THE INTERVIEW SERIES – DAVID SIAUVAUD – OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, VILLAZZO

David Siauvaud

In our ongoing series of interviews, we exclusively speak to David Siauvaud, Operations Director at Villazzo. With more than seven years experience in the hospitality trade, David worked for a number of leading hotel brands before joining Villazzo four years ago.

Here we exclusively catch up with David about this role at Villazzo and the importance of customer service.

Q: You’ve studied in Ireland, worked as a head waiter in hotels in France, been a product manager in Mexico, and now head up operations for Villazzo in Miami. Tell us how you made the leap – both in terms of the role and location!?

I’ve always loved to travel and my studies have taken me far. I’ve found that working in several countries has excelled my career. It has given me a wealth of experience and the opportunity to discover other cultures and their approach to hospitality for a well-rounded view.
Q: Tell us a little about your day-to-day role.

As with all things Villazzo, good customer service runs through the company. As such, my role centers around bringing all the departments together to make sure they run smoothly, and customers remain at the heart of what we do. Maintaining a consistently high service worldwide is integral to this role. Overseeing the company financials is part of the day-to-day running of the business, to ensure budgets are managed too.
Q: From your time in hospitality, you witnessed first-hand the importance of good customer service. How do you deliver this to an online audience?

In the digital time we find ourselves in, immediacy is everything. Being able to respond quickly and helpfully is very important to our customers, and being reachable is key to the industry.

Q: What does Villazzo offer that a five-star hotel doesn’t?

When customers book a luxury vacation home with us, they can enjoy all the trappings of a five-star hotel, with the added benefit of complete privacy and a totally tailored experience. Everything is arranged as the guest desires, and that makes us special.
Q: You’re extremely well-travelled with a love of luxury – how does this help you in your role?

It’s a great advantage to understand guests, both on a cultural level and in their language. It allows us to connect more easily with customers and help anticipate their needs.
Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?

Ah yes, last minute requests are always fun! But it gets the adrenalin rushing and our team are brilliant at rising to the challenge – never failing to please. As mentioned before, I’m always ‘on’ and available, which means the business must always come first, but that’s not a problem as I’m passionate about what I do!
Villazzo Team

Q: What makes Villazzo stand-out from its competitors?

We have a really dedicated and passionate team that live and breathe hospitality. We share a common love for welcoming guests to our own houses, so it’s a pleasure to welcome guests to the beautiful luxury vacation homes we offer. It’s an extension of what we do!
Q: If you had to pick a destination for unrivalled luxury, where would you choose?

Dubai does luxury like nowhere else! They have an innate understanding of how to treat customers, offering everything they could desire, and then some! Personal helipads, private chefs, gold-drenched four poster beds – no request is too ambitious.
Q: Do you have any insider tips for online rental bookings? (e.g. specific requests, days that are cheaper than others?)

Surprisingly, the longer you stay the more affordable the trip. And don’t be afraid to make requests prior to your stay. After all, we’re here to deliver a five-star experience and want you to have the best vacation.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 21st, 2018 at 8:00 am and is filed under Global Luxury Villas, Interviews, Luxury Travel, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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