Claude Sauter

The Slate, the whimsical, art-inspired beachfront resort on Phuket's secluded northwest coast, has announced the appointment of Claude Sauter as its new General Manager, bringing an unrivalled depth of local knowledge, industry acumen and leadership experience to this key role.

A Swiss national, Claude is a life-long hospitality professional with proven track record. He has also enjoyed a richly rewarding 24-year relationship with Phuket - and with Thailand as a whole. Having first arrived in the "Pearl of the Andaman" in 1997, as Resident Manager of Impiana Resort Patong, Claude went on to manage some of the island's top hotels and resorts. He is also proficient in Thai, one of six languages he can speak along with French, English, German, Italian and Spanish.

A graduate of Ecole Hôtelière de Genève, the prestigious Swiss hotel school, and Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, Claude is clearly highly-qualified. But it is his time in Phuket that has defined his life and career. Following five successful years with Impiana, Claude achieved his first general manager's role with Cape & Kantary Hotels, leading the famous Cape Panwa Hotel in southeast Phuket. He has since headed-up several major properties in Phuket and neighbouring Phang Nga province for international hotel groups including Wyndham and Marco Polo. Most recently, he was GM of The Surin Phuket for over six years, making it one of the island's best performing hotels.

Now, he brings his impressive management qualities and local area expertise to The Slate, where Bill Bensley's quirky and compelling interior design concept showcases the island's industrial tin mining heritage. Nestled on the pure shores of Nai Yang Beach, a secluded stretch of Phuket's northwest coast, this unique resort immerses guests in a world of avant-garde art and design. Guests can stay in a selection of luxurious rooms, suites and pool villas, unwind in glistening pools and tranquil gardens, soothe their senses at the spectacular Coqoon Spa, chill out on the beach, and savour sensational cuisine in a choice of dining destinations, including Black Ginger, the Michelin-recommended Thai restaurant.