Oriental's new GM ready for tall task ahead of him

Preferring to be addressed as Khun Jan rather than Mr Goessing, the 51-year-old general manager recalled when he submitted an open application for any position at the Bangkok hotel 25 years ago.

The German, with a degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administra-tion, was turned down in a letter signed by Kurt, citing a lack of experience, which made it difficult to obtain a work permit.

"I still keep the letter and now it's placed next to the photo showing Khun Kurt welcoming me to this hotel," he said with a big laugh in an interview.

Though he failed, "It's very helpful to step on the hotel. It's been my career objective to work in one of the best hotels of the world and one of the best hotel companies in the world."

Goessing spent the first 10 years of his career holding senior management positions throughout the US in Chicago, Boston and Beverly Hills with the Regent Beverly Wilshire. He also worked for InterContinental and Kempinski hotels in Luxem-bourg and Germany early in his career.

Though he joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) 15 years ago, Jan knew the Bangkok property is unique and unlike any others that were under his stewardship.

He started with MOHG in 1994, managing the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong before moving to Jakarta in 1997 then the United States in October 1998.

After Hawaii, he was the general manager of the Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC until 2006, during which time the hotel won several awards, including "Best Hotel in the World" from Institutional Investor in 2007 and "Top Hotels in the USA" in the 2008 Zagat survey.

Goessing realises that his arrival comes at a difficult time when the tourism industry is being battered by several factors, but he says that being anywhere in the world is difficult now due to the economic crisis.

He expects to spend three months studying the hotel inside and out, before launching any marketing plans to ensure the continued prosperity of the 133-year hotel.

Goessing said Wachtveitl did not say much while passing the baton to him on June 15, after serving the hotel for 42 years.

"He said the new generation is important but should not forget what the hotel stands for. I am not intimidated but respectful. He also told me that I should be here for 17 years. That's when the hotel is celebrating the 150th anniversary."