Washing Dishes

Mr Webb started in the hotel business when he was very young - he was just 15 when entering the business in the UK.

And like many top hoteliers, he started at the bottom, in his case washing dishes. But once he had earned his Hotel management degree some years later, he says he knew he was doing the right thing getting into the hotel trade.

Mr Webb moved to Phuket in May 2006 to take over management of the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, and the 144 two-bedroom villas in the adjoining Marriott Vacation Club.

Globetrotter

John Webb

He worked for Thistle Hotels in the UK through the 1980s, spending several years in various food and beverage management positions before migrating to Australia in 1990.

In 1995 he was promoted to his first General Manager position at what was then the Ramada Hotel Parramatta in Western Sydney, now the Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta, which he re-branded following the acquisition of Renaissance by Marriott International in early 1997.

In 1999, two years after the Renaissance acquisition, Mr Webb was assigned to the position of Resident Manager of the New World Renaissance Hotel in the Philippine capital, Manila. This assignment was to assist the re-branding of that property and was therefore short term in nature.

Just nine months later he was promoted to General Manager at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel in Saigon, Vietnam. Three years later, he was again promoted, this time to General Manager of the JW Marriott Mumbai in India, the flagship for Marriott International in India and Mumbai's top hotel. As a result of the JW Mumbai performance over the last few years, Marriott International anticipate a strong foothold in the Indian marketplace with many new projects countrywide.

During his career with Marriott Webb has won several awards, including General Manager of the year in 1998 and 2001. Hopefully, there are more such awards to come.

Thoughts on Marriott and Phuket

JW Marriott Phuket

"Well…..first of all, I've been in Phuket just seven months and this is the first Resort Hotel I've managed. I've been a GM for eleven years in five countries and I've been with Marriott for 15 years, and in the hotel business for 25" Mr Webb says.

"It has gone very quickly, and I can truly say that I have enjoyed every year in every country; and Phuket is certainly no exception!"

"Marriott International is a fabulous company, and wherever we operate in the world, the way we operate, the way we do business is the same. Everything is linked into our culture, our credo, and it doesn't matter whether it's Thailand, India, Vietnam, Philippines or Australia as well, our philosophy of taking care of Associates (the Marriott term for employees) who take care of our customers has remained unchanged for decades in this company which will celebrate 80 years in 2007 (Marriott International was founded in 1927 in Washington DC).

"It is great to be "back home" in SEA (South East Asia) right here in Phuket. It is also very encouraging to see business returning to Phuket generally, with Leisure Travelers from all over the world coming back to this fabulous island paradise."

"We're looking forward to 2007!"