INTERVIEW WITH YVONNE WAN GENERAL MANAGER COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT NUSA DUA RESORT
Congratulations on your new role! How do you feel about being the General Manager of Courtyard By Marriott Bali Nusa Dua Resort?
It is invigorating to be back in Bali after 10 years. The wonderful thing is that it is a combination of new and old settings, a new assignment and a new team, with the reassurance of familiar people, culture and places.
Have you always known you would venture into hospitality? What sparked your interest?
I have always been passionate about working with people, whether guests or colleagues. A large part of my job satisfaction lies in the fact that hospitality is creative. There are endless ways to initiate new and enjoyable experiences for guests, and enliven staff engagement.
Share to us the latest update about Courtyard By Marriott Bali Nusa Dua Resort
We just celebrated our 11th birthday this February, and this is thanks to the support from our guests, and unwavering commitment from our team. Our 11th anniversary celebrates the Courtyard by Marriot Bali Nusa Dua Resort as a place of life and adventure, where we make promises every day, of the magic of Bali, romance, culture and new experiences.
One of our upcoming new experiences is the enticing pastries from Canggu’s popular 07:AM Baker’s Club, available at CBMBNDR from mid-February onwards. ND residents and our guests will have the convenience of enjoying delightful pastries like Almond Croissant and Pretzel without having to make a trip out to Canggu.
What have been your greatest challenges and successes in your professional journey?
Before my days with Marriott as a female manager there was the issue of gender stereotyping. Marriott however promotes gender equality by fostering a culture of fairness through its diversity and inclusion initiatives.
My success story is having picked the right industry to develop my career path, one which brings together both my personal and professional passions in connecting with people in a meaningful way. It’s a way to learn and grow.
Having worked and traveled around the worlds, which Marriott’s property do you like the most?
My journey with Marriott International is focused on the company, not on individual hotels. Every Marriott property features a different brand and location so every experience is a unique journey in itself.
How do you cope with today’s challenging time?
Flexibility is the key to today’s pace and constantly changing hospitality landscape. There has been lots of change due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, which can be destabilizing,
Uncertain and stressful. Flexibility involves forward planning, and being prepared to adjust those future plans. Reframing my thinking allows me to see things from a different perspective and adapt to ongoing changes.
What do you think your strongest personal quality is?
Self-awareness has helped me discover myself and enabled me to capitalize and build on my strengths, allowing me to see things from multiple perspectives and hence make well-informed decisions.
How do you maintain a work and life balance?
I find time management very important . It improves my focus, keeps me productive, and gives me enough time to get things done. Evaluating my priorities keeps my to-do list practical and constantly updated.
What do you do for fun during your day off?
I love Indonesian food and often spend time trying and learning new dishes. Currently I am trying my hand at making different types of Indonesian sambal. Socially, I am still catching up with old friends in Bali, so this will keep my social diary occupied for a while yet.