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Tatler Asia
5 days ago
- Business
- Tatler Asia
Arnaud Zannier, Founder & CEO Zannier Hotels and the desire for a unique path
Above Arnaud Zannier, Founder & CEO Zannier Hotels He is indeed a pioneer—the scion of a notable French family that made its fortune in the children's apparel business. The brash young Arnaud passed on the chance to enter his father's trade, splintering off and co-founding a successful footwear company instead. However, it was his passion for travel in exotic destinations around the world that inspired his most impactful business ideas. Staying in some of the finest luxury hotels during his travels, he soon grew tired of the inauthentic experiences they offered. Dissatisfied, his thoughts turned to founding his own deluxe resort brand perfectly suited to the tastes and temperament of discerning voyagers such as himself. The opportunity to bring his ideas to reality came when his father asked him to reconsider being part of the family business and come back into the fold. Reluctant to take a step backwards, he instead raised his thoughts about a new approach to hospitality, showing how the luxury market was in need of an alternative take with fresh parameters. It was just an idea dropped in conversation—but six months later, Zannier's father called back with a spectacular real estate opportunity in the French Alps. Having his family's full financial resources standing behind their prodigal son, Zannier had a prime opportunity to put his concept to the test. 'I didn't know anything about hospitality,' he admits. 'Never attended any schools about hospitality, nothing. It was just an aspiration for something different. As a consumer, when I was traveling, I was never fully happy—because to me, not all the elements were within the composition of the experience. This is how I proposed the idea to my family. I didn't know anything about hospitality. Never attended any schools about hospitality, nothing. It was just an aspiration for something different. - Arnaud Zannier - 'We started Le Chalet small, with only 12 suites, but we tailor-made the product, every detail—including hiring 40 staff, so it was practically butler service at every level. It worked.' What Zannier created on the snow-covered slopes of the Mont-Blanc mountain range was a remarkable concept, considering the norms of luxury hospitality. Rather than meet any particular niche or respond to trends in a certain market segment, Zannier built a high-end accommodation brand aesthetic based entirely on his own approach and vision. In personally creating the design language for Zannier the brand, there's a stamp on each of his resorts that is Zannier the man. All Zannier Hotels properties in operation today, including Le Chalet and his properties in Cambodia, Namibia, and Vietnam, amongst others, exist as a reflection of their owner. 'When you're passionate, you need to express yourself and do exactly what you want, otherwise you're no good at it,' says Zannier. 'So for me, it was very important to start with something that I was 200% dedicated to and deeply invested in. 'I don't like boundaries, I don't like to be channelled into anything. I create what I feel is right for the place and hope that guests will see what I see and enjoy it the same way. This is how it started. Luckily, quickly, even after the first property, we had the success we were hoping for. So I simply continue to do what I like to do. I never force myself to do anything I don't like. You won't see any glass or milk pot, anything in our property that I didn't choose. If I don't like it, it's not there. 'I never compromise. Compromise is wrong. You end up having something that's halfway, and it's not as strong.' Read More: How to spend 48 hours in the ancient capital of Hue Leaning into locality Above All Zannier hotels in operation today, including Le Chalet and properties in Cambodia, Namibia and Vietnam, among others, are true reflections of their passionate owner. In many ways, Zannier's instincts were prescient of a broader thirst amongst luxury travellers for more authentic, localised experiences. Whilst he was determined to cleave to his own personal tastes, those tastes extended to a fascination for authenticity of place, for locality and genuine cultural alignment. In the days when Zannier travelled himself—now a rare pleasure for the owner of an ever-expanding portfolio of resorts and private estates—he would always find himself looking outward from his five-star accommodations at the nearby villages and towns, perhaps wishing, as the most sensitive travellers sometimes do, to be able to walk inside any of those foreign dwellings and be home . 'It probably comes from growing up in a family environment and culture where luxury is not always about the material or the branding, but more about the experiences,' remembers Zannier. 'We had a family weekend house where friends were always staying. My father loved to receive them and serve good wine, good food, spend quality moments together—but in a simple way, not to impress. 'I was brought up in this environment, in this surrounding. I believe it reflects what I do today. It's not the most expensive item that's going to create the most incredible or memorable experiences.' Zannier's family memories hearken back to a time before digital addictions and the habit of travelling with devices perpetually in hand, before the Wi-Fi password became the first question resort guests ask when arriving at their rooms. Above Arnaud Zannier, Founder & CEO Zannier Hotels (left) and Alain Bachmann, General Manager Zannier Bai San Ho 'I was raised in a generation where grandparents were still very present,' he says. 