<B>Successful and ambitious</B>

The Taj Exotica is one of Mauritius’s finest resorts. One of the main drivers behind its success is Hans E. Koch, its general manager. After more than two years here, he still has lots of plans for it…

To meet this friendly and apparently relaxed man, you have to catch him during a short break in his very busy schedule. As you talk to Hans Koch, the general manager of Taj Exotica Resorts & Spas, you see how ambitious and demanding he is about excellent service and highest quality standards for his team.

But when you mention success, Hans remains modest. “Being successful in any organization that involves people, you cannot talk about your own success. It is the result of a team effort. You require a dynamic and motivated team of professionals like the one I am blessed with!”

One of his favourite hobbies is travelling. Others include skiing and music. But through travelling, he has learnt a lot about other cultures and languages; apart from his native German, he speaks English and French. Born in 1951, in Lucerne, Hans did his primary and secondary education there.

He started his career at 26 in Switzerland in various hotels after graduating from the Lausanne hotel school. He also did management training at Crillon Hotel in Lima, Peru. In 1981, he joined the Hong Kong Hotel, part of the Peninsula Group, before joining Hilton International in August 1983. In quest of more challenges, he joined the opening team of the new Hilton Tokyo as the food and beverage manager when the hotel was awarded the Food and Beverage Awards of Excellence by Hilton International.

Appreciated for his managerial capabilities and style, he was offered the post of executive assistant manager of the Tokyo Bay Hilton in 1988. He then moved to Shanghai in 1991 and in 1993, the hotel won the ‘Hilton International Hotel of the Year Award’.

After completion of the general managers’ program at the International Institute of Management Development, the famous business school in Lausanne, in 1999 he was looking for new horizons. He was appointed vice-president and general manager of Grand Maratha Sheraton Mumbai, a new 400-room luxury property. He took the hotel to new heights achieving the ‘2000 Best Hotel of India’ Award.

In 2001, Hans returned to Switzerland to head the Grand Hotels Bad Ragaz, Health, Spa & Golf Resort, a member of Leading Hotels of the World. “International experience and subsequent exposure to many cultures have been precious assets during my career. Moreover, I have learned to deal with many challenges; and a positive attitude has been my driving force over the years!”

He got married to Marlyn almost twenty years ago. Up to now, Hans has always found it enjoyable to live and work in Mauritius. “My goal was always to open this resort and lead it to well-deserved success. Highest quality standards, happy guests and employees as well as financial success are what we are striving for. But, in our efforts to achieve this, we always see the need to further evolve and meet our discerning clientele’s ever-changing needs…Yes, one day, I will move on, but so far, I am very happy in Mauritius…”