Stephen Ansell, GM Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow
The picture, taken in front of The famous Bolshoi Balet shows a modest, warm, friendly gentleman. As such, it's a pretty accurate picture. It can't tell you though that he's a Twickenham-born rugby fan who was delighted to see the international rugby sevens World Cup hosted in Moscow in 2013. Neither does it tell you that, despite living outside the UK over half his life, Queens Park Rangers FC are still important enough for the club crest to provide the wallpaper on his iPhone. A man who is comfortable crossing cultural boundaries because he is still in touch with his roots. And what an interesting life he's had so far in hospitality.
First bitten by the Hyatt bug at the tender age of six, staying at GH Singapore (another of our favourites) whilst travelling with family (Dad worked in the oil industry) he first joined the company in 1996 and was dispatched to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Apart from a a two year stint with the World Bank, he's been with Hyatt ever since and worked with some notable colleagues. From Riyadh, he moved to Egypt to join Garry Friend in opening Hyatt Regency Sharm el Sheikh. He waxes lyrical in describing his love for the Central Asian Republics, all of which he seems to have visited and many he has lived and worked in. His kids learned to ski near Bishkek in Kyrgyz Republic.
Judging by the number times he mentions children and his wife, he is a devoted family man. Now it's outings to Gorky Park for summer picnics or to watch the youngsters skating. Five years in Moscow, two of which as Area Director, hasn't dimmed his enthusiasm one iota. He's obviously really enjoyed working with renowned hotel designer Tony Chi on the recent guest room refurbishments (a huge success we think) and is looking forward to completing the makeover of the restaurant and lobby early 2015.
Yet another example of the extraordinary breed of warm, friendly, confident Hyatt GM. We wish him luck and hope we'll have the chance to meet again soon. We'll certainly be returning to Moscow as soon as we can to enjoy some more of Stephen's wonderful hospitality.
First bitten by the Hyatt bug at the tender age of six, staying at GH Singapore (another of our favourites) whilst travelling with family (Dad worked in the oil industry) he first joined the company in 1996 and was dispatched to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Apart from a a two year stint with the World Bank, he's been with Hyatt ever since and worked with some notable colleagues. From Riyadh, he moved to Egypt to join Garry Friend in opening Hyatt Regency Sharm el Sheikh. He waxes lyrical in describing his love for the Central Asian Republics, all of which he seems to have visited and many he has lived and worked in. His kids learned to ski near Bishkek in Kyrgyz Republic.
Judging by the number times he mentions children and his wife, he is a devoted family man. Now it's outings to Gorky Park for summer picnics or to watch the youngsters skating. Five years in Moscow, two of which as Area Director, hasn't dimmed his enthusiasm one iota. He's obviously really enjoyed working with renowned hotel designer Tony Chi on the recent guest room refurbishments (a huge success we think) and is looking forward to completing the makeover of the restaurant and lobby early 2015.
Yet another example of the extraordinary breed of warm, friendly, confident Hyatt GM. We wish him luck and hope we'll have the chance to meet again soon. We'll certainly be returning to Moscow as soon as we can to enjoy some more of Stephen's wonderful hospitality.