'My grandmother cooking, the smell of hot bread and coffee in the kitchen in the morning—these are all emotions, feelings that are printed in your memory. 'My grandparents were farmers in the middle of France, so I used to spend my holidays there, getting fresh milk from the farm next door in the evening, going with my grandfather to collect mushrooms in the forest when the season was right. These are all simple moments that are disappearing from modern life, which I find a shame because these are very grounding moments that procure memories. And this is what I'm trying to do in the hotels—being able to create and imprint simple memories in the mind of a guest. 'For me, those subtle and unique little moments stick better than saying, 'oh, my bathroom had a golden tap'. And as a person, I am not looking for that. When I was traveling, I wanted my kids to taste local food at the market rather than have something that you can get anywhere in the world, such as fancy sushi. You should get sushi when you go to Japan, but why would you want to do sushi if you're in Italy? No—do the best mozzarella and tomatoes. Serve a great paella when you're in Spain. 'This is my philosophy. This is what I'm trying to translate through the creation of all these hotels.' The spirit of wellness Above Arnaud Zannier, Founder & CEO Zannier Hotels Zannier Hotels is currently undergoing a gradual transformation towards a new set of protocols promoting holistic wellness at all resorts, whilst developing fresh, wellness-themed packages for offer to guests during their stay. At Zannier Bãi San Hô, there is a palpable mood of wholesomeness and balance that is swiftly becoming a key focus of the hospitality experience. Six months ago, the group appointed a new regional spa person in charge of both Cambodia and Vietnam, who managed to successfully boost spa revenues by 50 percent since her arrival by reaching beyond the traditional spa menu and developing broader, more impactful programmes. 'We don't want to become just a wellness destination or healthcare specialists,' explains Zannier. 'It's still a leisure hotel, but we want to help people understand why something is good for you or not in terms of nutrition or activities; if you need something that is more calming, or something more active, depending on your body type. 'We start with a screening process with the help of a bio-resonance machine. Our Wellness Manager will welcome you and ask you some questions. We'll look at your eyes, your tongue, and try to identify your body type—because we're inspired by Ayurvedic and ancient Chinese medicine, where it's all about energy. Then, after the screening, you get a program that will be a mix of activities. Yoga on the beach at sunrise. Maybe eat a bit more fruit in the morning to better capture your vitamins. Or take a shower in the evening to release the stress of the day, and you might go to sleep faster. They're all just small tips. 'What we want is for our guests to take with them the knowledge of how to continue and introduce all these elements within their daily life routine at home, so that it has a profound and lasting change on their wellness. We want to make a long-term impact.' Above Arnaud Zannier, Founder & CEO Zannier Hotels Of course, it's no accident that Zannier Bãi San Hô is embracing first this new approach. As with all things connected with the brand, this new progression directly follows the spiritual evolution of the man himself. For the first time in this conversation, Arnaud Zannier appears shy. 'Why am I doing this?' he blushes. 'Again, everything is very personal. Six years ago, I separated from my wife, now my ex-wife. After the divorce, I found a new partner, who is my wife today. She was just really into wellbeing, and I educated myself, indirectly, through her.' In this new love, Zannier has found a renewed energy in life, which is now manifest in the resorts that bear his name—and he has much to share about the discoveries he has made through his relationship. I never compromise. Compromise is wrong. You end up having something that's halfway, and it's not as strong. - Arnaud Zannier - 'You know, life changes are done in small steps,' he muses, as rough waves rise and resolve on Zannier's soft sandy beach, the same pale ochre colour of his grandmother's hot bread. There isn't a thing about the Vietnamese resort that doesn't emerge from his world, that doesn't reflect his passion. 'Small things, but you have to be consistent,' he smiles. 'So if we want to bring something positive into the lives of our guests, we have to introduce small steps that they can understand and learn from us while they're here, to carry on when they're back home. 'That's the philosophy of Zannier wellness.' NOW READ Zannier Coral Beach, Phu Yen The story of promotion from the Deputy General Manager of Mia Saigon Luxury Hotel: 'Being a mother and being a leader can go hand in hand' Love, Bonito's Rachel Lim on motherhood and leading a fashion empire with intention
Hospitality Net
09-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Tuu Eco Stay Awards Announces First Bamboo Verified Hotels: Regent Hong Kong, Pullman Phuket Karon and Zannier Bãi San Hô
