The Team

Jan Hildebrand

Jan Hildebrand

President

Swiss EHL graduate with more than 15 years of experience in the hotel industry and particular in events. Worked in the tourism sector for the last 15 years in Thailand. Before that in the catering sector in Lausanne (particularly Le Bleu Lézard, Le Java). A volunteer by nature and a passionate organizer of events, who is now offering to provide support to the Club Skäl Montreux, in order to perpetuate the synergies that already exist between the members of the club.
Jan works for national and international luxury events in Geneva

Warapak Poolsawat (Saimai)

Warapak Poolsawat (Saimai)

Secretary

Originally from Thailand and based in Martigny-Croix, Switzerland, for over seven years, Saimai holds a degree in administration, which she obtained after studying in Australia and New Zealand.

In the field of wellness, she is qualified in traditional Thai massage therapy and practises as a therapist specialising in traditional Thai massage, sports massage and wellness treatments.

She also possesses extensive expertise in luxury products, including wine, coffee, truffles and Panama hats from Ecuador. Certified as a Tea Master by the Ronnefeldt Tea Academy, she has recognised international experience.

Before devoting herself to wellness, she worked for several years in the management and commercial development of luxury products for five-star hotels, including Marriott Hotels, Anantara, Aman and W Hotels.

Today, she puts her expertise at the service of the Skål International Montreux Vevey committee and the club’s development.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

ROMAIN GAYRARD

ROMAIN GAYRARD

Treasurer

Born in France in the southwest region, Romain quickly developed a facility in human exchanges; generous and passionate, he quickly turned to the service professions, allowing him to share his good mood on a daily basis.

Arrived in Switzerland in 2009, he worked for the “Elite Art Deco Hotel” in Bienne for several years. Dreaming of an international career, he went back to school and obtained his Federal Certificate of Hotel and Restaurant Manager in 2014.

Ready to make his expatriation wish come true, he leaves Switzerland for 5 years, during which he works as Food & Beverage Manager, later as Director, for the 5-star properties of “Amari Resorts” Group (Krabi, Thailand), and “AMAN Private Luxury Resorts” (Cambodia, India, Japan and Greece).

He returns to Switzerland in 2019, to give a new dimension to his career; specializing in sales and marketing, he becomes regional sales manager in French-speaking Switzerland, specializing in Gastronomy and Hospitality (HORECA), and currently an insurance consultant with Allianz.

It was in 2017 that he joined Skal international Club Krabi, Thailand, and met president Georges Koch.

Treasurer for the Skal Vevey-Montreux club since January 2021, he wishes to convey the values he shares with SKAL, through the promotion of tourism in Switzerland and in the world, thanks to friendshiṕ, socio-educational and humanitarian projects.

GEORGES KOCH

GEORGES KOCH

Development Officer / Past President

Swiss – Ecuadorian, graduate of the prestigious ‘first in the world’, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne EHL, with more than 25 years of experience in the tourism, hotel and travel industry, after several years of experience in the food and nutrition sector ‘Nestlé – Nespresso’, ‘Sabatino Tartuffi’, ‘Exclusive Wines’ Georges spent 14 years in Asia and participated in the opening of various 5 star Hotels in Thailand. Following his ‘entrepreneurial spirit’, he successfully opened his first company, Internships Thailand, which became part of International Worldwide Internships and Worldwide Recruitment, and then opened LHM Luxury Hospitality Management.

He is currently director of GBS advisors, an international strategic consultancy with headquarters in Barcelona, a branch in Switzerland and representatives in the USA, Thailand and Ecuador.

Representative of the Progressio Foundation in Switzerland and Spain and, since 2021, co-founder of the platform, a slow tourism label: World Peace Routes.

Director of the Les Cubes Immodiffer’ensemble complex and member of the differ’ensemble association committee.

Director Skal International, Region 6 Switzerland.