Sebastien Menesguen has joined Alila Villas Koh Russey in the role of general manager.

The thrill of being in a new country and learning from a new team has been the driving force at each step along the way of his 18-year-long career.

Menesguen joins Alila Villas Koh Russey from Alila Jakarta, where he has been general manager since 2016.

Since beginning his career in early 2000 with the Accor in the United Kingdom, Menesguen has taken up pivotal positions as a hotelier.

Demonstrating effective leadership and a self-described “detail-oriented” management style, he proved himself instrumental in opening three properties for Tauzia Hotel Management in Bali and acting as cluster general manager for three of their brands in West Java. 

Since 2006, Menesguen has called Indonesia home, where he has continued to pursue his childhood passion for horseback riding while also becoming PADI certified.

The move to Koh Russey, located on an enchanting, remote island just twenty minutes off the coast of Cambodia, represents an important shift in his journey as hotelier, one that he has embraced full on.

“Basking in the serenity of the surroundings, practicing meditation and yoga on the island, these are the new hobbies I want to pursue.

“Trading one pursuit for another is the opportunity I’ve been given.

“Turning Alila Villas Koh Russey into the best resort in Cambodia in terms of destination and service, that’s the reward I want to give back to the team.”

Set amid a backdrop of tropical forests, powder-sand beaches and the emerald waters of the Gulf of Thailand, the property, with its 50 pavilions and 13 villas, will immerse guests in the absolute height of contemporary comfort.