Singapore — Three leading hotels in Asia from Accor, IHG and Zannier Hotels have become the first to earn verified recognition from the data-backed Tuu Eco Stay Awards, proving sustainability can strengthen both credibility and competitive edge. Regent Hong Kong, Pullman Phuket Karon Beach Resort (Thailand), and Zannier Bãi San Hô (Vietnam) each submitted at least six consecutive months of operational data for independent review, earning Tuu's Verified Bamboo Badge, a measurable mark of trusted progress that general managers can benchmark, marketers can amplify, and ESG teams can build on. Each hotel took a different path to progress, but all backed it with evidence and operational data across five core metrics — Energy, Water, Food, Waste, and Human Resources — maximising the reporting already compiled for recent EarthCheck Platinum, Green Key, and Green Globe certifications to earn Tuu's Verified Bamboo Badge. We realised many hotels weren't making the most of the marketing opportunity to celebrate their genuine eco achievements, but we also knew credibility had to come first. That's why we take a rigorous, data-backed approach from the start. Terry Blackburn, founder of the Tuu Eco Stay Awards At Regent Hong Kong, that process is helping validate a major achievement: a 23% reduction in electricity use following renovation. Thanks to our owner's commitment to transforming Regent Hong Kong into a sustainable hotel, this renovation was rooted in responsibility. We set and review ESG targets throughout the year, and platforms like the Tuu Eco Stay Awards help bring added clarity and credibility to the progress we're making. Harvey Wong, the property's director of engineering While the first recipients span global and high-profile brands, the Tuu Eco Stay Awards are designed to work for hotels of all sizes. For independent and regional groups, the programme offers a cost-effective, high-trust pathway to compete with and benchmark against global brands on sustainability leadership. Unlike broad certification schemes, the Tuu Eco Stay Awards offer a performance-based, practical alternative, giving hotels a clear framework for tracking monthly progress. Verified Bamboo Badges are valid for 12 months and are stored on a third-party blockchain registry to ensure transparency and traceability. Greenwashing has been too common, even in our industry. What appealed to us about the Tuu Eco Stay Awards was that it's based on facts, not fiction or wishful thinking. It gave us a clear picture of where we stand today, and a strong foundation for what we want to improve next. Alain K. Bachmann, general manager of Zannier Bãi San Hô, which uses solar to supply up to 40% of the resort's energy Tuu issues each verified hotel a public-facing Eco Profile, a digital page that shows its Verified Bamboo Badge, aggregated monthly score, and sustainability highlights to build transparency at a glance. By collecting and verifying data, hotels can turn sustainability ambition into evidence-based action. It's about moving from intention to impact—and that credibility matters to everyone from guests and regulators to investors. Paul Ashburn, Partner at HLB Thailand, the third-party verification partner of the Tuu Eco Stay Awards That credibility also supports hotels like Pullman Phuket Karon in applying their sustainability efforts across departments and guest touchpoints. A data-driven platform like the Tuu Eco Stay Awards helps validate our efforts and benchmark our progress in a meaningful way. We've focused on hands-on initiatives like structured waste reduction and phasing out single-use plastics, and this gives our team and guests confidence that those changes are making a real impact. Christian Carminati, hotel manager of Pullman Phuket Karon Hotels with a Verified Bamboo Badge also earn the right to apply for 30 independently judged Eco Stay Awards across four categories: Environmental Impact, Local Community, Cultural Heritage, and Sustainability Planning. Judging is open year-round and aligned with global ESG benchmarks, helping hotels turn verified sustainability into long-term recognition and marketing value. Earning the Verified Bamboo Badge and entering the full suite of Eco Stay Awards is just the beginning. Tuu supports hotels in turning verified progress and awards into engaging content, from in-room storytelling to investor-ready reports. Each verified hotel receives a tailored storytelling kit to help communicate its impact with guests, owners, and brand platforms. With more than 20 hotels already participating across Asia, the Tuu Eco Stay Awards is gaining traction with boutique independents and global brands alike. And with greenwashing regulations tightening and guest expectations evolving, the timing couldn't be better. Guests want to stay in sustainable hotels, so let's give them a simple way to spot the ones doing it right, and help those hotels share content that's engaging, credible, and backed by real progress , Blackburn adds. No one wants to hear about plastic straws and towel reuse anymore. That should be a given, not the story. The success of the Tuu Eco Stay Awards is supported by industry partners committed to sustainability in hospitality. Official Sponsors include ecoSPIRITS, Lumitics, and Bizsu. Official Partners include the Asia Sustainable Travel, Phuket Hotels Association, C9 Hotelworks, and Delivering Asia. About Tuu Tuu is a sustainability intelligence system helping hotels turn operational impact into data-backed progress and purposeful storytelling. Designed to make ESG performance measurable, comparable, and communicable, Tuu supports hotel teams, brand leaders, and ownership groups to track performance, verify results, and share credible sustainability content across stakeholder touchpoints. Liam Aran Barnes Co-founder | Tuu Tuu
