Whilst some take a lifetime to discover their professional calling in life, others know exactly what they want to achieve and how they will achieve it right from the very beginning. Cue Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort’s general manager, Dario Orsini: a humble inspirational man who has been chasing his hospitality dreams since childhood.
Now with more than 30 years in the business, Dario has worked and travelled around the globe in some of world’s finest luxury travel destinations, most recently making his mark at the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort. While sitting in the breezy lobby lounge overlooking the white sand beach of the bustling Kuta strip, we talk to Dario about his exceptional, worldwide journey to his position today. He speaks about the resort’s growth since opening, revealing what it’s like to host A-list celebrities and, most importantly for him, he wholeheartedly honours his passionate team and the importance of always working together.
Q: Today you’re the general manager of one of the finest resorts in Kuta, but how did you first enter into the hospitality industry?
A: It actually goes back to when I was 8 years old. Some of my family were already in the hospitality industry and would tell me their stories and experiences – I was fascinated. As I grew up I learnt more and understood more about what the industry involved. At school when the teacher asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would always say: “I want to work in hospitality. I want to travel and I want to learn languages.” Everything just made sense from the very beginning.
Q: You’re originally from Naples, Italy. What enticed you to Indonesia?
A: I’ve been travelling since I was 16 when I first left Italy and Indonesia has been a natural stop. I was in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Egypt, then Europe before I was transferred to Australia. I joined Starwood in Perth so it was a natural move to start looking at Asia and the Pacific. First I went to Thailand, then Malaysia, then to Indonesia – nine years later I’m still here and this is the longest post I’ve ever had.
Q: From your extensive 30-year, worldwide experience, how does Indonesia’s hospitality industry compare to the global market?
A: Indonesia and, in particular, Bali in the last 10 to 15 years have really been put on the map in terms of international hospitality. It’s actually a point of reference for a lot of countries out there when comparing how hospitality should work. It’s certainly a competitive market, but mostly it is country versus country as opposed to hotel versus hotel, so the way we need to look at it is, Indonesia’s hotel market as a whole must always be a step ahead, always a novelty and always creative and fresh. We need to be trendsetters.
Q: So what is it about Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort that stands out from the rest?
A: Location is certainly a standout. Everything is within walking distance. You’ve got shopping, surfing, the beach, a bit of culture, entertainment venues – we’re even within walking distance to Seminyak if you like. Then there’s our Market Brunch at Feast – another standout. It has great value, has a great vibe and great food – it’s become
“I hope my team benefits from working with me as much as I benefit from working with them.”
an iconic part of the hotel. All of this really makes us who we are and that’s something we’ve wanted to portray right from the start: the fact that we have a soul, a personality. We never become complacent and we always evolve to keep the market interested.
Q: So what’s your favourite aspect of the resort?
A: Either the Presidential Suite or the rooftop where you can see a different sunset every day that inspires you to be a different person each day. That same feeling of warmth that takes you and your mind somewhere else, it blows me away every time.
Q: You were appointed GM of Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort back in 2012 during the opening. How have you seen the resort grow over the years?
A: From the very beginning I’ve had a great and fun team behind me and the growth has therefore been very aligned. As we know, Kuta has long been renowned as the epicentre of tourism, but over the years it’s become a backpacker destination, not necessarily an elite, luxury destination. So the vision of the owners and our team was to bring Kuta back onto the map as an amazing place to stay – to present the world with a new Kuta. Hence, the Beachwalk shopping mall was built next door and so was the Sheraton. My team have been dedicated to developing the hotel into an award-winning destination from the start, making sure that we’re actually lifting the Kuta profile. I actually believe we have done that.
Q: We can tell you have a very respectable team-focussed approach to management. Can you tell us more?
A: I always refer to a song by Pink Floyd that says, “Together we stand, divided we fall.” It means that if we all work together we will never fall, a philosophy that really gives me goosebumps because it’s something I firmly believe and have experienced here. My team and I are only successful because we’ve always stuck together and always made decisions together. We work in an environment where there’s no need to set strict rules or boundaries because my team can trust their manager. We’re just people working together towards the same objective. It’s not scientific or complex, but it works. I hope my team benefits from working with me as much as I benefit from working with them.
Q: You were clearly meant for this industry, but what do you imagine you would have become if you hadn’t pursued a career in hospitality?
A: Well, I do like to DJ every now and again, but as I said, this industry has been my dream since I was 8 years old, so even when I reflect I don’t think I’d want to do anything else. I have no regrets.
Q: We’ve heard that you’ve hosted celebrities like Diego Maradona, US President Barack Obama and José Carreras, among others. What’s it like when celebs are in town?
A: Each celebrity has his protocols, restrictions, limitations and often lots of security, but really most are very down to Earth. Barack Obama was very humble and even Maradona was happy eating his pasta with tomato sauce while signing autographs.
Q: So what’s next on the horizon? Are there any upcoming projects we can look forward to?
A: Watch this space! Although I can guarantee you that we will target people from all walks of life, from families and couples to older guests and younger travellers – in Kuta it’s especially important to have something for everyone.
Q: Finally, what advice would you give to budding hospitality enthusiasts?
A: There’s a couple of things my associate always tells me and that’s: “Dario is always there when you need him, but, gosh, he’s always there when you don’t need him as well!” So I guess it’s about always being present, inquisitive and always asking questions – the more you ask, the more you learn. But at the same time, it’s important not to micromanage. People need to learn on their own and make their own mistakes and grow, whilst at the same time keeping an eye out for them, being there for them and supporting them. If your team is successful, you are successful. You cannot do everything yourself; you cannot be successful by yourself.
