Laucala Island, Fiji Announces New General Manager

A Fiji-native and veteran of the luxury hospitality industry, Thomson has more than 45 years of experience as an international hotelier, most recently serving the last 15 years as Amanresort's Director of Operations and Managing Director.

“After 45 years in the hospitality industry, to have the opportunity yet again to do what I love most in Fiji, my country of origin, is exciting,” said Thomson. “I look forward to bringing my years of experience and knowledge of the Fijian way-of-life to Laucala Island, as we continue to maintain and strive for the standard of excellence that our guests have come to appreciate.”

Previously, Thomson has held senior hotel management positions in the South Pacific, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and South East Asia. Most recently, he was based in Singapore as Amanresort's Director of Operations and Managing Director. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the luxury resort company's operations and expansion in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, French Polynesia, the Philippines, Bhutan, Morocco, Turkey, Greece and more. Prior to Amanresorts, Thomson was General Manager with Regent International Hotels Group, and was responsible for project management and openings of the Four Seasons Regent of Sydney in Australia, The Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu, the Regent of Auckland in New Zealand, the Regent of Fiji, and the development of the Denarau Island Resort in Fiji. Before his time with Regent International, Thomson served as General Manager of the Shangri-la Fijian Resort and held senior management positions in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hawaii with Laurence Rockefeller's New York-based RockResort Hotels.

In addition to his vast managerial expertise, Thomson has also held numerous industry positions including serving on the Boards of Air Pacific Ltd., the Fiji Trade and Investment Board and various hotel and tourism associations in New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji and Australia. A former rugby player, Thomson was the Fiji Rugby Union's National Selector from 1989 to 1997, and served as Chairman of Fiji Sevens when Fiji won the Sevens World Cup in 1997.

Laucala Island, owned by Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of Red Bull energy drink company, is an all-inclusive private island resort consisting of 25 villas, five restaurants and bars, a private jet airport, 18-hole championship golf course, 8 horses, yachts and a world-renowned spa; the only private island in the world to encompass such facilities. The island, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, offers a vacation experience unlike any other, with more than 300 staff members on-hand, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the world, made complete with on-island professionals including international chefs from Europe and Asia, a New Zealand horse-whisperer and golf, diving and fishing experts.

Visit website: www.laucala.com