Achieving the Unachievable
As a 17-year veteran of Marriott, this Netherland native’s love of travel and intrigue began at an early age. Born to parents with a passion for exploring unexplored destinations, the husband and father of two has brought his worldly perspective to Bali. As an avid sportsman and triathlete enthusiast, Titus has proven he is astute at setting goals. His strategic planning and training skills ensure he completes every challenge presented to him.
By Nathan
E: Who or what gave you the drive to get into the hospitality industry? Has it always been your passion?
A: The drive came from my parents. When I was young, I was my mum’s sous chef in the kitchen, helping her prepare our Christmas dinners. I enjoyed it and my mother recommended I get into hospitality. My father is an architect who designed several hotels in our city. While visiting his projects and learning the trade from the general managers, I became intrigued with hospitality. After my career in professional sports, hospitality has remained my number one passion.
E: What drove your decision to accept an assignment in Bali two and a half years ago?
A: How could I possibly not accept such an amazing opportunity? We loved the island and we love Indonesia. We found a great school for our children and a fantastic environment in which to live. We didn’t need more than one second to accept the opportunity to move to Bali!
E: What have been the most rewarding experiences of your tenure in the hospitality industry?
A: Working with so many diverse people. While in the Middle East, I spearheaded creating teams that consisted of a mix of cultures and genders. It was truly inspiring to be part of a multicultural team and challenge the social norms of that era. After my tenure in the Middle East, I moved to Bali to work alongside the most incredible talent I have ever seen. Throughout the past 18 months in Bali, my team has remained positive, optimistic and displayed great resilience. This has made it possible for us to sustain through the crisis and work towards building a great future together.
E: You have worked in multiple countries, which has been your favourite and why?
A: I have enjoyed every country I have worked in. I met my wife in Bahrain and we spent three fantastic years there together. Both of my daughters were born in the United Arab Emirates where I loved the ambition of the people. Bali in particular tops the list. The amazing culture, beautiful island, fantastic food and incredibly kind people make it a great pleasure to live here.
E: During your tenure within the hospitality industry, what has been the biggest challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it?
A: I think the past 18 months have been incredibly challenging. The constantly changing outlook, the unpredictability of the pandemic and the roller-coaster of circumstances that we were part of. Looking back at this experience I’ve realised it has become one of the most rewarding challenges I’ve faced. I have been pleasantly surprised by the resilience of our teams. How they manage to stay positive, driven and inspired to keep moving forward is motivating. We’ve had to re-examine everything deemed normal before the pandemic, ensuring it was still relevant to a post-pandemic world. The team at W Bali – Seminyak has re-shaped our guest experience and once the first international flights land, we will welcome them with open arms.
E: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: Besides spending time with my two daughters and my wife, I love to get on my bike and explore the island. While the past 18 months have been challenging professionally, it has been a pleasure moving around the island without traffic and enjoying its beauty. Every week I explore a new area of the island on my bike and have fallen in love with Bali.
E: In your opinion, what personality traits do all great general managers possess?
A: I believe great general managers lead with humility. We are so fortunate to work in these amazing hotels and with these amazing people. The general managers I know and interact with frequently excel in passion and professionalism, however, in my opinion, the great ones’ place humility at the top of their strongest traits.
E: As the hospitality industry adapts to a post-pandemic environment, what advice do you have for someone looking to break into the hospitality industry?
A: How can you not love hospitality? Every day is different and brings a unique set of challenges. You will be encouraged to think out of the box, handle every situation differently and create unique personalized experiences. Guest are counting on you to provide them with an amazing memory and your colleagues depend on you to work as one team. My advice would be to embrace the challenges presented by the industry and enjoy every second of the journey.
W Bali – Seminyak
