Name: Michel Volk
Title: General manager
Company, city: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Number of employees: 296
Recent project: Expansion and enhancement of our overwater bungalows was completed April 1.
First job: Front desk agent at Four Seasons Hotel London
Little-known fact about you: I once bungee-jumped from the highest bridge possible at the time (216 meters, in South Africa) — and cracked a rib doing so.

Your Business

Essential business philosophy: The Golden Rule! And continuously believe that everything we do can always be done better (do not accept the status quo). Your best chance of continuously improving is when you and the people who surround you enjoy what they do.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Listen to guest and employee feedback. Also, I read lots of books on innovation and daily news about the industry.

Yardstick of success: The number of smiles from guests, from team members and from family is the absolute marker of success.

Michel Volk as a Traveler

What is the most important item you take when traveling? iPad

How do you spend your time on board? Reading on the iPad and watching the latest blockbusters

What is your favorite restaurant in the world? The kitchen table at my parents’ home in Luxembourg always trumps any restaurant.

What is your favorite destination in the world? I’m a big fan of any type of safari. One of the best I’ve experienced was in Zambia.

About Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

What can guests expect from a stay at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora?
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is a cultural paradise, combining the relaxation and tranquility of the South Pacific with invigorating Polynesian arts. The resort combines the highest standards of service with the natural ease and gracious hospitality of Polynesian culture. Guests can lose themselves in the deep serenity of the location; immerse themselves in the customs and traditions of local culture; or set off on one of the island’s many adventures, from snorkeling and SCUBA to deep-sea fishing and inland safaris — creating a multitude of unforgettable experiences.

Set upon Bora Bora’s surrounding coral atoll, the resort is a vast tropical grove, replete with coconut palms and pandanus trees. Meandering channels lead to the property’s main beach and smaller lagoons, creating dozens of secluded areas to be discovered. Every vista is breathtaking, and all have been incorporated into the resort experience: the turquoise water and vast sky contrast with the white sand of the beach and the lush green of the land, capped by the towering monolithic peak of Mount Otemanu.

What sets the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora apart from other island resorts?
Set upon a sprawling 54 acres, the resort offers a connection with the island community which provides a truly authentic Polynesian experience — one never to be forgotten. Our accommodations include 100 overwater bungalows and seven beachfront villas, all designed with thatched roofs and decorated with indigenous artwork. Our four restaurants, offering creative cuisines from Polynesian to French to fusion, are complemented by special open-air dining experiences. A full-service spa, balanced by the powerful rhythms of the Pacific Ocean and the secluded tranquility of the island’s lagoon — and featuring open-air treatment decks amid the mangroves — offers a combination of relaxation and exhilaration that only Bora Bora’s unique location can provide.

What is new at the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora?
We just completed an enhancement project (as of April 1), installing plunge pools at some of our overwater bungalows, adding seven for a total of 15. We also connected three sets of bungalows to create three two-bedroom overwater bungalows with plunge pools. The demand for our most premium accommodations led us to this enhancement, and we know the Global Traveler readers who come our way will love these new overwater suites!