Ame : Executive Assistant Manager

Hi, my name is Ame. I come from the Pattani province in Thailand. I received my degree in Education Technology from Prince of Songkhla University and then tried a few things before joining Zazen – working in domestic distribution for Sahafarm, and then becoming a nun (for a short time).

I love working in the hospitality service because it’s a pleasure to provide good service and to see people happy. As the reservations manager and executive assistant manager I spend lots of time in direct correspondence with you, our guests, with the responsibilities of the reservations department, front office and wedding planning.

Send me an e-mail. I would love to take care of your reservation or to help you organize you wedding.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at info@samuizazen.com or weddings@samuizazen.com , I would be happy to answer your mail.

Mo : Reservation Officer

My name is ' Mo', I was born on 25th August 1980 in Suratthani province. I have a bachelor degree in banking & finance from Ratchabhut Institute Suan Dusit in Bangkok.

I started my career by working in travel agency in Bangkok for 1 year. Then, I worked for 3 years for a Company called Blisstel based in Bangkok as a financial officer.

After that I came to Samui and worked as a receptionist at the Samui Lagoon Bay before joining the team at Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa.

Now, I work as reservation officer here at Zazen and I love to take care of the guests requests. I’m always trying to learn more English in order to have more friends. Please do not hesitate to send me a mail. I will always be happy when I see that our guests are happy. See you!

Don’t hesitate to contact me at info@samuizazen.com , I would be happy to answer your mail.

Yannick : Resident Manager

I was born in 1981, in Morocco, and have always been in contact with different kinds of cultures, nationalities, and cuisine. Although my mother is French and my father is Italian, I was brought up in Brussels, Belgium, while also spending a lot of time in France and Morocco.

My whole family works in the hospitality industry, so it has always been very natural for me to follow this path.

I studied hospitality in the Institut Arthur Haulot in Brussels, knowing that it takes more than just passion for the job to succeed in this highly competitive industry.

During this period, I first came to Thailand to fulfill my work placement at Zazen. Ever since then, I wanted to come back, because of the friendliness of the people and the fascinating culture.

When I successfully finished my studies, I came back to Thailand and Zazen as soon as I could to contribute to the constantly improving service and facilities.

I’m now the Resident Manager and am responsible for the smooth operations of the F&B department. I also take part in the wedding planning and am always in contact with guests. Any questing, queries or comments about the resort – please get in touch! Need things to run smoother – I’ll make it happen.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at rm@samuizazen.com , I would be happy to answer your mail.

Chef Wally : Executive Chef

I guess people who know me speak of my passion for food. Maybe this comes from my cultural background - my Italian mother is a great influence – a great cook, and I love to travel and discover new ideas, new tastes and to create new recipes.

I started to cook for fun when I was 7 years old for my brother, to the surprise of my family.
I love to spend time in the markets of Asia and around the world. I’m always reading and discovering new products.I was born in Brussels and visited the Ecole Hoteliere Namur for hospitality.

My career - I started to work as an apprentice in the three star restaurant, Georges V, in Brussels.
I received more experience throughout my career in different restaurants as chef. All these restaurants were famous and awarded with the Michelin Star, such as the “Michel Servais” and the “Fils de Jules”, where I learned south-western French cuisine. After that, I moved to Italy to open my own restaurant. There, I was my own supplier of fruits and vegetables from my home garden – my organic style was already developing. Captivated by the range of different ingredients available, I started to study and discover the minute details of agriculture, which is the base of any good meal.

I moved to Samui in the year 2000, and opened a restaurant (Captain Kirk) in Chaweng with a friend. The restaurant exists to this day. I also traveled to many other different South-East Asian countries to discover new products and spices. My travels took me to locations as diverse as India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and China. This is how I learned to speak Italian, French, English, Indonesian, Chinese and Thai with my team. And in 2003, I started to work at Zazen, helping it to become what it is today – one of the highest ranked restaurants of Samui.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at chefwally@samuizazen.com , I would be happy to answer your mail.

Ti : Managing Director

I’m a Koh Samui girl, born and raised, and the youngest of nine siblings! I attended the Local University and finished with a degree in Marketing.

After that, I did in-house training at the airport as part of the ground staff for two months.

When I was 26 years old, my fiancé Alexander Andries and I, took over Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa from my father. We gave the resort its name, and continue to invest our energy in constantly improving Zazen’s service and outlook.

The resort allows me to express myself artistically. When I met Alex, I was running a small boutique in my father’s house in Bophut village, selling pieces of art, decoration and Buddhist artifacts which I discovered from the northern part of Thailand, Bali and Burma. The boutique at Zazen is an extension of this hobby.

Zazen is very much part of who I am. This used to be my playground! I saw my parents, brothers and sisters taking care of the first tourists and backpackers, and I wanted to do the same. I gave my heart to Zazen and am still very active in the resort.

I’m now the owner and executive director in charge of the whole organization of the hotel, and am proud to have designed the room interiors as well as the gardens at Zazen. I’m responsible for those small beloved details that make Zazen what it is today.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at info@samuizazen.com , I would be happy to answer your mail.

Alex : Managing Director

I was born in Brussels, but was conceived in Kinshasa, Congo, Africa, where my parents lived for 4 years! My mum, Jane White, is from England. She traveled a lot in the US and met my father, Christian Andries, in Brussels. He is Belgian and at that time had just come back from a two year trip to Australia. Together, they lived in Africa before returning back to Brussels. Because of all the traveling and mixed nationalities of my parents, our house was always full of friends from all around. I remember that this was a feeling that I really loved - having the chance to meet all these people. I guess that this was the time when I had the first privilege of welcoming people - the beginning of feelings that would lead me to the hospitality industry. I apparently told my parents that when I was older, I would also travel.

After finishing high school in Belgium, I went to Tyler, Texas with the Rotary Club to do another senior year and to discover America, its culture and people. I then went back to Brussels, studied Tourism & Hotel Management at the Institut Arthur Haulot and did an internship in at the Hillsboro airport next to Portland, Oregon, USA.

I graduated in September 97 and left for Thailand in October 97 as a Representative for the Belgian Tour Operator BEST tours. After spending 6 months in Bangkok, I got the chance to reopen the destination of Koh Samui for BEST tours. I used to welcome guests at the airport, visit them in 12 different hotels all around the island and made sure that they all enjoyed a nice holiday. After 2 months, I met Ti, who had a small boutique in Bophut village. We fell in love. I convinced Ti’s father to trust me, and we got engaged. From that moment on, I knew I wasn’t going to go back to live in Belgium. Two years later her father suggested we take over the family guest house and since then Ti and I have put all our energy and love into Zazen, welcoming guests on holiday to discover the beautiful island of Koh Samui and the friendliness of its inhabitants.

I hope that Ti and I will be able to welcome you soon to our home and that you too will fall in love with Zazen and Koh Samui.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at gm@samuizazen.com , I would be happy to answer your mail.