis.

Your property hosts a up to date artwork gallery. How do you choose the artists on show? Clue us in on the significance of artwork on the Rosewood Phnom Penh?

Rosewood Phnom Penh invitations friends on an inventive journey of discovery, enriching and deepening their appreciation for the “A Sense of Place” philosophy of Rosewood Lodges & Resorts. Reflecting the idea of life as a dwelling canvas, the resort’s curated artwork assortment thoughtfully connects friends to the appeal, persona, and traditions of Cambodia and its capital. Impressed by Khmer custom, merging it seamlessly with modernisation, the distinctive artwork assortment finds its dwelling on this ultra-luxury resort, located within the tallest constructing within the Kingdom of Cambodia — a becoming image for this theme.

To boost our artwork choices, we have now devoted an area of 112 sq. meters, welcoming the nation’s most influential and up-and-coming artists to showcase a few of Cambodia’s most fun up to date artworks. Every year, we host not less than 5 completely different artwork exhibitions masking numerous themes, starting from conventional Khmer artwork to road artwork, vogue, cinema, structure, sculpture, images, and extra.

Rosewood Phnom Penh’s social group program — Rosewood Empowers — displays the resort’s dedication to creating constructive change in each society and the surroundings. The initiative goals to empower underserved communities by offering equal entry to alternatives, with a give attention to variety, fairness, and inclusion.

The Open Door Program — launched in 2021 in collaboration with École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule — presents hands-on studying alternatives to deprived Cambodian youth pursuing careers in hospitality. Offering monetary assist, together with a month-to-month allowance, service cost funds, and medical insurance coverage, this system additionally presents invaluable real-world expertise to members.

Collaborating with native NGOs like PSE, Paul Dubrule, Sala Bai, and Don Bosco, Rosewood Phnom Penh presents apprenticeship alternatives to college students, with over 100 transitioning to full-time associates after coaching on the resort’s retailers. Cross-department coaching additional promotes skilled progress and improvement amongst colleagues.

The resort additionally extends its assist to rural communities in Cambodia, donating faculty provides and meals objects by way of partnerships with organisations just like the Coconut College and SOS Youngsters’s Village Kampot. Future plans embrace increasing outreach efforts to profit extra communities.

By means of these initiatives, Rosewood Phnom Penh goals to meaningfully influence the lives of people in Cambodia, foster inclusive workplaces, and assist native communities of their journey in the direction of a brighter future.

The Rosewood Phnom Phen has partnered with three different high-end properties throughout Cambodia to supply an immersive expertise of the dominion each on land and water. Are you able to inform us extra about these partnerships?

This luxurious tour spans 12 days, permitting friends to discover 4 beautiful locations and take pleasure in essentially the most luxurious lodging within the nation — from the enduring Angkor Wat to lush jungles, pristine islands, and opulent city settings — friends are handled to a various and in-depth exploration of Cambodia’s spectacular sights.

The itinerary begins with a three-night keep at Rosewood Phnom Penh, the place friends luxuriate within the consolation of a Mekong Suite. This city oasis serves as the proper place to begin and grand finale to the luxurious journey.

Subsequent, friends spend three nights at Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Assortment Pool Villas, the place they’re handled to an beautiful expertise in an opulent Bensley Assortment Pool Villa. Right here, friends can chill out in pure extravagance whereas exploring the historic temples of Angkor Wat and indulging within the best facilities and experiences Siem Reap has to supply.

The journey continues with a three-night keep at Six Senses Krabey Island, the place friends unwind in a Hideaway Pool Villa Suite. Surrounded by pristine nature, friends reconnect with native tradition and wellness experiences on this non-public island paradise.

Lastly, friends spend three nights at Shinta Mani Wild – A Bensley Assortment, the place they immerse themselves in final luxurious and journey within the wilderness. With all-inclusive facilities and adrenaline-filled actions like a 400m zip line arrival over the forest cover, friends expertise essentially the most breathtaking jungle and nature expertise in Southeast Asia.

Total, this partnership between Rosewood Phnom Penh and different luxurious properties presents friends an unparalleled journey by way of Cambodia, combining opulent lodging with unforgettable experiences in a number of the nation’s most breathtaking locations.

You could have set a particular {golfing} programme for golf aficionados. What does the particular golf bundle cowl?

Friends can escape with our unique golf bundle at Rosewood Phnom Penh. The bundle consists of an epic spherical of 18 holes on the prestigious Vattanac Golf Resort, designed by Sir Nick Faldo. Residence to an award-winning course, the East Course guarantees an unforgettable play, full with a devoted caddie and handy cart. Friends will chill out with spherical transfers between Rosewood Phnom Penh and Vattanac Golf Resort in a Jaguar F-Tempo limousine. Moreover, they’ll obtain a particular Vattanac Golf Resort memento present pack to commemorate their unforgettable expertise. This presents friends the proper {golfing} getaway in Cambodia, together with an opulent keep and every day breakfast at Brasserie Louis, in addition to roundtrip airport transfers.

As managing director, what plans do you will have for the resort in 2024 to 2025?

My imaginative and prescient for Rosewood Phnom Penh from 2024 to 2025 is one among continued excellence and innovation. Now we have welcomed new abilities to raise our eating expertise, with chef Omar Konateh at Cuts, sommelier Sara Penh, and bar supervisor Mr. KT Lam from Darkside, making certain we keep our standing because the premier eating vacation spot in Southeast Asia.

Our dedication to social duty stays unwavering. We’re initiating fundraising occasions, like the celebrated Phare Ponleu Selpak charity dinner, to assist our group. We’re additionally increasing our efforts to uplift people from deprived backgrounds by offering them with alternatives for progress and improvement inside our crew.

Moreover, we’re devoted to sustainability, transitioning in the direction of zero waste operations which we have now began with the Hydroponic Backyard. Our objective is to steer by instance in environmental stewardship whereas persevering with to ship unparalleled luxurious and repair to our friends.

Above all, we are going to keep true to our core worth of providing relationship hospitality. It’s the real connections we forge with our friends that drive us ahead, making certain that each keep at Rosewood Phnom Penh is nothing wanting extraordinary.

To finish this interview, inform us one secret that you’ve by no means shared in regards to the Rosewood Phnom Penh? Maybe a hidden location or a secret expertise?

As a particular insider tip, I’ll reveal a hidden gem at Rosewood Phnom Penh: Cuts homes a secret room often known as the “chef’s desk,” nestled proper within the coronary heart of the bustling kitchen. Think about this: while you e-book this unique expertise, there’s no menu offered to you. As an alternative, our proficient chef and sommelier curate a bespoke eating journey tailor-made particularly to your preferences and the season’s freshest elements. Image your self seated on this intimate setting, watching the chef craft succulent sauces and put together every dish proper earlier than your eyes. What’s extra, the chef has their very own indoor potager behind the kitchen — a sight usually reserved for employees solely — providing you with a uncommon glimpse into our culinary craftsmanship. It’s an unforgettable eating expertise that’s really one-of-a-kind at Rosewood Phnom Penh.

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