Lars Kerfin

by Dr. Iain Corness

At 31 years of age (32 by the time next week’s newspaper is out) Lars Kerfin, the new young resident manager at the Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa is a very modest man. He states that his rise through the ranks is because “I was the right person in the right place at the right time, with the right person to support me.” However, after talking with him for some time, it is obvious that he embodies what he called ‘the spirit of Marriott’.
Lars was born in Mexico City, which actually entitles him to a Mexican passport, but he is German, as are his parents. His young life was spent on the shores of Lake Constance in Germany, with Austria and Switzerland his neighbors.
His mother believed it was important to expose her three children (Lars is the youngest) to different cultures. To this end, she saved each year to take the family to places such as Cyprus, Tunisia, Hungary, Scotland, France, and even border hopping into Switzerland! This undoubtedly sowed some seeds in young Lars, and in a small way probably helped steer him towards the career path he has chosen.
He was a good student, graduating from secondary school with honors, even though he hated sitting in class for didactic learning. “I am a hands on person. I can’t sit and just listen to a teacher.”
When he finished, he was only 16 years old, the time in most people’s lives when they are forced to pick a career. For Lars, his first thought was that he might like to be a special forces policeman, but since special forces policemen get killed, he rejected that one. He even though about banking, but decided that it would be boring. He had liked vacationing in hotels, and felt that working in a five star property would give him the opportunity to really look after the customer, so like us all, he started at the bottom, in his case being a waiter.
Waiting at the table had an initial four day training period. He saw behind the scenes. “That convinced me that this was the right choice for me,” and as a further aside, Lars then said, “And I still believe it.” He was accepted for the three year apprenticeship as a waiter and now you know why European waiters are so efficient! During this time, he met his wife who was also working in the hotel. “You work such crazy hours in hotels. It was good, as she understands hotel work.”
After his three years he was required to give 15 months of his time to the government, which he chose to do in ‘social service’. His job was to renovate hospital beds, but he did manage to have weekends off, so he then worked as a bartender.
Finally his responsibility was completed, and Lars enrolled for management training with the Renaissance group, an 18 month development program for future general managers. This was training to the level of supervisor with experience in all departments. “You have to know what you are talking about, even to cleaning 16 rooms every day, the industry standard.” This was certainly the ‘hands on’ training that Lars enjoyed. “After this, I was sure this was my career.” With the rotation through all the departments he had also found he enjoyed the front office even more than the restaurant.
He was working for the Renaissance in Munich when the group was taken over by Marriott, but this was to give him the opportunity of working in Hamburg, a city that had always interested him. 18 months there as front office manager, and Lars was ready for his next posting, which was either to go further up the ladder in Germany, or look overseas. He took the plunge, asking his superior if he knew of a suitable position outside Europe, with a beach in front of the hotel! To his delight, there were three. One in Surfers Paradise Australia, one in Guam and one in Thailand at Hua Hin.
He and his wife then sat down to look at the possibilities. Australia was too Europeanized and they had never been to Thailand. He signed the contract without even seeing the Marriott in Hua Hin. However, said Lars, “It was a Marriott so it couldn’t be bad!” They sold up in Hamburg and arrived.
Like anyone moving to another culture, there are expectations. Lars found that his expectations were quite different from the real experience. “We were so much made welcome. People were excited that they had someone with Marriott brand knowledge. So different from the German culture.” He explained further, “You get involved. You become part of the family (of the staff members). I saw more weddings, births and funerals in the four years in Hua Hin than I ever saw in Germany.” Those four years encompassed two as the front office manager and two as the rooms division manager, but it was time to move on and gain more experience.
He wanted to stay in Thailand, and Marriott suggested a position was available at their hotel in Pattaya. The position as resident manager. “I took it. I trusted the brand and I was aware of the positioning and knew a couple of the people.” That was enough and he has been very pleasantly surprised by the overall scene in Pattaya.
I asked Lars what his hobbies were when he is not working, and he immediately said, “My wife.” Since Lars and his wife enjoy quality restaurants with a good glass of wine, they are now slowly working their way through our numerous better class restaurants. And they remain impressed. He also admitted that he does not exercise enough, “But I find excuses as to why it is not possible for me to play sport!”
Lars Kerfin is a very personable young man, and Pattaya should try and hold on to him for as long as possible. But this man is a guaranteed high flyer!