Minor Hotels has appointed Lionel Ferrari as
General Manager of the Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas in
Thailand’s Phang Nga province.
Lionel started his hospitality career in 2006 as part
of Maia Resorts’ pre-opening team on a 4-month internship
programme. In 2010, he briefly joined IHG in San Salvador as
Assistant F&B Manager, but a year later he returned to
Seychelles to rejoin Tsogo Sun Hotels as EAM of Paradise
Sun Hotel Praslin, where only three years later he was made
General Manager. In 2017, he was appointed General Manager of Maia
Luxury Resort and Spa.
Lionel’s journey with Anantara began in 2020, when as
General Manager, he was tasked with the rebranding the Maia Luxury
Resort and Spa to an Anantara Resort when the brand bought the
iconic property, one of the most exclusive and luxurious
properties in Seychelles.
“I am delighted to be a part of this exceptional
property that promises to redefine the luxury beach resort
experience in Southeast Asia when it opens in April 2023,”
Lionel said. “What we have here is
something extraordinary and literally untouched. The island gives
one a feeling of what Thailand must have been like many decades
ago. I love the laidback vibe, the natural environment and the
fact that the locals are still very much in touch with their art
and culture. The proximity to several other beautiful islands is
another distinct advantage.”
Hailing from Antibes on the French Riviera, Lionel
has a Master’s Degree in tourism and hotel management from Université Côte d’Azur in Nice, where he graduated with honours.
He is a polyglot, fluent in four languages – French, English,
Italian and Spanish – with conversational Portuguese (his wife is
Brazilian) and Seychellois Creole also in the mix.
