Remote and Refined
The tucked-away resort of MĀUA Nusa Penida is among the most stunning island resorts in the country, and General Manager Sebastien Menesguen does his part every day to ensure a memorable experience for all who step foot inside. We caught up with him and learned some more about the property that brought him back to Indonesia.
Q: How did you debut in hospitality, and what originally drove you to get into it?A: Originally, I wanted to be a lawyer or a vet. I’ve always been interested in European laws, as well as passionate about animals, having a few pets myself, mainly horses. However, after a few summer jobs in my early days, I found out that I preferred interacting with people, and figured hospitality would suit me perfectly. Additionally, one of my hobbies is travelling, so I liked the idea of working in hotels and travelling the world. That’s how I decided on my career in hospitality.
Q: How have your contributions to hotels in multiple countries, namely the UK, Cambodia and Indonesia, changed your perspective on hospitality?
A: I think the biggest change in my perspective is the background of the people I’ve worked with, as well as the cultural background of all the places I’ve worked. Managing people back in Europe compared to managing people here in Southeast Asia is quite different, and it has pushed me to use a different approach here in Indonesia, or anywhere I’ve worked outside of Europe.
Q: What would you say is the biggest difference between hospitality in the UK and Southeast Asia?
A: From what I can remember, the biggest difference between hospitality in the two continents comes with the expected management style. While in Europe, I experienced a much more straightforward management style, being straightforward in Southeast Asia runs the risk of offending people. I have since been more flexible in my management style here than I used to be back home, for that reason.
Q: How did the opportunity to manage MĀUA Nusa Penida come about?
A: During pandemic, while living back in France, I came across some French people who owned this property. After a long discussion, talking about their vision and strategy for this not-yet-open resort, as well as about my passion for hospitality, they offered me the opportunity to come back here with them. I, of course, accepted and am happy to be based in Bali again.
Q: What are your responsibilities here at MĀUA Nusa Penida?
A: My responsibilities are to oversee the resort operations on a day-to-day basis, as well as to report to our corporation and shareholders. As part of our DNA, I need to be very close to my team and the guests to ensure there expectations are being surpassed.
Q: How does managing a resort in Nusa Penida differ from managing one on a larger island?
A: Working on a remote island has its unique set of challenges. Mainly, the logistics are a big challenge, having to take a boat here from Bali. In terms of sustainability, we have to be quite cautious with our resources and with the environment. MĀUA Nusa Penida is considering its very own bottling plant for sustainable fresh water, actually, for this reason. Soon, we’ll be sourcing our very own eggs from MĀUA chickens, which would be unique to this company. We can accomplish all this by working with the team very closely and making sure everything is running smoothly.
Q: How do you manage your schedule here in Nusa Penida? Do you find yourself leaving the island very often, if at all?
A: Interestingly enough, I live in Bali and commute here to Nusa Penida daily. My passion is the resort, so most of my time is spent here, managing the resort. The sacrifice, however, is working around the boat to and from Bali, but it’s something I live with to be able to work on this great property.
Asia Dreams Volume 49
MĀUA Nusa Penida
Sakti, Nusa Penida
Bali 80771, Indonesia
T: (+62) 3616208999
IG: @mauanusapenida
