BT Luxe Spring: Of hospitality and time

WELCOME spring with BT Luxe, our latest issue that comes in a special two-parter and arrives a day earlier – just in time for a leisurely browse over the long Easter weekend.

First off, meet three dashing, yet unconventional, hoteliers – they are not like the suited executives running major international chains, but independent go-getters who are carving their own niche in the hospitality industry. What they have in common is that none of them planned to be in the hotel business in the first place.

Rene Vijay Shrestha Einhaus combines his German work ethic and Nepalese heritage to run his family hotel in Kathmandu. He could have had a successful financial career in Germany, but Einhaus gave it all up to head to Nepal and pick up the mantle from his mother, turning their Dwarika’s Hotel into the kind of luxury resort that those who follow Conde Nast Traveller magazine’s list of top hotels in the world go to.

At the same time, we meet Singaporean John Lim, a former scientist, civil servant and rabid entrepreneur who dabbled in property redevelopment – his father’s properties, that is – and decided to take the plunge and build his first hotel in Chiang Mai. Having zero hospitality experience didn’t stop him from managing more, and the rest is history for the founder and chief executive of the Manor Group.

Last, but not least, we talk to the youngest hotelier in our list, whose climb to being co-owner of what is set to be the largest hotel-residence complex in Penang was met with multiple challenges. Sean Lim shares his experience of starting out as a dishwasher, failed chef and entrepreneur, before some luck and hard work led him to be part of an investment company turned hotel developer.

Elsewhere, we hear from veteran architect turned boutique hotelier Chan Soo Khian, who’s opening a luxury property in his hometown of Penang. We also head overseas to discover India by sea; sample nature’s bounty in Niigata; go ice-fishing in Furano; and savour the experience in top hotels in Bangkok.

SEE ALSO

Pranai Phornprapha: Finding ‘soul’ in Thai cuisine

For watch lovers, don’t miss our special section devoted to you. The new BT Luxe Spotlight, The Luxury of Time, brings you the best of the year’s new watch launches. From independent debuts to the coordinated largesse of Watches & Wonders, it’s a stunning feast of timepieces that will get your heart racing.

For a great read this long weekend, make sure you get your copy of The Business Times on Thursday (Apr 17).