One of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands, aman resorts invites superlatives from all who know it. Chief executive Olivier Jolivet opens up about the brand’s enigmatic workings, his life, and how he became the guardian.
Eleven years ago, a most unusual proposal reached the office of Olivier Jolivet. Chinese businessman Ma Dadong conveyed to Aman Resorts’ chief executive his desire to save a precious piece of Chinese history. With the construction of a reservoir, an area within his hometown of Jiangxi province that housed ancient villages and camphor trees was doomed for almost certain destruction.
What ensued was an audacious rescue effort spanning more than a decade, involving Aman, Ma, a team of botanists, engineers, architects and craftsmen. Fifty Ming and Qing dynasty houses were disassembled, transported over 800km to Shanghai and then put together again by craftsmen, the few remaining in China with knowledge of ancient building techniques.
When it opens next year, this upcoming resort – Aman’s fourth property in China – will be the luxury hotel group’s “most ambitious” project to date. Jolivet says: “It would be an achievement when we open this property – and I don’t say this for all our projects. It has been the benchmark for difficulty.
“The magnitude and cost of this project is beyond everything we have done so far. We’re rescuing not only the 10th century houses and trees; it’s the stone of the streets, it’s everything. People are telling us, you guys are crazy. Why don’t you do something simpler like a tower? You build it in three years and make a lot of returns. But that’s not our business model. That’s not the brand of Aman.”
This story is from the October 2016 edition of The PEAK Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2016 edition of The PEAK Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Sophisticated Bachelor Pad
In this two-storey apartment belonging to a finance in professional, designer Jerry Tan of Joey Khu ID created distinct arez ork and play.
Fringe Modalities
Poet, frontwoman, and shamanic healer ArunDitha Emmanuel returns to Singapore with renewed vigour to push the state-enforced boundaries of art.
Taking On Decolonisation
The annual Per°Form Open Academy of Arts and Activations by T:> Works this year tackles the complex subject of decolonisation with a line-up of artists from the global south.
Japan at Half-speed
A walking tour through the Kunisaki Peninsula in Kyushu is an invitation to appreciate thé country’s beauty ata snail's pace.
Truffle Sabotage
In the heart of Chianti, dark tales of the truffle trade, bacchanalian feasts, and sun salutations await at Christina Ong's COMO Castello del Nero in Tuscany.
Is Barolo the Next Burgundy?
With Burgundy prices reaching starry heights, we find out why Barolo is the next frontier for oenophiles.
Hungry for Hansik
Hansik, or Korean food, is becoming more popular worldwide due to the proliferation of Korean pop culture. We explore two of the cuisine's stalwart elements.
Maxed Out
We explore the intricacies of high-performance tyre development inside Continental’s top-tier test facility in Germany and put its new MaxContact MC7 tyres to the test.
India Rising
From a culture whose glorious traditions have greatly influenced luxury jewellery today, young designers like Renu Oberoi are rewriting the narrative.
A Life Less Ordinary
Street culture pioneer-entrepreneur Feroze McLeod defies convention, even in his watch collection.