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Alila Anji head shares holiday-making tips
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MARCO den Ouden
Nationality: The Netherlands
Profession/title: General manager of Alila Anji
How often do you travel? As often as I can. Locally every month; internationally I try to travel at least once every three months.
Favorite traveling style? Depends. I travel to cities to get inspired, I travel to remote locations to re-energize.
Q: What do you always do after returning from a trip?
A: Unpack and share my inspirations with my team.
Q: What do you always search for during a trip?
A: Local markets to buy herbs and spices (I collect them), design hotspots for contemporary inspiration, restaurants to taste the indigenous dishes and top-end restaurants to see new trends in F&B.
Q: What do you always pack?
A: Underwear and a camera — the rest I try to buy locally.
Q: What is your preferred airline?
A: Emirates for business travels and KLM for their contemporary in-flight entertainment.
Q: Do you have any tips about seating on a flight?
A: I’m tall so I need legroom; I don’t recommend squeezing yourself into cramped seats.
Q: Best in-flight meal or activity?
A: Sleep or stand at the bar of a Dreamliner and meet fellow travelers.
Q: How do you get over jet lag?
A: By ignoring it and immediately adjusting to the new timezone.
Q: What are your favorite hotels? What makes these hotels so memorable?
A: The ones that intuitively understand your reasons for traveling. They don’t ask questions and help you ease into the location. In other words, I appreciate genuine smiles and people that share their favorite hang-outs.
Q: What do you value most when choosing a hotel?
A: In a city, a quiet room with proper Internet and 24-7 service; in the countryside, hotels that allow you to avoid the crowds with discrete and available staff.
Q: Recommend one of your favorite destinations. Why is it so special?
A: In Asia, I think Sri Lanka has an interesting mix of culture, contemporary art, history and destinations. As it is undergoing a growth curve in tourism, I highly recommend going there now. Nice people, food and beautiful sites to see.
Q: Must-purchase item in Sri Lanka?
A: I buy herbs and spices wherever I go to extend my journey to my home and I bought a beautiful painting from Jagath Ravinder in Columbo.
Q: What do you do upon arriving Sri Lanka?
A: I go for a dinner at one of the best local restaurants and pair it with a nice wine; memories instead of jet-lag result from it.
Q: Where are you planning to go next and why?
A: I might go to Cusco and Lima in Peru — bit of a journey but I would love to see it.
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