Lionel Ferrari Appointed GM of Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas in Thailand

(06/02/23)  Minor Hotels has appointed Lionel Ferrari as General Manager of the Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas in Thailand's Phang Nga province.

Lionel Ferrari

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.

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