Travel Daily Asia’s Mark Elliott chats to Christian Bernkopf, the newly-appointed General Manager of the Pullman Danang Beach Resort…

Q)           Congratulations on your new role as GM of the Pullman Danang Beach Resort. What can the resort’s staff expect from you, and what is your leadership style?

Thanks Mark, it is my honour to take a GM role at Pullman Danang Beach Resort. Guest satisfaction is the essence of hospitality and when we provide a well-trained staff, we can ensure and enhance the guest experience. At Pullman Danang, we focus on training, developing and motivating our staff because I believe that the best service comes from the heart, which means we need to have a committed and motivated team.

In addition, I also want to emphasise on delivering local culture into service delivery as a highlight of our service. I’m confident that I will lead my team to reinforce the achievements so far and achieve even more impressive success in the future.

Q)           You have previously held senior roles at hotels in several Asian countries, including Vietnam. How does the country’s hospitality industry differ from other countries, and what are its unique characteristics?  

Vietnam tourism in general is focused on exploration holidays. Clients visit the north, centre and south in one trip which gives access to different cultures, food and experiences. In this way, clients can value the various offerings this diverse country offers.

Hospitality is universal; what makes every country different is people’s heritage and culture. We as hoteliers read those signals and adapt our offerings to visitors to reflect those unique characteristics in every place we operate.

Q)           Vietnam’s central coast appears to be booming right now, with a lot of new air links, hotels and attractions. What opportunities and challenges does this create, and how do you intend to keep your property ahead of the competition?

The hotel market in Danang has evolved quite fast in recent years. This is driven by the local authorities who are placing the destination at the forefront of leisure and business travel, consequently leading to an increase in investment by luxury hotels and resorts. Thanks to its fantastic location and natural beauty, as well as the expansion of Danang International Airport, Danang will welcome more guests. APEC 2017 presents tremendous opportunities as Danang will be in the international spotlight.

As in every market, the major challenge will be to match supply and demand and avoid the mistake other countries have made in overbuilding hotels and resorts, in relation to air capacity. Manpower is also a challenge associated with overdevelopment. We are positive that Danang’s growth will contribute to attracting talent to this dynamic destination.

Q)           What are the hotel’s main markets (in terms of business and nationality mix) and which areas will you be focusing on?

In terms of guests, Pullman Danang Beach Resort is the ideal option for leisure and business travellers due to the vast range of leisure and MICE facilities available at the hotel, and our 186 rooms. Our main markets are our neighbouring countries like Japan, Korea, China, and Australia.

However, due to an increase in the awareness of Danang and central Vietnam, the long-haul market is starting to discover the wonders of this area. We are looking forward to welcome more guests from domestic and long-haul markets to our beautiful resort, with increased flights from destinations.

Q)           What can regular guests expect from the Pullman Danang Beach Resort under your leadership?

We continuously strive to offer our guests unexpected and memorable experiences, and we have a number of exciting plans that we’ll be rolling out in early 2017. A revamped swimming pool, designed as a “Pool Hub”, reopened in late December. This is a multi-functional space that connects guests in a vibrant, engaging atmosphere.

The beach area houses indoor and outdoor space with a selection of relaxed and recreation activities, where guests have the opportunity to reconnect with themselves or with each other, as well as with the wider natural surroundings. The Herb Garden is expanding to engage guests and connect them to local ingredients and the indigenous flavours of the destination via cooking classes.