<B>In fairness and hospitality</B>

The industry has no secrets for this man who has been at the head of Labourdonnais hotel for seven years. Rolph has no long-term plans, he just wants his hotel to be very successful…

Rolph first came to Mauritius in 1993 to work for Beachcomber. With a rich experience in hospitality, he was appointed straightaway as deputy general manager of the Shandrani. One year later, he moved to the Victoria Hotel. He did not spend a long time there as he was offered the management of the Sandton Sun Hotel in a posh suburb of Johannesburg, where he had worked before his first appointment here. All this experience motivated him to open his own restaurant in Cape Town, two years later.

Though his business was successful, Rolph sold his restaurant and moved back to Mauritius in 1999 to work for the Labourdonnais Hotel as deputy General Manager until 2002, when he became the General Manager. His personality, experience and performance have helped him to remain at the head of the Labourdonnais for seven years now and, in 2004, he was also given the responsibility of “Le Suffren”.

To know Rolph on the professional and on the personal level are two different things. Indeed, as a manager, he does not deny his strictness in human resource management as he believes this is part of his job. However, he believes in fairness towards his staff as he is himself well disciplined and organized. “I like to be consistent and fair. I like people who are meticulous and precise. I am a firm believer in standards. There is a place for everything. So everything has to be placed properly. This is how I like to see my business run.”

Rolph, born 43 years ago in Lucerne in Switzerland, has followed in the footsteps of his parents who were both in food catering. He did both his primary and secondary education in private institutions in Switzerland, first in German and then in French. This is why he is fluent in both languages and has a good knowledge of English and Italian.

After his secondary education, he studied in a business school for one year. Knowing that he would throw himself into hospitality, his father recommended him to follow a course in gastronomy. After this, he ventured further in the field by trying out every department of hospitality, from the lowest to the highest job. He is married to Angela and they have two children: Alexander (11) and Jessica (eight).

After ten years in Mauritius, Rolph can also follow a conversation in Creole. His hobbies are tennis, golf and water skiing. But when the weather is bad, he sits down in front of his television. “When I am free I take time to educate myself. I like watching documentaries on historical and geographical subjects.”

Rolph admits he has not thought of leaving Mauritius. During the past seven years he has been offered many job opportunities which he has put aside. Many factors have kept him here. “I could have left! But, I like the organisation I’m working for and it’s a great company. Then, I enjoy working in this hotel and with the staff. And finally, I love Mauritius because of its beauty and for its people who are flexible and very eager to learn. So, to be honest I do not intend to leave Mauritius in the near future. I am still enjoying the challenge of the job I am doing…”