Interview with Guy Roger, President of Asiana Pearl Vision

Guy Louis Roger is President at Asiana Pearl Vision, a boutique travel designer based in Cebu city and operating exclusively in the Philippines, focusing on high end tailor made tours and bespoke travelling experiences. Guy has an hotelier background and he has been working on senior management positions for Accor, Dusit, Pan Pacific, Le Meridien, Lucien Barriere groups and some independent luxury boutique hotels. He spent 25 years in South East of Asia. What is it that you do exactly?

I spend my time to developing and implementing the philosophy of our small company. We are committed to a style of travel that is environmentally, culturally and socially responsible. Beside an excellent knowledge of the country the fact of being directly established in the Philippines allows us to behave more effectively, we are every day in narrow contact with our guides and can react at once for any particular wish of our customers or in improbable problems which could arise during the journey. But especially it allows us to ceaselessly improve our services: discoveries of new tours out of the mass tourism, regular visits of our partners and permanent research of new even more authentic and more comfortable addresses, very privileged contacts with our guides, systematic meeting with all our clients at their arrival and departure of their stay and direct return of their feedback. We particularly like mixing experiences, it is a part of our added value and in accordance with the destinations and when it is possible we invite our customers to live alternatively in luxury hotels, boutique resorts and then in a delightful home stay with Filipinos.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love to discover new authentic destinations out of the beaten paths and to deliver unique experiences to our guests including contacts and inter actions with the local population. I am also a luxury hotels addict and I really enjoy providing high quality of services with a concierge and “white gloves” approach to meet the high expectations of the discerning travelers.

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

The Amanpulo, a beautiful and romantic hideaway on a private island in Palawan, Philippines, this ultra-exclusive destination is a wondrous lost paradise where earth- given beauty and a luxury resort embrace the island hosts for a dream. The Ritz in Paris, a legendary Palace with an old tradition of excellence and elegance, a synonym for perfection. The Banyan Tree Seychelles, the stunning pool villas combine contemporary and colonial décor with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, swaying palm trees and lush tropical forest.

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

A 4 hours lunch with my family at Michel Bras, a unique fine dining restaurant located in the remote mountains of Aubrac, France with sweeping views over the valley towards the village of Laguiole. This is an essential culinary trip for anybody who loves food. The gorgeous surroundings, outstanding staff and overall zen-like atmosphere of the property make this restaurant a sensational destination. You must book a table several months in advance.

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

In my long carreer in the hospitality industry, I have been serving a few celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Juan Carlos King of Spain, Jacques Chirac President of France. I have also learnt from my first boss that all the guests are VIPs.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I am a tropical islands lover and I am planning to discover Sumba in Indonesia. I need to find some time for this… not so easy!

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Guy. Sumba looks stunning – a paradise for birdwatchers, I imagine, or for nature lovers in general. I take it you would be staying at Nihiwatu? If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.