I WAYAN RAKSA GENERAL MANAGER THE WESTIN RESORT & SPA UBUD, BALI

Tell us about your work and being the General Manager of The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali

The position of general manager has never been a static one. Hotel general manager wear many hats, so must be multitaskers. From oversee the quality of food, guest relations, the front desk, finance, housekeeping, maintenance and team training and development. My job is to guarantee that guests enjoy an outstanding experience at The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud.

What do you look forward to as the new General Manager of The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali? We wanted to position the hotel as the best well-being destination in Bali, creating memorable experiences that inspire people to be the best version of themselves. We make our guests feel special by instinctively recognizing their every need and delivering genuine, locally inspired service. 

With experience working in numerous hotels, what do you think is special about The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali? The location, the ambience and the brand commitment. 

Serenity! Great location, with Ubud soothing ambience and as a brand, we are strong in delivering the wellness program in hospitality, empowering guest to enhance their well-being when they need most while traveling. It is reflected in our product and service such as the Heavenly Bed, Heavenly Bath, Heavenly Spa, Eat Well Menu, Westin Fresh by the Juicery, Westin Run, Westin Workout, Westin Family Kids Club, and many mores. All the wellness programs we have are under the six pillars: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Feel Well, Move Well, Work Well, and Play Well.

Give us the update about your resort.

We are focusing on sustainability initiatives. We converted our garden into rice paddies and together with our team created a Chef’s Garden with the concept of farm to table. We came up with composting area at property where we can educate our guest the importance of reducing waste and converting our organic waste into fertilizer. We also created new areas such as koi pond and rabbit cage where our young-guest can participate in our resort activities.

You have worked in the industry for a long time, what is your biggest achievement that you have accomplished?

I was awarded General Manager of the year 2020 in Asia Pacific (Excluded China), this is a very prestigious award considering all the hardships we went through caused by the pandemic. I just celebrated 25 years of rewarding service with Marriott international last year. 

How do you cope with the competitions in Bali these days? What is your hotel doing to stay competitive?

We keep upgrading our product to stay competitive. We also invest on the most important asset of the hotel, our associate through training and development plan. Having a stunning product and amazing service provided by our associate create a unique experience for our guests. Our mantra is “If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will” 

With all the pressures in the field, what do you do to relieve stress?

I exercise regularly with my team to relieve stress. I also watch movies and read books to fill my spare time. 

How would you define leadership and what do you think is the most important quality to have in order to become a good leader?

Leadership is a process of getting things done through people. The man who successfully marshals his team to achieve common goal is a leader. The most important qualities of leader include integrity, accountability, empathy, humility, resilience, vision, influence, and positivity. Management is about persuading people to do things they do not want to do, while leadership is about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could.

How do you maintain a work life balance?

Planning the day-to-day activities at work is another way for managing a good balance between life and work. It helps individuals to prioritize their actions following the importance of a task. Communicate well at work and to trust your team to take care of the hotel when you take your time off. This way you can unwind and focus on your life outside of work. Stay positive, set your priorities right and respect your private time.

What words of wisdom do you have for those who want to choose hospitality as their career?

Aim high and just go for it. At times it may be tough but keep working hard and you will achieve anything you dream for. If your passion is travelling and meeting new people while making a living then hospitality will be the best path to grow your career.