Anantara announces GM appointments

Marc Gussing, General Manager, Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is appointing new General Managers in two of its resorts in Thailand and Mozambique.

In Thailand, Marc Gussing has been appointed as General Manager at Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa. Marc joins the Anantara Thailand team following several positions in the Maldives, most recently from PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi, another Minor Hotel Group property, where he was GM since early 2014, and before that from Jumeirah Dhevanafushi where he was Resort Manager.

Marc spent the early years of his career in Food & Beverage, working in a selection of hotels, bars and on cruise liners. Post the completion of his schooling in hotel management in Switzerland, he spent approximately a decade in roles as General Manager and hospitality consultant for a spectrum of companies, including ALiLA Hotels & Resorts, Paresa Corporation and Nira Hotels & Resorts.

A Swedish national speaking four languages, Marc’s career has taken him across the globe to Switzerland, the UK, the USA, Monaco, Israel, France, the Seychelles, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

In Mozambique, Franco Rienzo is the new General Manager of Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa. Franco joins Anantara from Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) SEG Education Group, Switzerland, where as Programme Leader he lectured to First Year Food & Beverage and Operations Management MIB students. Prior to this he held management positions at the Zuri White Sands Goa Resort & Casino, India and at Silversea Cruises.

A Swiss-born, Italian National, Franco speaks four languages and graduated from Cornell University, Ithaca (USA) with Certifications in Foodservice Management.

Now, some 25 years later, he has a wealth of experience in the industry having worked at a range of five-star hotels and restaurants, including: Relais & Chateaux Caesar Augustus Hotel, Anacapri, Capri, Italy; Connaught Hotel, London, UK, and Grand Hotel et de Milan, Italy, where he spent 13 years. Franco started his career in hospitality in Food & Beverage, followed by Banqueting, before moving into hotel management.

From 2004 to 2008 he lectured in Conference & Banqueting Organisation for post-graduate Masters in Hotel Management at UET Milan, Italy.